Archive for the ‘Custom catios’ Category
When Linda and Randy moved from Seattle to Bend, Oregon, they wanted to create a space for their cats to go outside, but they were concerned about the coyotes and barn owls in the area since they live near a large land preserve. So they decided to build this incredible “catitat” to let their kitties have a safe place to roam.
Linda and Randy hired a fencing company to build the structure and then stained the wood themselves. The main structure is 24 feet by 40 feet and it is filled with climbing shelves, ramps, grass, and natural elements like a large dead tree, perfect for natural scratching! The main supports are sunken into the ground about 6 inches and secured with concrete. Also the wire fencing extends about 6 inches blow ground to keep other critters from burrowing in. There is a full-size door into the catitat so Linda and Randy can join the cats in their outdoor paradise, which they do frequently when the weather is nice.
The cats access the catitat through a long walkway leading from a cat door inside a cabinet in the house to the main enclosure. The roof of the walkway comes off in segments, just in case there is an emergency and a cat needs to be removed from the walkway.
As you can see, the cats sure do seem to enjoy this incredible structure. I wonder if they know just how lucky they are!
When Lyn took her two cats from their home in Florida to New England for the summer, they were missing their outdoor enclosure, so Lyn’s son built this little portable enclosure to tide them over. The screened in cubicle sits on a picnic table outside a window, allowing the kitties to get some fresh air. A simple solution for a vacation home.
Lyn’s son would be happy to build you one at a reasonable price if you are interested. Please contact me at kate (at) moderncat (dot) net and I will put you in touch with him.
Harvie and her husband decided to build not one, but two custom catios at their home in Fresno, California. These gorgeous spaces, full of light and color, look like a perfect cat paradise and a wonderful place to hang out with feline family members.
To start the project, they first enclosed a large covered patio area that faces toward their lovely pool and backyard. They hired Tom Whitling of The Avian Home, a custom builder who specializes in bird aviaries. This is the first cat enclosure that he has worked on. Tom pre-constructed the custom panels and then secured them in place with concrete bolts and screws into the stucco walls. All the panels were painted before installation, as you can see below.
After the panels were in place, Harvie and her husband went back and caulked around the bottom to keep water and bugs out, plus they added clear Plexiglas panels along the bottom portion on the outside of the panels to keep out rain spatters, water from the pool sweep, and dust from the gardener’s leaf blower.
They added two shelves, one at waist height and another way up high, for kitty climbing, plus lots of cat trees, scratchers, a litter box, and food and water. Comfy human furniture, colorful decor, and a ceiling fan add just the right touches to make everyone feel right at home.
The cats access the catio through the sliding glass doors, which have cat flaps installed in the screens. There is an alternative entrance into this catio from the kitchen window.
Since the first catio was such a success, Harvie and her husband decided to add a smaller catio off the master bedroom. This catio also has a climbing shelf, cat trees, and a loveseat.
As if living in California isn’t nice enough, these lucky kitties sure do have a wonderful home!
Basil Farrow — formerly owned by Mia Farrow, now fiercely adored by his new mom, Gothic Lolita fashionista La Carmina — likes to enjoy a cup of tea on his private catio in Vancouver. It’s always nice to take a little break from the paparazzi, and what better place than outside catching a warm summer breeze.
La Carmina enclosed the balcony for Basil Farrow using plastic fencing that extends up to the railing and curves over to discourage jumping, which I’m told Basil Farrow isn’t really interested in doing anyway. A baby gate was installed at the top of the stairs leading to the back yard. This isn’t the kind of catio for rambunctious cats, but Basil Farrow is quite well-mannered (no jumping or escaping), plus he is always supervised on his catio, I’m assuming by his bodyguards.
Read more about Basil Farrow’s catio on La Carmina’s blog.
Living in a third-floor railroad car apartment in Brooklyn, you don’t have many options for allowing cats outdoors, but Frances got creative and made a lush little catio on her fire escape. Using pre-cut lumber and easy to carry materials from her local hardware store, she enclosed the area and added lots of greenery. The cats seem to be enjoying their little getaway.
Here’s a view of the fire escape B.C. (before catio).
Lynn had this lovely catio added on to her home in New York. She hired a handyman to build the structure on top of the existing deck using wood to match. The entire structure is enclosed with wire mesh that almost disappears. There’s a door with a latch so people can get out into the yard, as long as they remember to close the door behind them.
Great job, Lynn! The cats sure do seem to be enjoying it.
I started this blog a while ago, when I was designing my own catio, as a way to gather my research in one place. Now that the finishing touches are complete, I figured I should show you the results, plus the topic of catio design is gaining national recognition with a recent article in the New York Times.
My 1100 sq ft condo in Central Phoenix came with a nice back patio that was already walled in, however, the wall was easily scalable so it was off limits for my cats until I could enclose it. My good friend Mike was the real force behind the catio. He helped me design and build the structure by extending the roof and creating metal mesh panels to connect the concrete block walls to the roof line. Here are some before and after photos:
You can see the old rotting patio cover and the bougainvillea plants that had to go.
We used sturdy metal roofing material over a solid wood frame. The metal mesh for the side panels came from a local metal supply store. We had it powder coated for durability. Mike made sure there are absolutely no escape holes.
I added climbing shelves and an enclosed litter box area at one end with a sisal wrapped scratching post that extends all the way to the ceiling. This is a popular feature. The more agile cats can climb all the way up the pole to the top shelf.
