well, he slept in the crate his 1st nite, and then i couldnt take the whining which is when i gated off the kitchen and put his crate in there. last night he slept in in with minimal crying, and todat he's been in it most of the time. the crate has been left open in the kitchen and he is free to enter or exit it any time he feels like it. he's been in it the majority of the day! i have a big fleece blanket draped over the crate and a fleecey thing along with one of my old fleece jackets inside the crate for him to sleep on. he also has a cat bed that the cats never used that he sleeps in also. i will try to find the hot water bottle tonight. as for the clock, i'll have to wait until i get paid for that...would a regular (smallish) wall clock work? it has the ticking. thanks