Outdoor Heated Kitty Pad

by Michael
(London, UK)

Two useful tags. Click either to see the articles: Toxic to cats | Dangers to cats

I think that an outdoor heated kitty pad is an excellent product but it all depends on the individual cat who you think should use it. We know how cats are individuals and how they will use something if they want to and not if we want them to – perfectly correct, I say.

A good number of people are kind enough and decent enough to help feral cats as opposed to getting fun out of killing them. I wrote an article about how to keep feral cats warm in winter. Here are two pages that deal with these two contrasting subjects:

I happen to know a very nice person who is a regular and valued contributor to PoC, Dorothy Wandruff, who cares for an orange (alternatively called red or yellow) feral female tabby cat that she has named “Yellow Cat”. See by the way a post about the red tabby cat if you would like to know more about cats of this color and pattern.

Dorothy has bought an outdoor heated kitty pad for Yellow Cat, which she is delighted to use, making herself very comfortable, thank you very much, just outside Dorothy’s back door or door leading to the back garden (“yard” in the USA). This is what Dorothy says about Yellow Cat and her outdoor heated kitty pad:

“This is a terrible video (see below) shot through double paned glass…but you get the picture. Yellow cat has become very much MY cat, except that I still can’t get near her. She’s fine up close and personal as long as the door is shut. I finally found this sleeping solution for her, though it isn’t ideal as it doesn’t help when it rains. I often wonder, why should I put my personal values on her? When it has been raining, she shows up quite dry, ready to eat. Sometime she and her friend Shadow show up soaking wet but don’t seem to mind. So I feel like I’m lucky she choses to lay here, by my door, where I can watch her. She’s warm comfy on the outdoor heated cat bed I bought on Amazon…..It’s not under cover, but then she wouldn’t use it if it were. She MUST be able to see all around her. It’s her way of life.”

You can see how sensitive Dorothy is to Yellows Cat’s preferences and not foisting her (human) views on a cat, who as we know have their own style of living that fits in quite nicely to ours when they are domesticated.

Here is the video Dorothy refers to:

And this is the product on Amazon.com for the North American market place:

When I rescued my elderly lady cat some 18 years ago it was a freezing cold night in London, UK. I put down a covered kettle full of boiled water in a porch area for her to warm up next to and some food. If I had heard of this outdoor heated pad that would have been so much better.

Michael Avatar

From outdoor heated kitty pad to feral cats

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Outdoor Heated Kitty Pad

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Jan 06, 2011
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Thanks Barbara
by: Dorothy

I’m sure the fact that she is left alone is why she’s been comfortable to stay here. I don’t even let my husband use that door if she’s anywhere close by!LOL. I think she is observing me as much as I observe her. It works well I think. She’s doing great. I’ve never noticed her being bothered with fleas. I managed to give her worm med’s in her food once, and periodically I give her fur-ball goop. She doesn’t mind. That’s the most I’ll interfere with Mother Nature where Yellow in concerned. If she ever wants to change that, she’ll let me know and I’ll be there. Much to Bigfoot’s dismay.

dw


Jan 06, 2011
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Hi Gail of Boston
by: Dorothy

I always enjoy your posts by the way.

This pad is electric. It is very insulated for protection from the elements, and it is very low voltage, just the right temperature for the cats. It doesn’t seem to me to be very comfy but again, who am I to say? I keep a very light blanket on it. The informations says to use it in semi enclosed areas. An opened porch with a cover over head is better than where I use it, but I don’t have snow. Though some of our mornings can be in the 20’s. I’d have preferred to put it in the igloo, but Yellow won’t go into an enclosure that is too close to the house. She’s a gal who knows what she wants. However, a good 15 yards from the house, we have a 9′ canoe stored sideways, wrapped in a plastic tarp. I’ve seen the cats go in there. Both in the summer and in the winter, so that is some sort of enclosure. I might build a little porch for the igloo and hope she’ll use it way back on the property. I am still trying to figure the girl out. If she’d come to the front of the house there’s a covered porch….but alas she knows what she wants.

If you have an outdoor outlet that is weather protected, and a semi covered porch, it should be just fine.I’m thinking about buying a second one for Shadow’s human family to put on their front porch. I’ve seen the cats cuddled on their patio furniture.

Before Yellow found the heated pad, I woke up nights worrying about her. Silly me. She knows how to take care of herself. Now if she’d only realize how lovely a couple of hands feel going down her body, life would be perfect.


Jan 06, 2011
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What about snow?
by: Gail (Boston, MA USA)

Hi Dorothy, Your story about Yellow Cat and Shadow are just wonderful. Question – can the heated pad be used in snow zone areas? How is it heated? Electric? Battery?

I live in snow-ravaged Massachusetts and I’m curious as to whether or not this pad would work in this climate. Our back porch (apartment building)is open to the weather. Thanks!


Jan 06, 2011
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Wise cats
by: Barbara

Dorothy you obviously have great empathy with cats and with your two little visitors in particular, it’s really nice to read that you haven’t tried to force yellow cat to do anything she doesn’t want to do but have helped her to lead the life she chooses. What a good idea to have the heated pad.

Barbara avatar


Jan 05, 2011
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Yellow Cat
by: Dorothy

Isn’t she beautiful? Thanks Michael.

I can see it’s been a while since there was an update on Yellow Cat. I’d better work on a new story. The original story is well over a year old. Since then I’ve learned she is a lady cat, and was part of a TNR program many years ago. She’s chose our property to live on, and she is welcomed. I’d still like to pet her someday. We have a great relationship and an understanding. I can watch her all I want, even up close and personal as long as there is a closed glass door between us. Her friend Shadow seems to be trying to teach her how to come in. He’ll come in the house, make a turn, go back out and sit by her waiting for her to do the same. The furthest she gets is rubbing on the door a little with her cheeks. But even when I’m putting down the food bowl…she retreats about 5 feet away, watches the door until it closes. If I hesitate, I get ‘that’ look…like, “com’on you, we have an agreement”.

It is a thrill watching their little lives together. They are an odd couple. Yin and Yang. Their story is a delight. I’ll share it another time.

Dorothy


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