Q:My cat Britney is very sensitive to the sun (she's all white). The tips of her ears, her pads and the skin near her nose get bright pink after she's been lying out on the porch, even though it's screened in and mostly shady. She sometimes even limps when she's had a long day outside. I've started applying a sunscreen for pets my veterinarian recommended, but she licks it off her nose and feet. Any ideas?

A: Your veterinarian is absolutely right to recommend you use a sunscreen for Britney. Any white or light-colored pet that spends any amount of time in the sun -- directly or indirectly -- is more susceptible to skin cancer than others. Moreover, Britney's evidence of sunburn suggests that she's indeed receiving high doses of ultraviolet radiation -- not what any white pet needs.

Though all pets are theoretically at risk for skin cancer, those who receive higher doses, either by virtue of their lifestyle (outdoor living, chronic sunbathing) or geographical location (think South Florida) are far more so. It only makes sense, then, that a pet with little of the protective pigmentation we associate with a lower risk of skin cancer should prove especially worrisome -- especially in our area.

In fact, white cats who live outdoors can suffer a scary kind of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma that affects the tips of their ears and noses -- just where Britney is getting her burns. They tend to appear as ulcerated sores in these areas and must be addressed immediately if we're to have any chance of stopping their spread and saving lives.

The good news is that the pads of the feet, in particular, do not seem as highly predisposed to these malignant tumors. The ouch-factor, however, is not a great sign. Pad burns (which also happen commonly to dogs who step on hot asphalt) can get debilitatingly painful and may require serious intervention should she one day sleep long enough to acquire blistering burns.

Everything in Britney's case points to the need to alter her lifestyle. When I spoke to Dr. Millie Rosales, a Miami veterinary dermatologist, she echoed the sentiment. Ultimately, it seems that the ideal solution always comes down to avoiding sun exposure.

But sunscreen helps. She recommends using a 30 SPF waterproof children's product and solar-protective T-shirts for white dogs who sunbathe.

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