I’ve filled the catio with all sorts of products that my cats love, like a two-story cat condo from Modern Cat Designs, The Cat’s Trapeze (hanging in the middle), a Litter Pod (used for lounging instead of litter), a Scratch N Slumber comfort center, and various scratchers and other toys. There’s also a rattan lounge chair from Ikea and a bistro table and two chairs so I can join the cats on the catio.
Having a catio is a dream come true for both me and the cats. They love to be able to get fresh air and watch the birds, and I love that they are safe from harm. We plan to enjoy this catio for many years.
Beverly lives in Thorpe Bay, Essex just outside Southend on Sea in the United Kingdom. She built this fabulous enclosed cat run for her Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats, and her moggies, a British term for house cats.
This custom cat enclosure was designed and built by the Australian company, Advanced Cat Enclosures (ACE). The owners of ACE, Sue and Steve Williams, have been building cat enclosures for fourteen years and they have excellent suggestions on their website for people who are considering building a cat enclosure.
Check out some of the other enclosures from Advanced Cat Enclosures in their gallery.
David and Mary really made the most of a small space and a tiny budget when they created this treetop catio for their cats in Austin, Texas. They started with a 4 x 7 foot balcony nestled in the trees. Using only $75 of materials, they built lightweight walls, screened it in with sturdy plastic netting, and added a plastic tarp roof cover for shade and light rain protection. Since the walls are stone and the exterior door is metal, they couldn’t add a kitty door, so they just leave the door open for the cats who love to sit on the ledges and watch the squirrels and birds…just out of reach in the trees. Deer passing through the yard just below the balcony provide additional entertainment.
Jamaka and her husband created an elaborate cat enclosure on this property in the Mojave desert. They started by enclosing the outdoor area next to the 4-stall stable, but they didn’t stop there. They insulated two of the stalls, poured a concrete slab which was covered with all-weather boat deck carpeting, installed cat doors for indoor/outdoor access, and they even went so far as to install a swamp cooler and misters for the summer months and a heater to keep it nice and toasty in the winter. Elevated sleeping cubicles and a corner multi-level platform add extra spots for perching and napping to these special accommodations.
Back at the house, they added a catio for the indoor crew. Cat doors allow easy access and a 3-perch climbing structure along with rugs, pillows, and a variety of toys and interactive exercisers complete the environment. A perfect desert oasis for some very lucky cats!
After Russ and Laura moved into this cozy little house in Kanab, Utah, they acquired a few new furry household members, so they added on not one, not two, but three awesome catios to accommodate their growing family. First, they enclosed the front porch by extending a half wall to the ceiling with welded wire mesh. There is also a 10 foot by 10 foot enclosed space that is 14 feet tall. This one is the cats’ favorite. And finally there is a 10 foot by 30 foot space that started off as a jump-proof dog run but turned out to be quite popular with both the dogs and cats. What an awesome way to make sure that everyone has plenty of room to coexist.
I was first introduced to the term “catio” at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Best Friends is the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the United States, and they house hundreds of cats at a time in what they call Cat World. As you would expect, this is the place to find some of the best catio design around.
The cats live in beautiful houses designed especially for them. Each house is divided into multiple interior rooms and each room has its own attached catio. The catio spaces are enclosed with heavy-duty metal framing and wire mesh. Each catio is filled with a variety of climbing structures, scratching surfaces, and napping spots.
The cats can easily go back and forth between the catio and their indoor room, which is also fitted with climbing shelves, windowsills, and napping cubbies. There are many wonderful cats waiting to be adopted, so the next time you’re in southern Utah, stop by Cat World to see the catios and visits these fabulous felines.
Photos by Peter Wolf.
Amy and Erick built this fabulous “catararium,” as they call it, at their home in Seattle for their six permanent feline family members, plus the others that they foster for a local no-kill rescue. After building this enclosure and seeing the benefits that it provides, Amy and Erick have decided to start a business creating enclosures for others. A Room to Roam – Outdoor Cat Enclosures will launch in spring 2009, featuring custom cat enclosures as well as a freestanding, portable enclosure that’s perfect for use at apartments. What apartment manager could say no to that? Stay tuned for more details and a link to the company website, coming soon.
This incredible cat enclosure is packed with breathtaking features to make any cat (or human) as content as can be. Jeanette and Murray created this amazing space in their hometown of Albany in Western Australia. The enclosure includes a waterfall made from local stone with tunnels and a cave underneath. The pond and fountain are surrounded by tropical fig and palm trees, adding a touch of paradise. A spiral staircase, bridges, and overhead shelves give the cats plenty of places to run and play while the benches provide a comfy spot for people to share the space with these lucky felines. Read more about this heavenly oasis here.
Welcome to Sally’s Cat House, an elaborate cat enclosure built for Sally’s 16 rescued cats. Features include a sisal wrapped scratching pole, lots of carpeted shelves for climbing and napping, and even a water fountain (which has been removed due to the amount of maintenance required to keep it safe for drinking.)
Sally added a special access ramp from an upstairs window into the enclosure and a trap door that leads to the enclosed area under the deck. There are lots of great tips on building cat enclosures and links to related resources on Sally’s website.
This catio was created for Blue and Bessie at their home in Oregon. The 8′ x 5′ structure is framed in cedar and covered with heavy-gauge vinyl coated wire mesh. A cat door into the house makes for easy access 24/7, which allows Blue and Bessie to bring in lots of little creatures as gifts for their people. Read more about this project here.
This spacious cat enclosure was built for Eileen’s lucky cats at their house in Minnesota. The thoughtful design includes easy access for humans as well as a tunnel leading from the house, across the deck and into the large enclosed area.
