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Cat Patios, Known As Catios, Are The Latest Way To Spoil Your Beloved Kitty (30 Pics)
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Summer is here in the Northern Hemisphere, which means your indoor cat might begin to crave a little fresh air and freedom. But what if you live near a busy road? If the outdoors around your area just isn't suited for roaming? Well, the solution is clear. You need to build a cat patio.
'Catios' are all the rage at the moment, with Seattle-based business Catio Spaces leading the way. They have created downloadable designs that are easy to build using basic materials and can be installed next to a window, on a deck, or in a backyard.
The way that some people have built their catios are as impressive as they are inspiring. These cat owners have taken a simple concept and turned it into a super cozy space for their feline friend, and for some designs at least, themselves too!
Do you have an indoor cat? Would you consider building a catio, to give your kitty a bit of the outdoors in safety, and the chance to dream of the life of a hunter? Scroll down below to check out Bored Panda's favorite examples, and let us know what you think in the comments!
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Catio Spaces was founded by passionate cat lover Cynthia Chomos, who started the company to address the need for safe and visually appealing outdoor enclosures to enhance the lives of cats.
"The inspiration behind Catio Spaces is my tabby cat, Serena, who I adopted after the loss of my beloved 22-year-old cat, Cynthia told Bored Panda. "Being a nature lover, I wanted her to enjoy the stimulation of the outdoors while protected from a variety of outdoor hazards. I transformed my backyard patio into a catio and created a space we could both enjoy with a water fountain, seating, shelves and cat safe plants."
"While lounging in it one day with Serena curled up on my lap, I had a flash of inspiration to start Catio Spaces and combine my feng shui expertise and love of design, nature and cats. One thing led to another (Serena has 4 catios and is my “quality assurance” expert), and I design custom catios, DIY catio plans and help cat parents from all over the world solve their indoor/outdoor dilemma."
Check out “Serena’s Garden Getaways” and follow her happy tail on a video tour of her 4 catios!
wow, if only I had the space to build something like this for my four cats
My dad made my indoor cats a tower/bridge/treehouse so they could safely enjoy the outdoors.
"Thousands of our award-winning DIY Catio Plans have been built by cat parents seeking outdoor safety and enrichment for their cats," Cynthia continued "We offer a variety of designs and sizes for a window, deck, patio or yard that are easy to follow and fun to build. From small and simple to large and luxurious, there’s a catio to fit any home and garden. Our most popular plans are the Sanctuary and Haven that allow easy access through a cat door installed in a window, wall or door. Catio Spaces donates 10% of plan purchases to animal and bird welfare organizations."
Cynthia loves seeing cats enjoying their new space, who wouldn't love spending time with happy cats for a living? "The most rewarding part of my work is witnessing my 4-legged clients step into a catio for the first time, breathing fresh air, feel the wind in their whiskers and see their happy tails exploring their new territory - and of course, receiving a headbutt or sandpaper lick on the nose by a grateful feline," she told us. "I also feel good knowing my work helps protect birds and other wildlife."
Catio Spaces has been in business for 6 years. "In the future I envision continuing to create DIY Plans, design custom catios, speaking engagements and expand my relationships with animal welfare organizations, veterinarians, and cat behaviorists to educate cat parents on the many benefits of catios, Cynthia said. "As one of the founding organizers of Catio Tour Seattle, I will continue to support catio tours in other cities as catios are becoming a popular trend throughout the U.S. and Canada."
So it looks like the catio is here to stay! What do you think? Scroll down to check out some more cool examples below, and let us know in the comments!
Our second Catio. Hanging Bridge, Sky Boxes, Center Cat tree.
Yes the dog is out- but my guess is the yard is fenced in, and while the dog couldn't clear it a cat definitely could. Cats get into our fenced in yard on the regular- which drives our beagle crazy because he can smell that that were in his area.
Guys, I think my cats might be spoiled...They’re not allowed to be outdoor cats, but this is the next best thing! The reason why our cats aren't allowed outside is because we live in an area with foxes and coyotes, so predators are a real concern. We're also by a semi-busy road, so cars pose a problem, too. We only set up the tent/tunnel system when we're around and can keep an eye on things; the cats are never left out there unattended.
I love all of the colors! Brightens up your day, as well as your cat's!
