Discover Catios 2020

Discover Catios 2020 includes a playlist of 13 videos of catios shared by Catio Hosts from previous Catio Tours. The catios showcase a variety of catwalks, DIY design, dream designs, efficient use of space and enclosed patios. You can select which videos you want to see, watch them again, and share with friends. It's an easy and fun way to check out some great catio designs!

HOW TO WATCH (no need to sign in!):

1. You may choose to watch the whole playlist, or scroll down to see the individual videos

   • If you are watching the whole playlist, after the first video is finished the second will start automatically, and so on (allow a few seconds)

2. Click or tap on the white triangle button in the center to PLAY

3. Note that some videos have audio and others have no background sound

4. We recommend watching in Full Screen (click or tap the open box on bottom right of screen)

5. To pause a video, tap the space bar on a laptop or tap the screen on a phone. Tap it again to un-pause.

6. You may always come back to this page to choose to watch different videos

7. SHARE a video by clicking/tapping the Share button. This is the right-facing arrow below your video.

8. Below, and in the video descriptions on YouTube, you’ll see QUICK FACTS, which will help you better understand each catio and what will work best for you.

We hope you enjoy these and are inspired to build or buy a catio - or add something creative to your current catio!

Read the Quick Facts and choose to watch any video!

Catwalks: Gazebo Getaway
QUICK FACTS:
Year built: 2012
Materials: Pressure-treated lumber, polygal plastic, cat fencing, pavers, irrigation system
Cat access: Cat door from house
Dimensions: Two connected sections 16’ x 8’ x 8’ and 9’ x 9’ x 4’
Overall approx. cost: $1,800
Features: Spiral staircase, enclosed bridge, covered gazebo, oat grass
What the catio host would do differently: “I would have rebuilt the entire gazebo from the ground up instead of just modifying the roof of it.”
Catio host’s advice: “Figure out the right location first. It is a combination of safety for the cat(s) (from animals or people), interest for your cat (spots for watching, lazing, and climbing), and a good access from your house that won’t be in your way or needing constant monitoring. Start with a simple section first, and then add features over time. It’s very useful to have room for a litter box in the catio.”

Catwalks: Prince Sherman’s Palace
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2017
Materials: Pressure-treated wood, kennel wire, plexiglass plastic roofing, flagstones and gravel
Cat access: Human door through enclosed back porch with catwalk to catio
Dimensions: 12’ x 10’ plus 40’ of runs off back porch
Overall approx. cost: $6,000
Features: Enclosed bridge, walkway along fence, covered to protect from rain
What the catio host would do differently: Sometimes the neighborhood cats harass my cats, so a cat behaviorist suggested doing a second layer of kennel wire around the whole catio to create a gap between my cats and any visitors. I also would like it if the catio was set up so my cats and I could hang out together in the catio, which would mean the majority of the catio was set up on my back porch instead as a secondary structure.

Catwalks: Skybridge Hideaway
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2009
Materials: Wood, medium gauge wire
Cat access: Cat door from window with catwalk to catio
Overall approx. cost: $1,900
Features: Walkway that connects to the house, a bridge that connects the main catio to a special lookout tree house, perches for leaping and lounging, space for the litter box, a large door for human access.
What the catio host would do differently: I would like to add on to our catio to allow our cats access to our patio where we spend a lot of time in the summer. Right now our catio is in a section of our yard where humans don’t hang out much. It would be nice to have the kitties be able to be outside on our patio area with us.
Catio host’s advice: Our cats love the high up perches, ledges and ramps where they can lounge and survey their kingdom. We covered the ramps with outdoor carpet so that our older cat in particular would not slip when moving around the catio.

Catwalks: Stumpy’s Catwalk
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2014
Materials: Wood, chicken wire, bamboo
Cat access: Cat door from house
Dimensions: 100’ x 1’ x 3’
Overall approx. cost: $5,000
Features: Multiple staircases, covered portions, high perch, surrounding plants and trees
What the catio host would do differently: We love it how it is.
Catio host’s advice: Take time to plan it out. Have a covered area for when it's raining.

