A few years ago, a stray female cat delivered a litter in our back yard. After learning about the local animal control policy on unclaimed cats - and after many unsuccessful attempts to find them a home - we decided to maintain and care for the cats ourselves. During the winter, our three cats spend their cold nights (and days) in a modular-style shelter we created which includes three of these heated Kitty Pads. We are now well into our third winter with our "outside cats," and I can honestly say that I'm not sure our trio would have survived without the warmth provided by these heated pads - especially at night. We have had one pad fail during the warranty period, but it was quickly replaced by the manufacturer. Overall, I give this product my highest recommendation - BUY IT. For outside cats in winter, it can make all the difference.