Scott,

   You brought a rival into your house who offers more than you do. I did
the same thing with Isis when she was bed hogging me. I put a heating pad in
a kitty nest on a footstool and I became old news, but only during sleep
time. During the day I'm still needed for occasional play time and ear
scratches. Has it gotten this extreme that you have become completely
useless?

   What if you turned the pad off during the day? I'm sorry but I'm really
laughing about this. I don't mean to be disrespectful, but this comment:
"The problem is that he wants nothing to do with me now. Just eat and sleep
on the pad.", has me in stitches. I'm sure he still loves you. It's just
that the New Thing is more wonderful than anything else at the moment.

   Do you think the novelty of the heating pad will wear off after a while?
I'm sorry you lost your car fixing buddy but I'm really thinking that if you
turn the pad off during the day he'll be driven back to find amusement
elsewhere, no? Believe me, I do know how magically attractive these heating
pads are.

Mike in Illinois

"Scott Buchanan" <t120rv@pacifier.com> wrote in message

I've got to be honest, that's kind of funny. There's nothing more depressing
than when a cat owner finds out how fickle their cat really is and realizes
that they've been reduced to the rank of being nothing more than cat
servant.

Like Mike suggested, I'd try turning the heating pad off at certain times of
the day. You might even consider buying a timer for it.

(You didn't actually think you were going to solve this situation without
spending *some money* did you?)

I had a 20 year old hyperthyroid cat whom I purchased a heating pad
for.  I don't think I would do it for one as young as your 8 year old.
I know the look though.  I thought mine would be too "cool" to even lay
on it, but there he went and put his little front paws out in front of
him all flared out - like saying "oh, this feels so good"!  Towards the
end, he only got off of it to eat and potty.

I don't think the pad will affect the growing of the winter coat.  It
certainly doesn't effect mine.  My cat loves the pad and practically tells
me when she wants it turned on.  She goes thru mood changes.  Kind of cycles
across habits about where she wants to lounge and how much attention she
wants to give me.  The other cat I have is very consistent.  She cares
nothing about the pad, sleeps on my feet every night no matter the season.
I wouldn't be too concerned.