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Cat Owners Are Building Outdoor “Catio” Spaces for Their Beloved Pets to Lounge In

How to Make a Catio

Men have man caves and women have she sheds, but what about our favorite felines? It turns out that they too can have their own special space to enjoy. Called a catio, it’s an outdoor enclosure that allows a kitty to be among the fresh air without the risk of them venturing too far from home. For an indoor cat that wishes they were an outdoor cat, it’s the perfect compromise between human and feline.

It’s possible to build your own catio; in fact, they're conceptualized as a DIY project. Although this might sound like a daunting endeavor, Seattle-based company Catio Spaces is determined to make the process an easy install next to a window, on a deck, or in a yard. They've developed downloadable plans that are customizable depending on your needs. Regardless of where the catio goes, the materials used are typically the same. To ensure a cat's safety, they're framed in wood and lined with escape-proof galvanized wire, a mesh roof, as well as various perches for your furry friend to observe the world at large.

Although some catios are perfectly feline-sized, others are large enough for you both to share. Check out some of the ways in which people have decorated these spaces in a way that’s cozy and satisfying for all.

Do you have an indoor cat that wishes it were outside? A catio is a perfect compromise.

Catio Ideas

The enclosed outdoor space allows your kitty to enjoy fresh air without the risk of venturing too far.

How to Make a Catio

Catio Ideas

Catio Ideas

It's possible to build your own cat patio. Catio Spaces sells easy-to-follow plans that can fit your exact specifications.

Catio Ideas

Catio Plans

Build Your Own Catio

Some are feline-sized while others are large enough for you and your cat to share.

How to Make a Catio

Build Your Own Catio

Build Your Own Catio

Build Your Own Catio

Build Your Own Catio

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Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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