Amber losing hair
 

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...&p=3D71831126=
&Sequence=3D0&res=3Dhigh


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44=B0 15' N - Elevation 1580')

"---MIKE---" wrote in message
...
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...e=0&re s=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.

"---MIKE---" wrote in message
...
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...831126&Sequenc
e=0&res=high


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')
--

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 ...

"---MIKE---" wrote in message
...
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...e=0&re s=high


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

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

I agree with catnip on this I wouldn't use a heating pad it's too easy for
her to get burned. What you could do is get one of those portable hot seats
that hunters set on in the woods. They warm up just from your body heat and
there is no electricity involved so no way for her to possibly get burned.
If she is really cold laying there she will get up and move to someplace
warmer. My cats often go from one window sill to the next as the sun moves
during the day. In the evening you can always find my calico snuggled down
inside the comforter on the bed and the other two snuggled up in the cat bed
together.

Celeste

"CatNipped" wrote in message
...
"---MIKE---" wrote in message
...
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...e=0&re s=high


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

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

Thank you for your input. I have turned off the heating pad. I will
note however that the heating pad has been on during the cold weather
for several years. I know this is supposed to be spring but you would
never know it from the weather. I will have to wait and see if the fur
grows back on Amber's belly.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44=B0 15' N - Elevation 1580')

"---MIKE---" wrote in message
...
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...e=0&re s=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/th...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

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

Phil



I saw the pic Mike posted...what happened here...you say burned...ok..
but obviously, not like one might think, but cooked?...Im just trying to
figure why the hair turned loose..see...the circulation in that area
decreased?...or just plain ol too much heat...I don't know. Ruprecht used to
sleep by the fire last winter...I tell ya, I had second thoughts, he'd stay
there aalll day...I'd have to drag him away!, he was like a dishtowel, you
think animals know what is best, but I don't think so.

--
Barry



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

I parted the fur on other parts of her body and the skin is the same
color there. The heating pad is just warm - not hot (but it is off
now).


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44=B0 15' N - Elevation 1580')

"---MIKE---" wrote in message
...
I parted the fur on other parts of her body and the skin is the same
color there. The heating pad is just warm - not hot (but it is off
now).


Yes, I at first thought the pink was burn and then recalled that where
cats are white they have that bright pink skin! Might it be a reaction to
the fabric of the blanket? Even if she has lain on that blanket for a long
time, perhaps cats are like humans and develop allergies over the years.
Maybe you ought to have a vet take a look at your next appointment
just to be sure. It could be an early sign of something that you would
want to know about. I know how much you love Amber.