Our gazebo is one of the popular places the cats like to hang out. C3PO is the one in the hammock. You can find him there almost every day. He knows how to make the most of his relaxation times
C3PO - what a perfect name for an orange tabby! I knew somebody who once had a cat with that name, as well as a little calico named R2D2. Sadly, R2 was hit by a car, and C3PO just lost the will to live - that's how close they were. RIP, you two sweet kitties.
I like how they included a lamp for the cat to knock off the table.
This appropriately named Gold Star Grotto was built for their 6 previously-feral kitties.
The cats access the catio via the open window from our utility room (on the right). We bought a cat door installed in plexiglass that sits permanently in the window, so the cats can access the patio themselves in the Winter too. The wild grape vine grew to cover the top of the catio so that it blends in more with the rest of our gardens. Hopefully, we'll also get grapes from it some day.
Mark built really long tunnels along the fence that are leading to his two cat jungle gym structures. I absolutely love how high up the cats can sit in their cat jungle gym structure that even has a roof on it! Cats love sitting up high and being able to look down on things.
We built a catio for our cats cause we love them. Our cats love the outdoors, but we don't want to harm the songbird population.
Catio with privacy shields and some driftwood.
My apartment has no outdoor space, but I still have a catio for my kitty Coco (my other cat DOES NOT WANT) catio-5cfe...52451a.jpg 
Note: this post originally had 45 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
If you left them outside, you are allow wild predators such as foxes, skunks, raccoons, opossums, weasels, coyotes, bobcats, hawks to harm your cat, and not just that, cat run over and killed by car. So I think they build the catio for them babies are the best and responsible owner, keep your cat safety is the most important
There are also EXTREMELY EVIL PEOPLE out there that will POISON your cat in a heartbeat. Or throw them off of buildings. Or dip them in oil and light them on fire. I have seen it all, unfortunately, working at a cat rescue.
Yes, that is the problem in my neighbourhood. I don't understand how EVIL you have to be to toss around extremelly dangerous poison around because you are bothered by pigeons, cats or stray dogs. I think that shouldbe considered serious crime.
My mother relayed to me how, when she was a teenager, a couple of boys from her school poured gasoline on a stray cat and lit it on fire. The girls doused the flames and saved the cat..then they turned their attention to the boys..who they promptly kicked the crap out of. She said word of what the boys did got back to her school and they were expelled. The girls never got in trouble because the boys didn't want to admit that they had their asses handed to them by a bunch of girls.
@Samhhain Cat Dip them in oil and light them on fire!? Wtf my mind doesn't even process that! How cruel and insane.
Well these are also reasons not to let your children or even yourself outside, but we've still got to live a little.
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Nah, cats can look after themselves. And a free cat is a happy cat. (It's true because my cat told me so.)
Oh, you just wait untill it doesn't come home anymore. Been there multiple times...
@Constantin All of our cats were outdoor cats because the area we lived in had problems with mice and shrews. They were necessary to keep the rodents out of the house. We lost one cat to a fight with another cat (neighborhood stray) and another cat lost her tail when she tried to jump over a slick chain link fence during a violent thunderstorm (We'd been trying to call them in all night.) Other than those two incidents, we had a total of 9 cats during our childhood and none of them were victims of predators..and we had a lot of those in the neighborhood including coyotes and stray dogs. Cats are resourceful and know how to protect themselves. It's in their nature.
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I can't imagine a fox or weasel could/would kill a cat. The neighboring dog would be a bigger threat than them. But people who live in areas with coyotes just shouldn't own a cat in the first place.
I've had to clean up the carnage when a weasel gets to the cats hanging out in the barn. They are adorable little murderers.
Then you're ignorant. All of those things could easily kill a cat.
It's not just that they can kill them. Injuries can get infected and damage internal organs. That's what happened to oneof my cats growing up. A bite from another animal got infected, it damaged his heart and other organs and he started having seizures. I lost him when he was only 7. Now my cats stay inside where they are safe. And the birds outside are safe too.
We had a problem with coyotes and fox killing cats AND dogs in my Dad's neighborhood. A dog, even a big one, is no match for them when they group together to pack hunt a pet. And to say that anyone who lives in an area with coyotes shouldn't own a cat in the first place is like saying people who live in areas with coyotes shouldn't have children. Most of the time, the coyotes, wolves and cougars will leave children alone...but there's always that one predator that's hungry enough and desperate enough to try.
