Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Cat health - Ask members * If your pet is vomiting-bleeding-diarrhea etc. Vet time!

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old July 19th, 2011, 09:46 AM
marko's Avatar
marko marko is offline
Administrator - Pet lover
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Montreal Quebec Canada
Posts: 12,651
Sphynx cat skin and sunburn

Hi everyone!
Just curious, our new cat twiggy likes to sleep in the sun as all cats do but she she has no fur, just a smallish layer of 'down'.
She's strictly an indoor cat so the sun won't beat down on her directly but does anyone know how bad direct window light might be for her?
Might she need a sunblock or is window light not the bad?
We could get drapes of course but we prefer naked windows...and naked cats too i guess, lol.
Here's a snap of the light she like to bask in for a few hours.
Thx! Marko
Attached Images
 
__________________
Please tactfully EDUCATE or IGNORE posters you don't agree with.
Please PM me & Include URLs and post #'s for any issues and it's my pleasure to help.
I'm firm - but fair. Mind the Rules and enjoy your stay.
Newcomers FAQ - How do I post on this BB?
Pet facebook group
Check out the Pet podcast
Follow me on Twitter
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old July 19th, 2011, 11:14 AM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
I don't know anything about nekkid kittehs, but a question about the window: Do you know what type of glass is used in it? Some glass is treated with a film that cuts out most of the ultraviolet, which would keep her from burning. Regular glass will cut out some of the ultraviolet, but it's still possible for a person to burn if they sit in sun filtered through regular glass and their skin burns easily.

She sure does look like she's enjoying her sunbeam. You can practically hear her thinking, "Ahhhhhh, this is the life!"
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old July 19th, 2011, 11:50 AM
pattymac pattymac is offline
Pro Poop Scooper!
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Sunniest City In Canada!
Posts: 1,496
you can get really pretty window film at Home Depot, looks like stained glass and has some really nice designs. It would likely still give her enough warmth but cut down on the bad rays that might give her a sunburn. My Mom is sensitive to the sun (part vampire I think) last winter she got a sunburn in the house!!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old July 19th, 2011, 12:12 PM
marko's Avatar
marko marko is offline
Administrator - Pet lover
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Montreal Quebec Canada
Posts: 12,651
Thx for the comments, I guess I'm asking for predictions though.

I won't let her get sunburned if i see it happening, and I am checking her skin - I was just interested in people's best guesses if sunburn - rash - irritation was likely. It's been a few days - so far so good.

I wouldn't want to dim all that beautiful light if kitty's skin can take a bit of heat, but i might not be thinking of all the risks including the big C...so I guess I'm asking for guesses on how risky all this basking is.
many thanks!
__________________
Please tactfully EDUCATE or IGNORE posters you don't agree with.
Please PM me & Include URLs and post #'s for any issues and it's my pleasure to help.
I'm firm - but fair. Mind the Rules and enjoy your stay.
Newcomers FAQ - How do I post on this BB?
Pet facebook group
Check out the Pet podcast
Follow me on Twitter
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old July 19th, 2011, 12:41 PM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
If she gets too hot from the infrared (heat) she'll just get up and leave (unless she's like a setter and has no sense at all ). But it's harder to tell if there's enough ultraviolet coming through to damage her skin. It depends on how much ultraviolet is being screened out by your glass. I wonder if there's a meter to measure something like that?
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old July 19th, 2011, 12:48 PM
hazelrunpack's Avatar
hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
The Pack's Head Servant
Chopper Challenge Champion, Mini KickUps Champion, Bugz Champion, Snakeman Steve Champion, Shape Game Champion, Mumu Champion, Mouse Race Champion
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Just east of the Hazelnut Patch, Wisconsin
Posts: 53,771
As it happens, yes there is....a meter, I mean. Looks like a bunch of them out there, and they're not so very expensive. The first one I clicked on is $15: http://www.lessemf.com/ionizing.html
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference."

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!"

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old July 19th, 2011, 12:54 PM
kathryn's Avatar
kathryn kathryn is offline
chronically insane.
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South Jersey!
Posts: 2,016
They can get sunburn. My friends Sphynx got it before.. it's more common on the lighter skinned ones... her white mink got burned before.

If you search around online, people are starting to make Sphynx Suntan Lotion ... lol.. that's all natural and stuff.

Alternatively, you can buy a light sweater to put on her if you spot her in the sun too much.

http://sphynxcatwear.com/ those are the best sphynx clothes
__________________
My cat is smarter than your honor student.
Stop Dog Fighting ~ Neuter Mike Vick!

~ RIP Timmy ~ May 2009 - November 6th 2009
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old July 20th, 2011, 12:18 AM
growler~GateKeeper's Avatar
growler~GateKeeper growler~GateKeeper is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 17,568
She's adorable and looks so totally settled in

Even regularly furred cats can get sunburned, my van calico Mischief had orange ears that would get burned & crispy from being outside in the sun too long , we just put a light coating of regular sunblock on her ears as she wasn't one to wash it off.
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do

The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old July 20th, 2011, 10:10 AM
marko's Avatar
marko marko is offline
Administrator - Pet lover
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Montreal Quebec Canada
Posts: 12,651
Thanks for the comments everyone! Will be checking out some of the links!
__________________
Please tactfully EDUCATE or IGNORE posters you don't agree with.
Please PM me & Include URLs and post #'s for any issues and it's my pleasure to help.
I'm firm - but fair. Mind the Rules and enjoy your stay.
Newcomers FAQ - How do I post on this BB?
Pet facebook group
Check out the Pet podcast
Follow me on Twitter
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old July 20th, 2011, 08:43 PM
Melinda's Avatar
Melinda Melinda is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,247
you could probably use childrens sunscreen also, make sure its for toddlers over age 2
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old July 22nd, 2011, 06:13 AM
Tundra_Queen's Avatar
Tundra_Queen Tundra_Queen is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Northern Ontario
Posts: 5,603
marko, can u just call your vet and ask the person that answer the phone if they sell it there?
__________________
~Friendship is like a bank account. You can't continue to draw on it without making deposits~


~Tegan 9 year old yellow lab~
~Wilbur 9 year old LH cat~
~Mirabelle 18 mos dsh~
~O'Shawnnessey 18 mos dsh~
~Darby 1 year old dsh~
~Mindy 7 yr old shih tzu~
~Dexter 10yr old Salmon (large goldfish)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:42 AM.