DIY: Felines Unleashed
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2018
Materials: Stained cedar and repurposed wood, cement, wire mesh, corrugated plastic roofing
Cat access: Cat door from window with catwalk to catio
Dimensions: 5’ x 8’ x 8’
Overall approx. cost: $300
Features: Ledges, ramps, observation deck, hidey-hole, scratching post, bridge, art, wood flooring

Dreamy: Fab Foursome's Flat
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2018
Materials: Painted wood, stained cedar, powder-coated wire, cement floor, plastic tunnel & roof
Cat access: Cat-sized window from basement with enclosed plastic catwalk to catio
Dimensions: 8’ x 12’ x 7’
Overall approx. cost: $3,000
Features: Plants, multi-level shelves, sisal-wrapped post, bed boxes, places for humans to sit. This home is Backyard Habitat Certified by Bird Alliance of Oregon.
Catio host’s advice: If you’re doing a cement pad, monitor the contractor will an eagle eye, we should have. We had a well thought out plan, but the cement pad was poured with bumps and dips that we didn’t notice until it was too late. That caused the project to take longer because we had to compensate for the inconsistencies in the pad.

Dreamy: Captivating Cat-hedral
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2018
Materials: Wood, polycarbonate roofing, chicken wire
Cat access: Cat door from house
Dimensions: 16’ x 14’ x 12’
Overall approx. cost: $2,000
Features: Traversable ceiling beams, staircase, “poop deck”
What the catio host would do differently: I would overlap the polycarbonate roofing two grooves instead of using just one as it leaks a bit.
Catio host’s advice: Try to make it usable for humans too. Louis and Ella love to hang out with us inside the catio!

Dreamy: Gold Star Grotto
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2016
Materials: Wood and metal
Cat access: Cat door and catwalk to detached catio
Dimensions: Inside covered patio is 12’ x 20’, outside catio is 10’ x 15’
Overall approx. cost: $$$
Features: Garden landscape with fountain, spacious 2-story walkway
Catio host’s advice: Build it at least three feet off the ground to keep away from other animals.

Efficient use of space: Fort Catsop
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2018
Materials: Cedar, chicken wire, decking, corrugated plastic roof
Cat access: Cat door built into house with catwalk to catio
Dimensions: 7’ x 2.75’ x 7’ Tunnel: 15’ x 1.75’ x 1.5’
Overall approx. cost: $1,200
Features: Catwalk, two towers with one covered, vertical tiered platforms
What the catio host would do differently: I would have spent more time on the design to make it a bit larger.
Catio host’s advice: Pick an easy access point from your house and spend a lot of time researching different designs that fit your cat’s personality and behavior.

Efficient use of space: Kitty Korral
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2017
Materials: Cedar wood, chicken wire, corrugated plastic roofing
Cat access: Cat door from house
Dimensions: 120’ x 44’ x 94’
Overall approx. cost: $350
Features: 3 levels of shelving, scratching posts, bedding, sun exposure, plants

Enclosed patio: Chateau de Chat
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2016
Materials: Pressure-treated wood, wire mesh, clear plexiglass roofing, gutter
Cat access: Cat door attached to sliding glass door frame
Dimensions: 12’ x 12’ x 12’
Overall approx. cost: $3,600
Features: Gutter with downspout, cat tree, various plants, cat-themed art, catwalk with perches

Enclosed patio : Kitty-Koi Oasis
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2018
Materials: Wood, corrugated roofing, 2’ x 2’ critter fence
Cat access: Sliding glass door from house
Dimensions: 10’ x 10’ x 12’
Overall approx. cost: $4,500
Features: Roofed sun porch for both humans and cats

Catio host’s advice: Look at other catios first to get ideas. That is what I did.

Enclosed patio: Purrfect Porch
QUICK FACTS
Year built: 2014
Materials: Hardware wire, wood, indoor/outdoor carpet, screen door
Cat access: Cat door from living room
Dimensions: 80 sq feet
Overall approx. cost: $300
Features: Cat door from living room, space for large cat tree and toys

Do you have a cool catio?

We'll be highlighting videos of catios throughout the summer - let us know if you would like to submit a video of your catio for consideration. Video details and upload here.