Everybody wants to be a cat
These are all really impressive constructions but I wish the cats could just be free to roam instead. There are some situations where it could be for the safety of the cats (nearby roads, dangerous wild animals, pet thieves, etc.) but I hope these cats have a chance to freedom some time.
Cats should not be allowed to roam. They are disastrous for local wildlife and have higher risks of getting diseases like feline aids etc, high risks of attacks, being hit by cars etc. Maybe I should let my dog free to roam the streets.
If you are really concerned about wildlife, then support your local feral population control programs. Feral cats have a FAR greater impact on wildlife than pets because they hunt to survive.
Plot twist: cats ARE local wildlife. Cats eat birds, whether it's the sparrow they caught in the backyard or the chicken that was processed into pellets in a kitchen bowl. "Lock up all the predators" isn't really an ecosystem solution.
Hello Foxxy, people have no idea the risk of letting their animals roam. So well put by u. Thank you for having pointed this out.
Daylight Amy, my whole point about letting my dogs roam is people wouldn’t appreciate it so why should we be expected to put up with cats roaming the streets and into our yards. Cats are natural hunters and if they are allowed to roam they will still kill wildlife so please don’t tell me roaming cats aren’t an issue. There are millions of pet cats and you cannot seriously think that it wouldn’t make a dent to our wildlife, especially the vulnerable. And why are we talking about rabbits, rabbits are generally kept in hutches and owners don’t just let them roam the streets, THAT IS THE POINT. Feral cats and feral rabbits are both issues in different ways but this post is about domestic CATS. If you wanna have a discussion about the issues and damage rabbits cause then create another post. I also think that cats should be registered like dogs and that there should be a maximum number of cats per household.
And why would a loving cat owner put their pets in unecessary risks. Outdoor cats have higher risks of catching many diseases like feline leukaemia, feline aids, upper respiratory infections, feline infectious peritonitis and feline distemper. Then you have parasites like ticks, fleas, ear mites, intestinal worms and ringworm. Add the fact of injuries and death from other cats, cars, dogs and other wildlife predators, animal cruelty, toxins, baits and poisons etc. Indoor cats live an average of 3x longer than outdoor cats. So why would a responsible pet owner put their cats at risk like that.
Troux if that’s the case then my dog should be allowed to wander since they are also part of our local wildlife. Also cats eating food made for them is different to them killing and endangering native animals. Today’s Cats are actually bred to be DOMESTIC animals and should be kept that way especially since cat numbers are extremely high. Cats domestic and feral are estimated to eat tens of millions of native animals each night in Australia. But what kinds of wildlife are they eating? In research published in the Journal of Biogeography it shows that cats kill hundreds of different kinds of animals, including at least 16 species considered globally threatened. Cats are a serious threat to wildlife globally, contributing to the extinction of numerous birds, mammals and reptiles worldwide. In Australia, cats have been implicated in the extinction of at least 20 mammal species and sub-species, including the lesser bilby and desert bandicoot. Cats, especially males, can roam many kilometres and in doing so may hunt wildlife. Remember that our native wildlife isn't just restricted to parks and reserves. Many species of native mammals, birds and lizards are found in our suburban back gardens. A wide variety of native animals, ranging from the more common species like possums, kangaroos, wallabies, lizards and many species of bird, to rarer or threatened species such as bandicoots, koalas and quolls, may be at risk from domestic pets in urban areas. Cats are by nature instinctive hunters and are more likely to kill birds and lizards. Even though their human owners carefully meet their pet's requirements for food and shelter, instinctive hunting and chasing behaviour will continue. Domestic pets also occur in high numbers in urban areas, where native animal numbers are fewer. So even though each individual animal may only kill or injure a small number of native animals, it has a bigger effect on the already reduced population
My cats are indoor only and I wish that for all cats, but I just can't with people who go "maybe I should let my dogs roam". Maybe you bloody should. See what happens. You'll find that people are cruel and will feel justified harming your dog because of said 'wildlife'. The problem is desexing and population control, not roaming, by the way. If desexing was mandatory for everyone but licensed breeders, there wouldn't be enough cats to make a serious dent in any wildlife population. Not to mention there are far more harmful non-native species at work that I hear so few people care so passionately about. Here in Australia, rabbits are actually a serious threat to wombats (because they beat them to the same food). I don't hear anyone passionately arguing about rabbits not being allowed as pets anymore.
true..
