Catio?

Wasn't really sure what category to put this in but I figured it wasn't behavior. 

Anyways, I've been looking a lot lately into building some sort of catio or something similar, as well as harness training, and could definitely use some help with it.

I understand the basic concept of them but do have a few questions.

I'm wondering, for example, how to do it as cheap as possible (I'd rather not buy one for a few thousand when I can build one for a few hundred), and if they make the house hot if you have a window entrance? I'm really worried about that part. 

And if anyone has any design ideas or anything that would be great too. 

I found this video but any other ideas are great. 


She's indoor/outdoor but I want to make her indoor only. She only goes out for a couple hours during the day and stays really close to the house (people can say she doesn't but I've seen her and she wants to come in shortly. Plus we have almost 3 acres and we're in a condo area so she doesn't need to go anywhere far) and is in at night and doesn't go out at all in winter but I'd just feel better about making her indoor only. Even if not for her safety then for the wildlife. She doesn't care about being in in winter but as soon as spring hits, she's waiting by the door, so tips on how to work on that would be great too.

But I do want to build her a catio or something similar and hopefully get her to accept a leash, and maybe get her more toys, and hopefully that will help. The dog eats her toys though so she doesn't have too many. 

But ANYWAYS.

I know I'm new but any info on catios, or really anything you think would help, would be great.

Thanks in advance

Here is a link that has lots and lots of ideas.

http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-...site&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email

I'll check out that link! Thanks

We have a cat enclosure. Ours started off as an enclosed catio on the back of the house but over approximately 3 years it grew to cover more or less our whole garden. My two girls have never been outside cats and they love it. My boy who has now crossed the bridge was an in/out cat before we built it and after a couple of weeks adjusting to not roaming he got used to it no problem.

Here is the link to my photo's

http://www.thecatsite.com/g/a/185130/cat-enclosure-pictures/

KittyWhiskers said:

We have a cat enclosure. Ours started off as an enclosed catio on the back of the house but over approximately 3 years it grew to cover more or less our whole garden. My two girls have never been outside cats and they love it. My boy who has now crossed the bridge was an in/out cat before we built it and after a couple of weeks adjusting to not roaming he got used to it no problem.

Here is the link to my photo's

http://www.thecatsite.com/g/a/185130/cat-enclosure-pictures/

Click to expand...

Wow, that's gorgeous!! It helps that you seem to have a green thumb too

I'm hoping my cat easily adjusts to not roaming too but I'm sure she will since she never goes too far anyways. She was gone for 2 or 3 days once before we got her spayed but has never gone that far since and hardly goes out now so I'm sure she'll adapt. 

In fact, she'll probably just lay in the sun. Ha

I'm thinking of screening in the back decks but we also have a garden in the front and I'm considering screening that too. It's connected to the house so we'd only have so screen 2 sides - just put some screen on top of the picket fence and add a gate. But we also have an area next to the garage that we never use that I might make into a cat-only area. Was thinking about fencing the back yard and half the front for the dog and making that his area but we probably won't get around to that and he won't sleep outside anyways so might make it a kitty area.

Only problem is it's on the side of the house that's all shade so she might not like it too much but that's where the other areas and/or the cat walks will come in handy.

I might do it in stages though because it might get expensive but I'm hoping screen is cheaper than wire? And my mom's always wanted a screened in porch anyways.

I, again, don't want to get too carried away, but the eventual plan, at least right now, is to have a run go around the house, either attached to the side of the house or a ground run, and then connect the cat area. Possibly multiple areas. Don't know what window yet but possibly the spare bedroom upstairs, my room, or the garage window. Or a cat door in one of the doors.

The other problem besides cost though is how to make it look nice and not unsightly.

But this is all just big plans right now. I'll probably start off a lot smaller.

Haha, no, no green thumb here. We have planted different kinds of bushes that need very little maintenance, just the odd prune once in a while. The greenery, I think, makes the space look prettier like its a garden as well as a cat enclosure.

My hubby built it all and the reason it took 3 years was the cost. Its suprising how much it all adds up. We got quite a few of the materials from Ebay, we found it cheaper than going to a shop.

Good luck with your project and please post pictures, we would all love to see. :nod:

Haha well you should tell people you have a green thumb

I agree that it makes it prettier though

And oh yeah, it definitely adds up fast!! But I just realized we have a lot of wood in the garage so maybe I could use some of that. I hadn't thought of Ebay though - that's a good idea. I think I will have to save up some though because I've spent sort of a lot recently but eventually I'll make it.

Thank you!! And oh I definitely will!!

Craigslist is another place you can check for supplies.  One of DH's co-workers found a bunch of fencing materials for free on there before.  

That is a beautiful enclosure @KittyWhiskers  !!

That's a good idea too! I've been looking and haven't found too much so far but I'll definitely keep looking!

MoochNNoodles said:

Craigslist is another place you can check for supplies.  One of DH's co-workers found a bunch of fencing materials for free on there before.  :bigthumb:

That is a beautiful enclosure @KittyWhiskers
 !!

Click to expand...

Thank you for the compliment MoochNNoodles and yes that's a great idea, it's surprising what some people are throwing out.

It really is!! Sometimes there's even fish tanks for really cheap or free, along with a lot of other stuff. Even sheds sometimes! It's amazing because sometimes I'm thinking "you do know you could sell this for a decent price, right?" hahaha though of course I don't say that

And in fact, at our local transfer station/dump they have a free area and a book shed so people drop off all kinds of stuff and you can just take it. For free. Though of course you do have to have a dump sticker but still. But ANYWAYS. Sometimes they have great pet stuff and my mom actually just got a 26 gallon bowfront fish tank with all kinds of driftwood and stuff we're gonna set up. It's amazing because they could have sold it - it's in great shape. They have cat stuff too there sometimes.

But back to cats (and sorry if that part above wasn't allowed, i can move it):

I'll have to keep looking for supplies for the run though and/or go buy some wire storage cubes for now. I really want to build this thing ASAP