Earless kitty’s sun danger warning
We’ve been shivering through a cold spring, but warmer days are on the way. And while we know how important it is to protect ourselves and our family from the sun’s rays, pets often get overlooked.
This beautiful white cat highlights the dangers after having his ears removed to save his life, having developed cancer caused by sun exposure.
Mooney was rescued by the Celia Hammond Animal Trust in Canning Town, East London. He had been living as a stray in gardens for months, being fed by locals who contacted trust staff after noticing his ears were severely infected, torn and bleeding.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “We felt desperate to find him. We kept hearing about him but he was elusive and moved around over quite a large area. Eventually he was in one place for several days and were able to rescue him.
“However, Mooney’s ears were deteriorating and by the time he was brought to our attention and we managed to catch him, nearly half of his ears had been destroyed.”
Vets diagnosed severe squamous cell carcinoma cancer in both ears, which had to be removed to save his life.
Follow-up tests were clear, showing the cancer has been removed entirely, and the team hopes Mooney will make a full recovery.
They also hope his plight will remind owners that their pets need protection this summer too.
The charity added in a social media post: “White cats like Mooney are particularly susceptible to sun exposure.
“The white fur on their noses and ears offers little protection against harmful UV rays, putting them at risk of squamous cell carcinoma.”
They recommend applying pet-safe sunscreen to white fur on heads and noses, where the skin is thin and more susceptible to sun damage.
The Celia Hammond Animal Trust is appealing for donations to help pay for Mooney’s medical treatment and aftercare, and their rescue work.
Find out more and how to donate at celiahammond.org