They are great constructions but I'm glad I live somewhere my cats are free to roam, not that they go far they hate being away from me. Honestly I've had many cats all of which have been free to roam never had a problem with attacks or diseases they died of old age or cancer it really depends where you live. As for devastating wildlife it's been the odd rodent. My currant cat's are useless I leave the back door open for them and they don't care that birds come in to eat their food I have to chase them of myself.
Foxxy I'm with you, they leave headless birds that look like an explosion around, poop in my garden and crush the flowers. I don't want cat poop tomatoes.
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But they still go into other peoples yards, have you no consideration of other people. I am allergic to cats and can’t have any outdoor furniture in case cats sit on it and effects my allergies. I also have areas around my yard that absolutely stinks like cat piss and I have had my garden dug up by cats burying their shit. We have had cat paw prints on our car, our tyres smell like cat urine etc. I hear cats regularly fighting and mating, I have had remnants of bird, possum and rat remains in my yard from cats etc. I have to make sure my sons sandpit is covered to stop cats from using it as a litter box. Why should I have to put up with irresponsible cat owners. You have been lucky your cats have lived long lives because it is a FACT that generally cats who roam the streets have shorter life spans.
I take mine out on his leash. He loves it.
HO5. I have supported programs to control feral populations. I have donated to them when I have been able to. But domestic cats aren’t innocent and I will speak up about it. As I said if you want a pet cat by all means get one but be a responsible owner and think about the wildlife, your cat AND other people and keep the cats indoors and have an enclosed space outdoors for your cats. It’s not that hard so deal with it.
I'm sure you have foxy, and I'm sure you have the perfect vantage point up there on that high-horse. What I'm saying is there are situations in which it is appropriate to have outdoor cats. There a GOVERNMENT FUNDED programs in my area that support it. Your blanket generalizations don't apply in all situations. Deal with it, lol.
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Ever heard of Bush Heritage, they are a great organisation helping keep Australian animals alive and combatting the feral cat issues scientifically. I have donated to them on numerous occasions thank you. Not that I have to justify myself. I am stating facts. Sorry if this offends you but feral cats are NOT the only problem so how about stop being ignorant. There is NO situation where cats should be able to roam outdoors it is extremely selfish to the wildlife, cats themselves and other people. Seems like the cat owners who let their cats wander are on their high horses and are inconsiderate w@nkers. Also this post isn’t actually about feral cats. How about be a decent cat owner and human being and stop being so selfish. Deal with it.
If you left them outside, you are allow wild predators such as foxes, skunks, raccoons, opossums, weasels, coyotes, bobcats, hawks to harm your cat, and not just that, cat run over and killed by car. So I think they build the catio for them babies are the best and responsible owner, keep your cat safety is the most important
There are also EXTREMELY EVIL PEOPLE out there that will POISON your cat in a heartbeat. Or throw them off of buildings. Or dip them in oil and light them on fire. I have seen it all, unfortunately, working at a cat rescue.
Yes, that is the problem in my neighbourhood. I don't understand how EVIL you have to be to toss around extremelly dangerous poison around because you are bothered by pigeons, cats or stray dogs. I think that shouldbe considered serious crime.
My mother relayed to me how, when she was a teenager, a couple of boys from her school poured gasoline on a stray cat and lit it on fire. The girls doused the flames and saved the cat..then they turned their attention to the boys..who they promptly kicked the crap out of. She said word of what the boys did got back to her school and they were expelled. The girls never got in trouble because the boys didn't want to admit that they had their asses handed to them by a bunch of girls.
@Samhhain Cat Dip them in oil and light them on fire!? Wtf my mind doesn't even process that! How cruel and insane.
Well these are also reasons not to let your children or even yourself outside, but we've still got to live a little.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Nah, cats can look after themselves. And a free cat is a happy cat. (It's true because my cat told me so.)
