What Is A Catio?

Sunlight, fresh air, and plenty to listen to and look at — the benefits of a catio for cats are many. A catio (a mix of the words “patio” and “cat”) is a safe place for indoor cats to hang out outside.

Catios come in different shapes and sizes, but the purposes are all the same: to provide your cat with a better lifestyle. With a catio, your cat can enjoy the benefits of being outside while avoiding dangers. In a way, a catio is an extension of your home and a private room for your cat.

Read on to learn more about catios, the many benefits of catios, and why you should consider adding one to your home. 

What are the Benefits of a Catio?

Catios come with many benefits, some of which may not seem obvious:

Safe outdoor enjoyment. Catios are enclosed, making them a place where your cat can’t escape and wander off. Similarly, nothing can come in to threaten your cat.

Fresh air and sunlight. Many indoor cats don’t get to enjoy sunlight or fresh air. A catio allows them access to both whenever they want — weather permitting, of course!

Stimulation. If you have a bored cat or a restless kitten, then a catio could be the perfect addition to your home. Aside from the sounds, smells, and sights of the outdoors, you can outfit catios with toys, shelves, scratchers, trees…you name it!

Stress reduction. Nothing relieves stress quite like the great outdoors! With a catio, stressed cats can relax in the sun and fresh air, all while knowing they’re safe.

No roaming cats. Outdoor cats like to go hunting and might bring home mice or other critters as gifts. Catios prevent cats from running around the neighborhood, meaning fewer catches and safety for wildlife. 

Catios provide other benefits including exercise and activity for your cat and better overall well-being. 

Do Indoor Cats Need a Catio?

Indoor cats have survived for years without a catio, many of which had long, happy lives. However, a catio provides all the benefits of the outdoors combined with the safety and security of your home. 

Adding a catio to your home could help indoor cats in various ways. If you’re concerned about the mental health of your indoor cat, then you should consider adding a catio. 

Can a Cat Live in a Catio Full Time?

Cats are flexible creatures, many of which live exclusively indoors and outdoors. Catios are a great combination of both, but there are limits. For example, catios are rarely large, usually coming in around 6’x8′ or 8’x10′. While not small, this is a tiny area for a cat to live its entire life.

Instead of trying to get a cat to live in a catio full time, create an entrance to the catio either from your home or outside. This allows indoor cats to freely access the catio, or outdoor cats to come and go as they please. 

That being said, many cats may end up spending most of their time in a catio. If this sounds like your cat, make sure the catio has fresh water, fresh food, a litter box, and an enclosure for sleeping. 

Can Cats Escape a Catio?

Whether or not your cat can escape a catio depends on two factors: your catio and your cat.

To secure a catio, make sure that there are no holes for a cat to sneak through. Some cats prefer digging, so adding flooring to the catio can help seal any exit points. If you choose an open catio with no ceiling, make sure that your cat can’t climb high enough to escape. Adding a small fence at the top of a catio can make it harder for agile cats to climb out. 

If your cat is an avid explorer or enjoys getting into trouble, then you may need to reinforce the catio. Supervise your cat in the catio for a few days to see what they do. If they’re testing the strength of the walls, then you may want to reinforce the walls. Once you feel secure about your catio, make sure to do regular checks. Catios don’t last forever, but they’ll last a lot longer if you inspect it for problems and fix any issues. 

How Expensive is a Catio?

Catios can be as expensive as you want them to be. A simple catio could start at a few hundred dollars, while nicer catios could run you thousands of dollars. 

Factors that influence cost include:

• Size
• Materials (wood, wire mesh, netting, metal, etc)
• Complexity
• Location
• Labor costs

You can save a lot of money on a catio if you choose to build it yourself. However, if you’ve never created something from materials before, consider hiring a professional to make sure the catio is done correctly. 

Final Thoughts on Catios

Catios are great enclosures for indoor and outdoor cats. A good catio provides your cat with all the benefits of the outdoors — such as sunlight and fresh air — while protecting them from predators, traffic, or other outdoor threats. If you choose to build a catio, make sure that it’s perfectly secure so your cat can’t escape or something can’t get in.

FAQs for Catios