How to Build a Safe and Stylish Catio
Posted on April 14, 2017 under Cat Articles at PetsBest.com
By Julie Sheer, Houzz.
It’s the dilemma of every cat owner: how to let Kitty enjoy the outdoors without risk of the Great Escape. The outside world can be a dangerous place for a roaming cat, with the threat of predators, cars, poison and diseases. Not to mention the danger to wild birds, which outdoor cats kill in monumental numbers. Catios — or cat patios — are safely enclosed playhouses for felines that provide fresh air, mental stimulation and exercise.
Cats confined indoors are at higher risk for stress-related diseases, says Dr. Martine van Boeijen, a cat veterinarian in Perth, Australia. “An enclosed catio, which safely confines your cat to your property, allows your cat to have the best of both worlds.” Here is a basic guide on custom, kit and DIY options for adding a catio to your home.
Catios can be as elaborate as a custom-designed feline jungle gym or as simple as enclosing a patio with screening. Here, Rasputin enjoys one of the perches in a custom catio built in Arcadia, California.
Suggested Features
It’s important to make sure catios are escape-proof and include basic feline comforts:
- Entry door or window, or walkway or tunnel from the house
- Perches, ramps, steps, bridges, catwalks
- Post or tree for scratching and climbing
- Hiding places
- Beds, pillows or hammocks for resting
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