Oh, you just wait untill it doesn't come home anymore. Been there multiple times...
@Constantin All of our cats were outdoor cats because the area we lived in had problems with mice and shrews. They were necessary to keep the rodents out of the house. We lost one cat to a fight with another cat (neighborhood stray) and another cat lost her tail when she tried to jump over a slick chain link fence during a violent thunderstorm (We'd been trying to call them in all night.) Other than those two incidents, we had a total of 9 cats during our childhood and none of them were victims of predators..and we had a lot of those in the neighborhood including coyotes and stray dogs. Cats are resourceful and know how to protect themselves. It's in their nature.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I can't imagine a fox or weasel could/would kill a cat. The neighboring dog would be a bigger threat than them. But people who live in areas with coyotes just shouldn't own a cat in the first place.
I've had to clean up the carnage when a weasel gets to the cats hanging out in the barn. They are adorable little murderers.
Then you're ignorant. All of those things could easily kill a cat.
It's not just that they can kill them. Injuries can get infected and damage internal organs. That's what happened to oneof my cats growing up. A bite from another animal got infected, it damaged his heart and other organs and he started having seizures. I lost him when he was only 7. Now my cats stay inside where they are safe. And the birds outside are safe too.
We had a problem with coyotes and fox killing cats AND dogs in my Dad's neighborhood. A dog, even a big one, is no match for them when they group together to pack hunt a pet. And to say that anyone who lives in an area with coyotes shouldn't own a cat in the first place is like saying people who live in areas with coyotes shouldn't have children. Most of the time, the coyotes, wolves and cougars will leave children alone...but there's always that one predator that's hungry enough and desperate enough to try.
Everybody wants to be a cat
These are all really impressive constructions but I wish the cats could just be free to roam instead. There are some situations where it could be for the safety of the cats (nearby roads, dangerous wild animals, pet thieves, etc.) but I hope these cats have a chance to freedom some time.
Cats should not be allowed to roam. They are disastrous for local wildlife and have higher risks of getting diseases like feline aids etc, high risks of attacks, being hit by cars etc. Maybe I should let my dog free to roam the streets.
If you are really concerned about wildlife, then support your local feral population control programs. Feral cats have a FAR greater impact on wildlife than pets because they hunt to survive.
Plot twist: cats ARE local wildlife. Cats eat birds, whether it's the sparrow they caught in the backyard or the chicken that was processed into pellets in a kitchen bowl. "Lock up all the predators" isn't really an ecosystem solution.
Hello Foxxy, people have no idea the risk of letting their animals roam. So well put by u. Thank you for having pointed this out.
Daylight Amy, my whole point about letting my dogs roam is people wouldn’t appreciate it so why should we be expected to put up with cats roaming the streets and into our yards. Cats are natural hunters and if they are allowed to roam they will still kill wildlife so please don’t tell me roaming cats aren’t an issue. There are millions of pet cats and you cannot seriously think that it wouldn’t make a dent to our wildlife, especially the vulnerable. And why are we talking about rabbits, rabbits are generally kept in hutches and owners don’t just let them roam the streets, THAT IS THE POINT. Feral cats and feral rabbits are both issues in different ways but this post is about domestic CATS. If you wanna have a discussion about the issues and damage rabbits cause then create another post. I also think that cats should be registered like dogs and that there should be a maximum number of cats per household.
And why would a loving cat owner put their pets in unecessary risks. Outdoor cats have higher risks of catching many diseases like feline leukaemia, feline aids, upper respiratory infections, feline infectious peritonitis and feline distemper. Then you have parasites like ticks, fleas, ear mites, intestinal worms and ringworm. Add the fact of injuries and death from other cats, cars, dogs and other wildlife predators, animal cruelty, toxins, baits and poisons etc. Indoor cats live an average of 3x longer than outdoor cats. So why would a responsible pet owner put their cats at risk like that.
