Everything You Need to Know Before Installing a Catio for Your Cat
We talked to four vets who all recommend outdoor cat enclosures as enrichment for indoor cats (with caveats). Plus, which cats aren’t good candidates for catio access, DIY vs. store-bought, security, and more.
My colleague Dirk Klinger said it best: “I don’t understand cats at all.” Like, why does my cat, Frank, ask for dinner every day at 4 p.m. when dinnertime has always been 7? I have many questions about my cat, but one that I ask myself more than others is, Does my cat get bored sitting inside all day? It’s not like I can ask him.
This was the crux of my conversation with Dirk. He set up a catio for his two cats, Rosie and Maggie, in the yard after they showed interest in the outdoors from inside his home. They did not love it, but at least he’d given it a shot.
Do Cats Get Bored Indoors?
If you’ve ever looked over at your cat staring off into space and thought that they seemed bored, you are sort of right. Sara Bennett, veterinary behavior specialist at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, describes the “boredom” some cats exhibit as frustration rather than boredom. She says animals are motivated to do things like play, hunt, and climb, and when they don’t have access to these things, they can get frustrated. They may even start acting out by climbing curtains, scratching your favorite upholstered sofa, or engaging in any other behavior we humans might find annoying.
Before you start buying materials to build a catio, consider what you already have. According to Bruce Kornreich, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, your cat may just need some new toys, a cat tree to climb, a fresh scratcher, or some food puzzles to stimulate their minds. Bennett recommends cycling their toys every couple of days so they don’t get bored playing with the same things. This is something I do with my own cat when I notice he’s lost interest in some of his old favorites. Suddenly, a tunnel that he barely looked at two weeks ago becomes his new favorite thing for the next week.
No Space for a Catio?
Here are some of our favorite toys to entertain your cat.
Things to Consider for Your Own Catio
Before you build or buy your own catio, check your HOA’s rules and regulations, as well as any permits or approvals required to build on your property. If you rent, it’s best to check with your landlord before you set up any enclosures outside or in windows. Kornreich says having a catio on a window or balcony for a cat living on a higher floor is not ideal.
So, what should be included in the catio itself? McGlasson says the top priority is ensuring the catio is safe and secure. Make sure your cat can’t get out, but also that no other animals can get in. “[ . . . ] toys, litter boxes, food and water, a cat tree or climbing area is great as well,” he says.
Photo: Amanda Arnold/Consumer Reports Photo: Amanda Arnold/Consumer Reports
Galaxy says you should be “catifying with your native wildlife in mind.” Fencing that extends underground to prevent wild animals from digging into the catio could be a good option if you live in an area like his, where coyotes are common. He suggests building vertical surfaces that allow your cat to “navigate the entire catio without touching the ground.” And, if you have multiple cats, make sure there are individual “lanes of traffic” for each cat. They shouldn’t have to climb over each other to get from one end of the catio to another.
Many of the things that already keep your cat entertained inside the house should also be placed in a catio. Bennett recommends building shelving that your cat can climb and perch on. If your cat is more of a hider than a climber, add some cat tunnels. ”[ . . . ] something owners should keep in mind when they’re building their catio environment is the types of things their particular cat prefers.”
The size of the catio doesn’t particularly matter, says Kornreich, as long as your cat can move around comfortably. For larger catios, he also recommends a litter box and water. A sturdy structure and the ability to withstand harsh weather are also a must.
How to Introduce Your Cat to Its New Catio
When Bennett first started introducing her cats to their catios connected to her home, she left the catio entrance propped open for a few minutes every day for a week to give them time to notice the new space. Then she used treats to further interest them in the catio. If your catio isn’t attached to your home, then she recommends transferring your cat to a catio using a carrier or using a harness if they’re harness-trained. “I would take the cat in the carrier to the catio. Go in and shut the catio door, and then open the carrier door. Have lots of treats and their favorite toy, but allow them to come out at their own speed.”
Kornreich suggests using positive reinforcement such as treats, praise, or catnip. You have to allow a cat to go at their own speed, he says.
Galaxy says that your catio should be connected to your home so your cat can walk in and out as it pleases. “A cat should always be given freedom of movement. So, in no way should we ever put them in a catio and lock them in there, if at all possible. You want to give them free access from the house to the catio.” In his experience, when cats are locked in a place with no exit routes, they become on guard.
Our Catio-Owning CR Staffers’ Experiences
Karla Noboa and Paul Eng have smaller, window-mounted structures that they set up when the weather is warm. These don’t provide cats with much space to move, but do give them access to more closely observe the world beyond their home. Paul says the window catio made his cat, Mochi, more curious about the outdoors.
Karla’s two cats love their window perch, and one, Dilly Bean, often jumps in while she is still moving the catio into the window. Her other cat was slower to warm up to the window structure, but eventually learned to love it, too. “Kita likes observing everything, and we think it’s helped her come out of her shell a bit—she’s super-shy but wants to use the catio so bad she will overcome that to use it.”
Photo: Paul Eng/Consumer Reports Photo: Paul Eng/Consumer Reports
CR’s Arnold and Klingner have full-sized structures set up in their yards for their cats. For Dirk’s cats, the catio was not enough. “They didn’t seem to love it and wanted more freedom. One of the cats seemed to meow with displeasure when she was put in it—even after demanding to go out.” The few times Rosie and Maggie seemed to be enjoying their time outdoors were when they were sleeping on the high platforms.
Amanda appreciates that the two catios she has at home allow her two very social cats, Cappuccino and Affogato, to be involved in activities, even when the rest of the family is hanging out outside.
DIY vs. Store-Bought Catio: Which Is More Expensive?
Depending on the size of a store-bought catio, they can cost anywhere from just under $100 to over $1,000. Window units tend to cost less than the larger stand-alone structures. Large enclosures made entirely of metal tend to cost more than those with a wood frame. The large wood-frame catio Dirk had at home (pictured at the top of this article) currently costs $386 (available at Chewy, Pawhut Store, and Walmart). Amanda was gifted her two wood-framed catios, but they are listed online for $682.60 (available at Chewy, Target, and Walmart) and $269.99 (available at Chewy and Home Depot). Another option is to find a local catio-builder company to do the work for you.
To build your own catio, at the very least, you’ll have to buy lumber for the frame and any shelving, rolls of fence wire, roofing panels, and any screws, latches, staples, or other materials you’ll use to put the catio together. The total cost will depend on the size of the unit you’re building and the materials you use.
Window units will require less material and are likely much easier to build than a full-sized enclosure, but you’ll still need to have some building skills to make one yourself. Paul didn’t have much experience building things, and managed to make his own window catio at home. He built it using a mix of old materials he already had and about $25 worth of new stuff. Karla’s window unit was a gift from a wood-working neighbor.
The Bottom Line
Every expert we spoke to agreed that catios are the best way to provide indoor cats with outdoor enrichment. Cats can enjoy fresh air while remaining safe from larger animals and moving vehicles. These enclosures can also prevent your cat from getting lost or sick, and from interfering with the local ecosystem.
There’s no guarantee that outdoor enrichment is what your cat needs if you sense they’re bored with their indoor life, but it’s at least an option that is safer than letting them roam freely around the neighborhood. Catios are not a way to socialize a feral cat into becoming a lap cat. Though an open enclosure that provides unsocialized, feral cats with a roof and warmth in cold weather is a kind gesture for your local TNR (trap-neuter-return) communities.
If you’re going to build or buy a catio for your cats, make sure to place some toys, water, and high shelves for your cat to perch on. Also, keep an eye on your cat while they’re inside the structure. You never know when a cat might decide to squeeze under a locked door for more freedom.
