Outdoor Catio

vansX2

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Last summer I purchased a collapsible catio tent with a attaching tunnel. It's ok. I would purr fur a more permanent structure. I'm aware that there's a company selling Catio building designs online. I have looked at those design plans but they don't fit my needs. Has anyone built a permanent Catio?
 

Father of furbabies

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Depending your space, you might be able to find a shed framing kit and turn that into a catio, otherwise you will have to look into purchasing the lumber and doing the work yourself (or hiring someone) to build a custom catio.
 
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vansX2

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Depending your space, you might be able to find a shed framing kit and turn that into a catio, otherwise you will have to look into purchasing the lumber and doing the work yourself (or hiring someone) to build a custom catio.
My space lies on a raised 1 floor up wood deck. My biggest issue is figuring out how to best attach a raised tunnel to accommodate a crank out window.
 

Father of furbabies

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You might need to build a small platform under the window (similar to a window AC platform) and box frame it so you can install wire mesh around it (think a small chicken coop) then run the tunnel off it.
 
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vansX2

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You might need to build a small platform under the window (similar to a window AC platform) and box frame it so you can install wire mesh around it (think a small chicken coop) then run the tunnel off it.
Thanks for your thought ideas.
 

amethyst

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I made my catio just going right up to the windows. Chicken Wire Ok For A Catio? I have two sliding windows (I call them drive thru windows), and just use a mesh fabric as cat flaps to limit the amount of bugs that come in. I'm not sure if something like that would work for you though.
 
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vansX2

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I made my catio just going right up to the windows. Chicken Wire Ok For A Catio? I have two sliding windows (I call them drive thru windows), and just use a mesh fabric as cat flaps to limit the amount of bugs that come in. I'm not sure if something like that would work for you though.
I'm OK with chicken wire as Jackpot can't bite through it. My crank out windows are in my bedroom where I have a built in 10 inch wide shelf running the width of a triple window.
 

Snicker123

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I used chicken wire and bird netting and enclosed my deck with high "walls" so my cat could be outside. Then I went further and sectioned off a large 15 x 15 area of grass with garden fencing and bird netting and made sure that it was virtually escape proof. I used to let him in the grass while I was at work so that he could run through the cat door. The only problem with that was he went on a chipmunk rampage - four within a 10 day period . . . but, that is all another story!
 

amethyst

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I'm OK with chicken wire as Jackpot can't bite through it. My crank out windows are in my bedroom where I have a built in 10 inch wide shelf running the width of a triple window.
Oh in case it wasn't clear (I realize now how it's posted might be confusing), I was linking the thread that has the pics I posted of my catio, not asking about chicken wire.
 

tarasgirl06

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Last summer I purchased a collapsible catio tent with a attaching tunnel. It's ok. I would purr fur a more permanent structure. I'm aware that there's a company selling Catio building designs online. I have looked at those design plans but they don't fit my needs. Has anyone built a permanent Catio?
Have we built a permanent CATIO! Oh, yes. Several, of various sizes, designs and purposes, actually. My ex was a finish carpenter for some time and he had a full compliment of the tools and know-how necessary to make catios a reality for the many cats in our lives. I helped, and learned as I went. We built a couple of small catios attached to the house and one to the perimeter fence, each with sleeping chamber and patio for food and drink. We also built a modular "waystation" for cats who needed to be in isolation post-op or pre-vetting. The piece de resistance was the one we built out from the existing patio at our Mojave home. We were also in the process of building a cat compound consisting of two 12'x12' barn stalls and cat-fenced yard when he decided to dump us all. That's a whole 'nother story I won't go into here. Attaching a couple of photos of the stables compound and one of the patio-catio for your enjoyment.
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MonaLyssa33

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I built one with PVC pipes, chicken wire and zip ties and made a door as well to get access to the other part of my deck. I have a magnetic screen that I have on the screen door so the cats can go out whenever they want (when the door is open). I want to upgrade the whole thing though and just screen in the entire deck because I want to make use of my deck but the mosquitos are awful in my yard.
 
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vansX2

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Have we built a permanent CATIO! Oh, yes. Several, of various sizes, designs and purposes, actually. My ex was a finish carpenter for some time and he had a full compliment of the tools and know-how necessary to make catios a reality for the many cats in our lives. I helped, and learned as I went. We built a couple of small catios attached to the house and one to the perimeter fence, each with sleeping chamber and patio for food and drink. We also built a modular "waystation" for cats who needed to be in isolation post-op or pre-vetting. The piece de resistance was the one we built out from the existing patio at our Mojave home. We were also in the process of building a cat compound consisting of two 12'x12' barn stalls and cat-fenced yard when he decided to dump us all. That's a whole 'nother story I won't go into here. Attaching a couple of photos of the stables compound and one of the patio-catio for your enjoyment.
View attachment 407640View attachment 407641View attachment 407642View attachment 407643View attachment 407644View attachment 407645
Wow ! That Green enclosure is amazing. I don't have the square footage for a structure such as that. I don’t require a large catio only a small one where kitty can be outside without a chaperone.
 

tarasgirl06

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Wow ! That Green enclosure is amazing. I don't have the square footage for a structure such as that. I don’t require a large catio only a small one where kitty can be outside without a chaperone.
Thanks! Yeah, that was building out the existing patio and it worked really well. The slider led into the living room. We were able to buy both glass and screen inserts with catflaps in them and unless it was snowing or there was a sandstorm, they had access 24 hours a day. They LOVED it.
You might want to look at catioshowcase.com to see some different ideas people have used.
 
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vansX2

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Thanks! Yeah, that was building out the existing patio and it worked really well. The slider led into the living room. We were able to buy both glass and screen inserts with catflaps in them and unless it was snowing or there was a sandstorm, they had access 24 hours a day. They LOVED it.
You might want to look at catioshowcase.com to see some different ideas people have used.
Thns tarasgirl06. I further checkout that site.
 
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