In our pet-filled household, I used to imagine our cats might get jealous seeing the dogs use the dog door to run outside. When we brought home Crowley last summer, I didn’t have to imagine anymore – he camped out outside the dog door trying to join them! I decided to build Crowley a catio on our back porch so that he would have his very own outdoor escape. 

The catio is built out of outdoor treated cedar 2x4s, and is a simple design; it’s basically two rectangles attached to one another with shorter pieces. The side that sits flush against the house is bolted directly into the siding of the home, which ensures that it is very secure. The floor is a lightweight piece of particle board that sits a few inches off of the ground to protect it from moisture, and is covered with an outdoor rug. I painted the catio with leftover paint from the construction of our home, and used a staple gun to fasten a 1-inch chicken wire over the entire exterior. This allows great airflow and visibility, while also keeping our cat safe and secure! 

Crowley accesses the catio from our living room using a cat door insert that I purchased online. It was a breeze to install and can be locked from the inside when we want the catio to be off-limits. This has turned out to be a crucial feature – when the weather is nice, he’d be happy to stay out there overnight! 

This project is something anyone could complete with basic power tools and a trip to the hardware store, and it’s been worth every minute of effort I put into it. Seeing Crowley relax in the sun, watch bugs and leaves in the grass, and take naps in the hammock brings me so much joy. I think he and I both have a shared favorite activity: birdwatching! Our backyard borders a large field, so we have dozens of species who visit our feeders and birdbath regularly. In the mornings, I drink coffee on the patio and Crowley joins me; we both enjoy watching our feathered friends together from a distance, keeping everyone entertained and safe!