Troux if that’s the case then my dog should be allowed to wander since they are also part of our local wildlife. Also cats eating food made for them is different to them killing and endangering native animals. Today’s Cats are actually bred to be DOMESTIC animals and should be kept that way especially since cat numbers are extremely high. Cats domestic and feral are estimated to eat tens of millions of native animals each night in Australia. But what kinds of wildlife are they eating? In research published in the Journal of Biogeography it shows that cats kill hundreds of different kinds of animals, including at least 16 species considered globally threatened. Cats are a serious threat to wildlife globally, contributing to the extinction of numerous birds, mammals and reptiles worldwide. In Australia, cats have been implicated in the extinction of at least 20 mammal species and sub-species, including the lesser bilby and desert bandicoot. Cats, especially males, can roam many kilometres and in doing so may hunt wildlife. Remember that our native wildlife isn't just restricted to parks and reserves. Many species of native mammals, birds and lizards are found in our suburban back gardens. A wide variety of native animals, ranging from the more common species like possums, kangaroos, wallabies, lizards and many species of bird, to rarer or threatened species such as bandicoots, koalas and quolls, may be at risk from domestic pets in urban areas. Cats are by nature instinctive hunters and are more likely to kill birds and lizards. Even though their human owners carefully meet their pet's requirements for food and shelter, instinctive hunting and chasing behaviour will continue. Domestic pets also occur in high numbers in urban areas, where native animal numbers are fewer. So even though each individual animal may only kill or injure a small number of native animals, it has a bigger effect on the already reduced population
My cats are indoor only and I wish that for all cats, but I just can't with people who go "maybe I should let my dogs roam". Maybe you bloody should. See what happens. You'll find that people are cruel and will feel justified harming your dog because of said 'wildlife'. The problem is desexing and population control, not roaming, by the way. If desexing was mandatory for everyone but licensed breeders, there wouldn't be enough cats to make a serious dent in any wildlife population. Not to mention there are far more harmful non-native species at work that I hear so few people care so passionately about. Here in Australia, rabbits are actually a serious threat to wombats (because they beat them to the same food). I don't hear anyone passionately arguing about rabbits not being allowed as pets anymore.
true..
They are great constructions but I'm glad I live somewhere my cats are free to roam, not that they go far they hate being away from me. Honestly I've had many cats all of which have been free to roam never had a problem with attacks or diseases they died of old age or cancer it really depends where you live. As for devastating wildlife it's been the odd rodent. My currant cat's are useless I leave the back door open for them and they don't care that birds come in to eat their food I have to chase them of myself.
Foxxy I'm with you, they leave headless birds that look like an explosion around, poop in my garden and crush the flowers. I don't want cat poop tomatoes.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
But they still go into other peoples yards, have you no consideration of other people. I am allergic to cats and can’t have any outdoor furniture in case cats sit on it and effects my allergies. I also have areas around my yard that absolutely stinks like cat piss and I have had my garden dug up by cats burying their shit. We have had cat paw prints on our car, our tyres smell like cat urine etc. I hear cats regularly fighting and mating, I have had remnants of bird, possum and rat remains in my yard from cats etc. I have to make sure my sons sandpit is covered to stop cats from using it as a litter box. Why should I have to put up with irresponsible cat owners. You have been lucky your cats have lived long lives because it is a FACT that generally cats who roam the streets have shorter life spans.
I take mine out on his leash. He loves it.
HO5. I have supported programs to control feral populations. I have donated to them when I have been able to. But domestic cats aren’t innocent and I will speak up about it. As I said if you want a pet cat by all means get one but be a responsible owner and think about the wildlife, your cat AND other people and keep the cats indoors and have an enclosed space outdoors for your cats. It’s not that hard so deal with it.
I'm sure you have foxy, and I'm sure you have the perfect vantage point up there on that high-horse. What I'm saying is there are situations in which it is appropriate to have outdoor cats. There a GOVERNMENT FUNDED programs in my area that support it. Your blanket generalizations don't apply in all situations. Deal with it, lol.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Ever heard of Bush Heritage, they are a great organisation helping keep Australian animals alive and combatting the feral cat issues scientifically. I have donated to them on numerous occasions thank you. Not that I have to justify myself. I am stating facts. Sorry if this offends you but feral cats are NOT the only problem so how about stop being ignorant. There is NO situation where cats should be able to roam outdoors it is extremely selfish to the wildlife, cats themselves and other people. Seems like the cat owners who let their cats wander are on their high horses and are inconsiderate w@nkers. Also this post isn’t actually about feral cats. How about be a decent cat owner and human being and stop being so selfish. Deal with it.