Cats and Birds | Catios and outdoor cat enclosures
What is a Catio?
Are you thinking of transitioning your outdoor cat indoors? Maybe you want to give your indoor kitty some outdoor engagement? If so, it might be time to get your cat a catio!
On this page, we'll discuss different kinds of catios to suit your needs and how they can benefit cats, wildlife, and humans alike.
A catio is basically a patio for cats. It’s a safe and secure outdoor space that allows them to enjoy the sights, smells, and sounds of the outdoors without risking any of the dangers associated with an outdoor lifestyle. It will also help to eliminate the risk of your cat preying on wild birds and other wildlife.
An important consideration before planning your catio is that if your catio is visible from the street or if you are enclosing your porch/ balcony, it could be a good idea to review local bylaws or relevant home owner’s/ strata association guidelines to ensure you are allowed to build one in the first place.
Why consider a Catio?
Safe outdoor space for your cat
Catios are an excellent way to allow your cat outdoor access while greatly minimizing the risks associated with an outdoor lifestyle. Outdoor cats face many risks including mortality from traffic accidents, unwanted pregnancy, predators, toxins, diseases and parasites passed on from the environment or other animals, as well as trauma and injuries from wildlife encounters and cat fights. Indoor lifestyle and supervised outdoor access is key in addressing these issues and cat welfare concerns such as cat overpopulation and feral cat colonies.
Saving time and money
Catios can save you time and money in the long run. Whether you build it yourself or buy one premade, consider that the cost of a catio could ultimately be cheaper than an emergency visit to your vet. If your cat gets into an accident while unsupervised outdoors, it could set you back significantly.
Protect wildlife from roaming cats
Catios are bird-friendly! Predation from free-ranging domestic cats is the #1 human-related source of bird mortality. With up to an estimated 4 billion birds and 22.3 billion mammals killed each year from outdoor cats, it is imperative that we keep our feline friends inside and allow for supervised outdoor access only (Loss et. al., 2013).
Types of Catios
Catios come in many shapes and sizes, meaning it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one that suits your needs. You may choose to order a prebuilt catio, build your own with DIY plans, or even hire a contractor to design and build one for you! No matter the budget or skill level, there’s a catio for that.
Enclosed Deck and Porch Catios
Fencing off your deck, porch, or balcony can be a great option for an easy DIY catio. For extra enrichment, try installing shelves for your cat to perch on and boxes for them to hide in. A perk of this kind of catio is that you can bring out a chair and spend time in it alongside them!
From our Happy Cat Gallery: Sisters Missy and Stella in their amazing porch catio in Vancouver, BC.
From our Happy Cat Gallery: Elly built this beautiful porch catio to keep her cats and wildlife safe in Gibsons, BC.
Window Boxes
Window boxes are another popular catio choice. They provide cats with fresh air and increased exposure to the outdoors without taking up too much space, plus they can be relatively simple to build and install.
Resources: BC SPCA’s DIY guide for window catios
Examples of window catios. Photo credit: Camilla Topola.
Freestanding Catios
A benefit to free-standing catios is that you have the flexibility to move them into different locations based on your needs. They can be a great option as a stand-alone feature in your backyard, placed on a patio, or secured to the side of a house with access through a window- the choice is yours (or maybe your cat’s).
If you can’t find a premade patio that suits your needs, or if cost is a barrier for you, consider building a DIY catio. The BC SPCA and My Outdoor Plans offer an array of free catio plans of different shapes and sizes. If carpentry really isn’t your strong suit, consider a DIY catio like this one made from two inexpensive IKEA shelves.
From our Happy Cat Gallery: DIY freestanding catio for Purrlene to stay happy and content. Kamloops, BC.
Find free DIY catio building guide on the BC SPCA website: click here. It’s cheap and easy!
Considerations When Buying or Building a Catio
Pick the right materials
Whether you decide to build or buy your cat’s very own outdoor space, the right materials are important. Galvanized hardware cloth is a widely recommended material as it is not only durable, but cats can’t easily chew through or scratch their way out of it like they can with chicken wire. It is also a good idea to look for rot-resistant lumber like cedar because it’s more durable and doesn’t have to be primed or painted for outdoor use.
Location is key!
When you’re building or installing a catio it’s important that you place it in an area where your cat(s) will enjoy being outside – a space with a view to the street or a backyard where cats can watch passersby or birds can provide them with lots of engagement.
How big or small should your cation be?
The size of your enclosure will depend on how many cats you own. If you have more than one cat then it’s advisable to make the enclosure large enough so they don’t feel cramped. Cats also enjoy perching on high-up spaces, so remember that the height of your catio is more important than its width.
Which design should I choose?
Explore provided online resources with videos, photos, more tips and DIY guides for making your catio beautiful, functional and exciting for your cats. Click on the links below to see more examples of awesome cat enclosures you can build.
- CatioSpaces – ALL you need to know about catios – ideas, guides, photos, videos: link
- CatiOasis – more catio examples: link
- Cats Safe at Home – catio tour videos: link
- Catio enrichment – BC SPCA: link
- DIY Stand alone catio – BC SPCA: link
- DIY Enclosed Porch Catio – BC SPCA: link
- DIY Window Catio – BC SPCA: link
You can’t go wrong when choosing to build a catio
Ultimately, catios can provide a great space for cats to explore, receive fresh air and sunlight, and be kept safe from outdoor dangers. Be Creative! Explore the many types and designs of catios online to get inspired. Add shelves, elevated perches, cat hammocks, cat trees, toys and other enrichment to make catios cozy and fun for your companions. By providing your cat with a catio you’re also ensuring that both your cat and wild birds alike stay healthy and happy!
