Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I bought this product in 2011 to keep my cat warm in the garage. Living in the central coast of California, it doesn't get much use because the temps are normally mild. But when they do get a little chilly, this product has worked flawlessly until a week ago or more. A towel is over the top of the heater to provide some cushion and separation between it and the cat. The cat really loves to get on the heated "bed" during the times it is plugged in. It has been a bit cold the past couple of weeks here, so I plugged in the heater for her to stay warm in the garage. I began to notice that she would get on the bed and lay there for a few minutes, then get off the bed. At first I didn't think much of it, thinking I needed to change the towel. And in doing so, I was truly alarmed to find that the "Lectro-Kennel" heater was so hot I could not put my hands on it. I immediately unplugged it and waited for it to cool off some. The heater was plugged in as per instructions to a standard 120V outlet. The cord and the integrity of the unit overall was fine. Yet I could clearly see where the hard plastic casing is warped from the over heating and blemished where the plastic began to melt (see the 3 photos I posted). As the heater has worked fine during our brief cold spells, I did not think to replace it because of its age. Hence my warning, if you have one of these or plan to buy one, be sure to replace it after 5 years of use or it could literally start a fire (if that plastic were to ignite in the garage in the middle of the night it would be devastating). The product description states "this heated cat mat has been tested & certified by MET Labs to exceed USA/CA electrical safety standards" and the "heated Kitty Pad is made of durable ABS plastic, perfect for years of outdoor wear and tear". Well it is obvious to me that the MET testing failed this product and the "perfect for years" doesn't add up either. This is a huge safety issue, buyer beware.