Amber spends a lot of time sleeping on her window seat.  The seat has a
heating pad (set on low) covered by a piece of fleece.  She has some
"bare" spots on her belly and I notice some hair accumulating on the
fleece (click on link to see a picture).  Do you think this is a result
of lying on the heat?  As soon as things warm up a bit (soon I hope) I
will turn the heating pad off.  The bare spots don't seem to bother her
at all.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/View?u=1777604&a=13746147&p=71831126&Sequence=0&
res=high

I think she may be spending too much time on the heating pad. I would
remove it now. The if the fur does not grow back you can look into
other possibilities.

Amber spends a lot of time sleeping on her window seat.  The seat has a
heating pad (set on low) covered by a piece of fleece.  She has some
"bare" spots on her belly and I notice some hair accumulating on the
fleece (click on link to see a picture).  Do you think this is a result
of lying on the heat?  As soon as things warm up a bit (soon I hope) I
will turn the heating pad off.  The bare spots don't seem to bother her
at all.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/View?u=1777604&a=13746147&p=71831126&Sequenc
e=0&res=high

                 ---MIKE---

--

I don't know about these things, but instead of heating pad...Down holds
heat really good, then her own body would warm the spot up. Or during super
cold winter months, maybe just turn it on for a few mins, to knock the ice
sickles off. Down, wool, cotton, I think these materials are good
insulators.

Anytime a muscle is not being used it will atrophy...meaning, use it or
loose it, so, your cats heart generates the heat she needs, whereas if an
outside source is supplying the heat even beyond her own normal
temperature...this could weaken her heart and circulatory system. (this is
just my theory). I think it happens slowly and on a small scale.

Barry

... Women and cats are both black at night. - Bosnia ...

Amber spends a lot of time sleeping on her window seat.  The seat has a
heating pad (set on low) covered by a piece of fleece.  She has some
"bare" spots on her belly and I notice some hair accumulating on the
fleece (click on link to see a picture).  Do you think this is a result
of lying on the heat?  As soon as things warm up a bit (soon I hope) I
will turn the heating pad off.  The bare spots don't seem to bother her
at all.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/View?u=1777604&a=13746147&p=71831126&Sequence=0&
res=high

                 ---MIKE---

Mike, I wouldn't use the heating pad.  When Bandit had her dental cleaning
she was badly burned by a heating pad and the burns didn't show up until
much later and just seemed to get worse and worse (not the same situation, I
know, but it still makes me leery of heating pads).  I would think the
fleece alone would hold her body heat.

Hugs,

CatNipped

Amber spends a lot of time sleeping on her window seat.  The seat has a
heating pad (set on low) covered by a piece of fleece.  She has some
"bare" spots on her belly and I notice some hair accumulating on the
fleece (click on link to see a picture).  Do you think this is a result
of lying on the heat?  As soon as things warm up a bit (soon I hope) I
will turn the heating pad off.  The bare spots don't seem to bother her
at all.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/View?u=1777604&a=13746147&p=71831126&Sequence=0&
res=high

Mike,

If you want to give her something warm to lie and sleep on, get her a "Space
Blanket"- its a thin  84" x 56" mylar sheet that reflects >80% of body heat
back to the body.  Space Blankets cost about $1.50--$1.95 available at most
outdoor stores .  Here's an online source:
http://www.readymaderesources.com/thumbnail.asp?offset=0&deep=2&cid=430   -- or
email me with a mailing address and I'll send you a couple.  I buy them by
the case for feral cat winter shelters and kitten nests.  Just cover the
blanket with a towel.

Another toasty warm pad is the "Flexi-Mat Mysterious Purr Pad"-- they're
soft and absorb and retain body heat.  Petco sells them for about $20.

I'd get those bald patches looked at.  If they are burns, they could become
infected and/or necrotic.

Phil

I could be wrong but the area kinda looks thinner around the bald patches as
if she is licking the hair off. Is the hair you find flat against the cover
she is on, balled up and fluffy or is it ever stuck together as if it has
just been licked?
Have you changed her diet, litter or has anything in your house changed.
Hope you get her sorted out soon.

Shadow Walker

Amber spends a lot of time sleeping on her window seat.  The seat has a
heating pad (set on low) covered by a piece of fleece.  She has some
"bare" spots on her belly and I notice some hair accumulating on the
fleece (click on link to see a picture).  Do you think this is a result
of lying on the heat?  As soon as things warm up a bit (soon I hope) I
will turn the heating pad off.  The bare spots don't seem to bother her
at all.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/View?u=1777604&a=13746147&p=71831126&Sequence=0&
res=high

                 ---MIKE---