A trend is currently sweeping the feline living scene, and if you want your cat to be one of the happiest on the block, you may be in for a minor home renovation project. Say hello to the catio, aka, the cat patio.
According to a very recent trend piece in the Washington Post, catios are not only a fun way to give your pet a luxe outdoor space, but they’re also a completely safe option since they keep your pet from roaming or getting into trouble with other animals such as birds.
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Catios are screened-in structures which range in sizes, shapes, and designs that allow cats to take in the fresh air and lounge in their own space.
Some companies even specialize in these custom built enclosures. Catio Spaces in Seattle, for example, is offering small options such as the “Window Box Veranda” all the way to a larger ground-level “Sanctuary Condo,” which includes a human-sized door and an upper catwalk.
The Cat Carpenter, a catio specialist located in Austin, Texas, features a treehouse design complete with a skywalk from the main house. There’s also a multi-level one which allows the cat to live the penthouse lifestyle and a large screened-in porch catio that’s big enough for humans to hang out in too.
You may also DIY your own if you’re up for the challenge. Catio Spaces offers all of its plans for $49.95, or you can also find instructions on the internet (this one featured on Catioblog costs about $100 to make.)
Do you want to test out the concept with your cat before you commit to building? There are portable options from Wildwhiskers. Or just let this cat in Zillow’s video show you why you need to do this:
People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is a big proponent of catios, saying in a blog post that if your cat could talk, they’d ask you for one. But the organization also reminds you to keep a watchful eye on your pet when they’re lounging in the catio. “Make sure that they always have fresh water and shade,” the blog post states. “And never leave them outside in hot or cold temperatures or bad weather.”
