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A catio (“cat patio”) is an outdoor enclosure that keeps cats and birds and wildlife safe. Catios offer cats healthy exercise time as well as safety from outdoor hazards like cars, predators and poisons. It’s a win-win! Catios come in many forms.
Is it cruel to keep a cat in a Catio?
All they need is a loving owner and a stimulating environment. To keep an indoor cat is not cruel. Provided you give your cat the right amount of stimulation and attention (each cat will be different), they can live full and happy lives inside of your home. It may even be the better option for both you and your cat.
Are Catios good for cats?
Catios are great for cats that are curious or playful. They can help cats to expend that unwanted energy by exploring their new space. Or perhaps they love basking in the sunshine on the windowsill, and a catio will allow them extra space to do just that.
How much does a Catio cost?
You can buy a DIY catio plan for $40-$150 and then buy the materials for a further $100-$1,000. You can buy a pre-made catio for $300-$2,500. You can pay upwards of $1,000 for a custom-built catio. Equipment, building permits, poor planning, and maintenance can increase costs further.
How do Catios work?
A catio, or cat patio, is an outside, escape proof, enclosed area that your cat can access from inside the house. The catio doesn’t have to be large; those outside a window may be as wide and tall as the window but with a solid floor. They can work for city cats, suburban, and even rural cats.
What do you put inside a Catio?
For their exercise and scratching pleasure, put in platforms, ramps, cedar tree limbs, tree trunks, a 4-inch-thick rope and scratching posts. Water dishes can be inside the catio, but not food, which attracts insects.
Are Catios good indoor cats?
Catios provide important enrichment to indoor cats, allowing them to observe and experience the outdoors and all of its sights, smells and sounds, without some of the dangers associated with being an outdoor cat.
Is it cheaper to buy or build a Catio?
There are many compelling reasons to build a catio, and we’re here to tell you some good news: Building a catio is much easier and less expensive, than you might think. Even if you live in an apartment with nothing but a fire escape, you can make it work.
How do I get my cat into Catio?
Cats are very food motivated, so you can use treats to encourage your cat to hop up onto a shelf or to lead them up a ramp or up cat stairs. Play is also a good motivator. If you have a wand toy for your cat you can use this to “lure” your cat onto a shelf, ramps, cat stairs, or even out onto the catio.
How big should a Catio be?
A logical starting size for a catio is 2 ft wide, 3 ft long, and 2 ft high. Install a larger catio if you have the money, space, or multiple cats. Cats love climbing, so you can build up even if you can’t build outward.
What makes a good Catio?
Cats love vertical space so you can maximize a small area by adding several vertical shelves and perches. If space is limited, a window box catio is a great option. If you want to enjoy the catio too, a 6’x8′ or 8’x10′ size catio will allow space for seating and bonding with your cat.
How do you make Catio fun?
Add kitty comforts and enrichment to your catio. Add additional napping spots for creature comfort with weather-proof wicker cat beds, lounges, or their very own hammock. Create some catio fun with scratching posts, toys and hanging décor to bat at in the wind.
Do you need planning permission for a Catio?
You will need planning permission for your catio if you want to build it next to a public road. Depending on the design and exact position of the catio, it can create blind spots for motorists.
Does a Catio need a roof?
Most catios are built like screened porches but with an open screen roof, so build shelves or cat runs around the entire perimeter and use tall logs to grant them access to these runs. Always make sure you are making a full circle and providing multiple exit and entry points if you have more than one cat.
Is a Catio safe?
Catios are safe when designed and built correctly. Use sturdy treated wood and strong metal fencing with smooth edges (16-gauge wire and 2”x3” grid openings) to keep your cat safely inside and keep predators out. Remove your cat’s collar to prevent it from getting snagged.
Can I use chicken wire for Catio?
While standard chicken wire and enclosed porch screening are readily available, chicken wire isn’t very strong and may leave jagged edges when cut (increasing risk of injury for both your cat and you) and it may rust. The wire comes in varying heights and is quite easy to install on one of our catios.
How can I keep my cat off the deck?
The first is to use a mesh or screen to prevent your cat from jumping or falling off the balcony. If the bottom half of your balcony is not a solid wall, you will need to wrap the railing with mesh. Fresh air gets in and it doesn’t block much light. The second cat proofing technique is to use netting.
How long does it take to build a Catio?
Assemblying your catio Even for the experts, catios can take a team of two to three people up to a full week to put together, depending on the design. To be on the safe side, make sure to budget at least a few days for assembly—more if you’re not an experienced builder.
What surface do cats not like?
Cats are fussy about what surfaces they do and don’t like. They like soft soil for digging but hate sharp surfaces. away. around your garden, doorway or other places where cats spray or defecate.
