Pet Owners Warned As UK Temperatures Set To Soar

Pet owners have been warned to keep an eye on their furry friends this bank holiday weekend and beyond as temperatures are set to soar across the UK.

According to the Met Office, 2022 will be one of the warmest years on record - starting with plenty of sunshine and temperatures as high as 17C this weekend.

But while we're all out soaking up the sun, it's important to remember that our pets might struggle in the heat.

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With predictions that this year could be one of the hottest on record, animal charity Cats Protection has warned owners to keep an eye on their kittens in the coming weeks.

Sarah Elliott, Central Veterinary Officer for Cats Protection, said: “White and pale-coloured cats don’t have a pigment called melanin in their skin, which is what protects humans from sunlight.

"This can leave them vulnerable to sun damage - usually around the ears. Over time, the damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays can increase the risk of developing skin damage and cancer.

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“Cats with unpigmented noses or ears are also much more susceptible to sun damage and require additional sun protection.”

The animal charity's warning comes after pale-coloured cats Dibbs and Gorgonzola were recently brought into Cats Protection adoption centres, both with severely sunburnt ear tips that had turned cancerous and needed to be removed.

Pale-colour cats Dibbs and Gorgonzola (pictured) were recently brought into Cats Protection adoption centres, both with severely sunburnt ear tips that had turned cancerous and needed to be removed (Cats Protection).

Though the cats have since recovered and now have new homes, the charity is keen to make cat owners aware of sun exposure risks, particularly as the UK faces increasingly warmer weather due to climate change.

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So, what can we do to keep our feline friends safe as the weather warms up this season?

• Keep pet cats indoors when the sun is at its hottest, typically between 10am and 3pm.
• Speak to a vet about suitable sunscreen for pet cats.
• Provide plenty of opportunities for shade outdoors, such as cat hides, large cardboard boxes or plant plots placed close together.
• Always provide an outdoor water source as there is a risk of your cat becoming dehydrated in the heat.
• To stop cats feeling overheated, place a plastic bottle with frozen water inside a towel and place it in an area that the cat frequently visits.

More information on keeping cats safe in warm weather can be found on the Cats Protection site here.