#diy catio

[rubenesque-as-fuck]

Finally finshed the catio that I've been helping my friends build! (Or it's at least finshed enough for several very happy kitties to safely explore it)

[chicka-dee-dee]

Well I made a diy catio and it worked great until my cat found the one week spot... back to the drawing board I guess.

[ask-a-vetblr]

I want to build my cat a catio, but I am unsure of where to look on the internet to find out how to build one (that's free found one that costs money for the build info). I would like to know how to build it and what is safe to put in it, so if it's not a bother, could you point me in a direction where I can find the info? Or advice on keeping dogs away from it? (my neighbor's dog occasionally jumps the fence)

Prynhawn,

First, congrats on the decision, I’m sure your local ruler (cat) will be thrilled.

Second, I don’t know how much construction experience you have, but building something like this that’s totally functional is actually pretty complicated. In the world of knitting, crocheting, and sewing it’s not at all uncommon to pay for a pattern, so I think it’s entirely reasonable to ask for money for the building information.

You also might want to reach out to a local builder/handyman (or handywoman, or handyperson) to make sure that the design you do select will be strong enough to resist your neighbor’s dog. Think about how big the dog is, how strong it is, how high it can jump, etc… It would also be agood idea to consult a professional before buying a plan or materials to make sure that they’ll be strong and safe enough.

Here are some links to get you started:

Plans for sale

Video tour

8 Catio tips

Things to consider

From homemade to kits

Handyperson example

Basic how to

From the digging that I’ve done, it seems like you are going to need to pay for plans or a kit, because at the end of the day someone has put their time, effort, and expertise into designing these things– think of it like an IKEA bed frame, or any other piece of furniture. 

Best of luck,

-mod @whalefromwales