A Catio is the Coolest Thing You Never Knew Your Cat Needed

Here’s something to add to the list of awesome things you can build for your cat: a catio. It’s a portmanteau of cat + patio, and it’s an enclosed outdoor space that lets your cat enjoy the great outdoors, without the attendant risks. If you’ve got the DIY itch, here a few inspiring projects to get you started. Your neighbors may look askance at your new outdoor room, but your cats will be happy, and that’s what matters.

Above: This Catio, from The Cat Carpenter, is really just a twist on a screened porch, with slightly larger mesh and shelves for kitties to sit on and look around. Cats can access the catio through a window into the home, humans through the screened door.

Kristin of My Stuff What I Made built this enclosure for her cats against the side of her house.

Barbara from Our Fairfield Home & Garden built this catio, basically just a small screened porch where the cats can play outside (with a door for the humans to clean it).

From Catio Spaces, here’s a little catio with enough space for animals and humans. They sell plans so you can make a catio of your own.

Mark built this incredibly elaborate cat run, inspired by the one created by the blogger at Cuckoo 4 Design. The cat run consists of several tunnels, enclosed by mesh, which connect a window in his house with a couple of different enclosed spaces where the cats can play around.

From Catio Spaces, here’s proof that catios don’t have to be huge to be enjoyable. Here’s one that perches outside a window, a little reminiscent of this baby cage.

David from The Cat Carpenter took an existing outdoor patio and enclosed it in wire mesh, creating a safe space that kitties and humans alike can enjoy.

This large and fairly elaborate Portland catio, spotted on The Columbian, provides outdoor space for eight kitties, and also a pretty sweet place to hang out for people, too.