Purchasing a catio for your cats

Photo by Ultra Lite Animal Enclosures

Size and location: Determine how much space you can devote to a catio and where you’ll place it. Many prefabricated catios require a level surface, such as concrete pavers or slabs, a deck or a leveled patch of lawn.

Catio types: Get familiar with the most common types of catio designs. If you want your cats to access the catio directly from your home, you might choose a three-sided model that leans against your home where a pet door or window is located. Or you can opt for a freestanding model with tunnel connectors.

Legal considerations: Be aware of any zoning and fire safety regulations. For example, you shouldn’t cover a bedroom window unless there’s another human-sized exit point, says Cynthia Chomos, owner of Catio Spaces design company.

Weather factors: Make sure the structure you choose will withstand the weight of heavy snowfalls if that’s an issue in your region.

Long-range plans: Will you be moving in the future? You may want to buy a portable model that you can take with you.

The right look: If aesthetics are important, some vendors offer a choice of colors and materials, or you may want a frame that can be painted. If you’re not finding what you want among the prefabricated models, some companies offer customized designs and free design consultations.

Finishing touches: When choosing interior accessories, think about your cats’ personalities and energy levels. A staid senior will appreciate some comfortable lounging spots in an area that gets sun. Younger or more rambunctious types might get more use from climbing structures and shelves placed at multiple levels.

Assembly skills: Keep in mind that prefabricated catios require some assembly. Check out the installation instructions and videos (and read the online reviews) to make sure you understand the work involved. If you—with the help of a friend or two—aren’t up for the task, some vendors can connect you with an installation expert.

With the growing popularity of catios, choices for prefabricated catios (or cat enclosure kits) have proliferated. Here are a variety of designs and styles to get you started.*

• Aivituvin sells both walk-in models (meaning there’s a door for human access) as well as smaller models on wheels for easy mobility. Constructed of solid wood and heavy-duty galvanized welded wire, most models come with window connectors or optional tunnels.
• Catbitats sells 18 complete catio kits and hundreds of optional add-ons, including tunnels, towers and bridges. Constructed of durable, 2-by-2-inch steel mesh, the modular enclosures “are designed to mix and match to suit your needs.”
• CDE Animal Cages offers a variety of freestanding and three-sided catios, as well as window boxes and balcony models. The panel design enables you to modify or relocate the structure as needed. Frames are constructed of furniture-grade PVC or anodized aluminum with PVC-coated galvanized steel wire and stainless steel hardware.
• C&D Pet Products offers catio kits in dozens of sizes made of solid redwood and galvanized steel wire (with the option for a smaller wire grid for kittens). Catios can be freestanding units or attached to a wall. Optional accessories include shade cloths, tunnels, perches, ramps and more.
• Custom Cages’ Suncatcher cat enclosure model comes in a variety of sizes and with a choice of materials and colors. Optional accessories include window connector kits, catwalks (tunnels), cedar shelves and more.
• Habitat Haven sells catios in a range of sizes and styles. Made of galvanized steel mesh panels with a powder-coated black finish, the modular design allows you to expand the catio over time. Optional accessories include rope bridges, cedar shelves and floors, hammocks and more.
• Purrfect Fence, known for its freestanding cat fences and extensions that can be added to an existing fence, also sells fully enclosed catios. The Purrfect Penthouse (7.5-feet wide, 15-feet long and up to 7-feet tall) has an all-steel, black-powder-coated framework and heavy gauge steel grid.
• K9 Kennel Store sells catios in a range of sizes, configurable for different spaces and constructed of heavy-duty, powder-coated wire. Optional accessories include tunnels, towers, ramps and more.
• Safecat UK: This UK-based company’s catios come in steel (available in a variety of colors) or pressure-treated wood with mesh panels. Optional accessories include roofs, ladders, bridges, shelves and more.
• Ultra Lite Animal Enclosures sells freestanding catio models with optional stands as well as window-access catios and indoor/outdoor kitty condos. Enclosures are constructed of square vinyl tubing (available in gray or white) with galvanized welded wire (in black or white) and matching fittings.

* This information is provided for reference only. Humane World for Animals doesn’t endorse, recommend or approve any of the products listed in this article or the companies that provide them.