Are brown spots on my white cat's ear from sun exposure normal?

From looking at the pictures it looks like Bella has freckles! As cats get older it is not uncommon for them to develop brown or black spots on their skin that are simply freckles. I would strongly recommend to keep a close eye on them though. If they are changing, developing scabs, and/or ulcerated, I would strongly recommend to see your veterinarian for an exam.

It is possible that his ear was sunburned, but he could also have an ear infection. It's not normal to have this area bright red, and I would have your cat seen by a vet immediately. The vet can diagnose if he has a sunburn or an ear infection, and can treat him for it.

Those white spots on Ed's ears could just be areas of normal pigment changes or areas where the hair is naturally thinner. As long as Ed is not itchy around his ears, does not have increased hair loss, and these spots do not get larger I would not be concerned and just monitor the area. If the area starts changing you can have Ed examined by a veterinarian and small samples can be obtained if necessary. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This is a serious problem as cats with white ears and lots of sunburns are very prone to cancer on the ears (Squamous Cell Carcinoma). The best would be to make your cat an inside only cat in summer so that she is not exposed to the sun. This includes pulling shades in the house so she cannot sunbathe and get burnt in the window either. You can try to put sun lotion on the ears with a high protection factor against UV light, however most cats will lick it off. Keeping her out of the sun is vital and the only way to keep her from being burned.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to know for sure based on these pictures though this is possibly a normal pigmentation change. If it is not associated with itchiness or discomfort, there is no need to be concerned about this. If you ever notice any discomfort or itchiness, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!

The spots could be from your cat itching excessively at her ears, or they could be a little bruises under the skin. It is difficult to know which is going on based on the pictures. I would recommend taking your cat into the vet because if it is bruises this could indicate a bleeding or clotting disorder. Hopefully it is nothing too serious going on, but I would have it checked out just to be safe.

When our pets get older we start to notice more lumps and bumps appearing in random places. You'll want to continue to monitor the growth and if you notice any changes in size, shape, or color visit you local Veterinarian and request a fine needle aspiration. This will allow your doctor to identify the cell type of the growth and proceed with an appropriate treatment plan.