Exposure to the sun is very good both for humans and of course for our cat companions, but if we do not protect them tomorrow they could have serious problems, such as skin cancer.
For this reason, if you do not know the effects of the sun on the cat's skin, I encourage you to read this article in which I will tell you what are the benefits and drawbacks letting them expose themselves to the star king.
beneficial effects
Prevents or delays bone diseases
The sun helps us - yes, humans too - synthesize vitamin D, without which we would not be able to absorb calcium. The deficiency of this vitamin causes osteoporosis, rickets, among others related to the bones.
Keeps them warm
Cats are warm-blooded animals, so they regulate their body temperature without problems from a certain age (5 or 6 months or so). But we do it too, and yet we love to sunbathe to protect ourselves even a little from the cold 😉. So If we see that they lie down in an area of the house where the sun's rays come directly, the best we can do is leave them alone.
Damaging effects
If they are exposed to excess, they run the risk of having:
Burns
It is the first thing we will see. They can be superficial or deep burns. The former will be easier to cure, but the latter could become infected with bacteria and require veterinary help.
Solar or actinic dermatitis
If cats spend a lot of time each day exposed, the skin becomes inflamed and red. In case the exposure is prolonged, the animals will be itchy and therefore scratch, causing wounds that could become infected.
Skin cancer
It is a disease caused by the abnormal growth of cells that have mutated, turning into malignant tumor cells. This is a process that does not happen overnight, but is rather slow. All cats are vulnerable, but those that are white or have some white part (ears, nose and / or mouth) are at special risk since the absence or low content of melanin (it is what makes the hair have color) increases the risk of developing this pathology.
I hope this post has been useful to you 🙂.