The foam inside is the same length of the mat. The thickness is almost 1/2 inch. The heating pad is not the same length it's much smaller but does heat up the whole mat. My cat loves this mat due to the warmth specially the winter months.

I've not done this but I would say yes. The heated element is very low wattage, you have to really press down on the mat to feel the (slight) warmth. Should be fine. Lucky kitty you have..

It's made in China

While our indoor heated pet beds products are great for the indoors, they are not designed to return enough body heat for the cold outdoor temperatures of winter. Rather, they are designed to elevate the temperature of a pet bed that is already around room temperature. For outdoor pets, we recommend using the Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Bed, Lectro-Kennel, or Extreme Weather Kitty Pad. These are made for the outdoors and will provide enough heat for an outdoor setting during the cold winter months.

MET Safety Laboratories suggests unplugging the bed if you leave your home on an extended vacation, as they do with any electrical appliance. Otherwise, it is designed for 24/7 operation and you can leave it plugged in all day. This item has been certified by MET labs to adhere to strict electrical safety standards. For more information, please visit www.metlabs.com.

I make straw beds for outside stray kitties to keep them warm in winter. This works pretty well. I put the straw (not hay) in a plastic kitchen size garbage bag, not packed full, you want to be able to shape it, tie it shut and wrap a fleece blanket around it. I shape the straw bag so it's like a deep donut cat bed. Kitties get in and snuggle down into it. I get a 1-2 yard fleece fabric from Joann Fabric store, if they have the Sherpa fleece that's the warmest, they have it half price a lot. A whole bale of straw is about $10 at the feed store. Total cost about $15. Sometimes I use a couple bags to make a super insulated bed, the air in the straw warms up from the cats body heat and the fleece keeps the heat in and warms the kitties unlike other fabrics that wick away body heat from cats. Plus if I want to get it warmed up fast, I heat a Corn-Bag in the microwave and stick it under the bed. Make "corn bags" using feed corn and flannel, or put rice in tube socks and tie them off. They stay warm for awhile and this might even be all you need.

Yes, this has a plug and cord. The cord is about six feet long. It only heats when the cat is on it, otherwise it remains at room temperature. My cat loves her heating pad and spends the entire winter on it. I plan on getting another for my other cat so he stops trying to steal it from her.

About six feet.