A patio for your cat: Catios are the new craze

Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman

Some people have a meshed screen patio on their back porches to sit in during warm summer evenings to enjoy a drink and fresh air while staying free of pesky bugs.

Others use it as a sun and plant room, giving ample access to the sun and rain without worrying about leaf-eating critters.

But there’s now a third reason to have a meshed screen patio attached to the back of your house: Your cat loves to be outside, but it may be killing innocent birds.

Luckily, there’s something called a catio that can help. It’s just what it sounds like: a cat version of a screened-in porch.

The nonprofit American Bird Conservancy estimates that cats worldwide combine to kill four billion animals each year and up to 500 million birds. Cats can also pick up illnesses from hunting birds, such as songbird fever, a name for salmonella in birds that can be passed on to felines and even humans.

“Cats are sick for a couple of days to a week or more. Up to 10% may die, especially if they are very young, very old, or otherwise immunosuppressed,” Jennifer Coates, a doctor for the pet care information site PetMD, said in a blog post. “Treatment for songbird fever includes supportive care (fluid therapy, anti-nausea medications, etc.) and antibiotics if the cat’s condition warrants their use.”

Most cats love going outside — they’re naturally outdoor animals and love to hunt, climb trees and lounge in the sun. But it’s not necessarily always good for them.

In addition to risks to wild birds, according to a study by the Animal Humane Society, the lifespan of outdoor cats is significantly shorter than their indoor counterparts. Cars, toxic plants and other wild animals are just a few of the many outdoor dangers that can shorten outdoor cats’ lives by as much as 10 to 12 years, according to the study.

That’s where a catio creates the best of both worlds.

A catio’s meshed screen walls allow cats to sit outside in the fresh air and sun while avoiding the dangers and temptations that the outdoors pose.

The possibilities are endless for decorations and add-ons, including ledges to jump up on, dangling toys to play with, comfy chairs to sit on, and thick branches to climb.

Benefits of a catio

Aside from avoiding illnesses, a catio will help cat owners avoid the nasty business of disposing of dead animals that their furball brings home. The website Catio Spaces lists the top 10 benefits a catio brings for your pet.

Some benefits include protecting your cat from outdoor threats and reducing veterinary bills due to injuries, but others benefit humans, too.

If you have multiple cats, Catio Spaces notes that providing an outdoor space will give cats more territory to roam and additional outdoor stimulation that could help reduce conflicts and behavioral problems between cats. Putting a litter box in the catio can also help reduce indoor odors.

If you build the catio large enough, you can also integrate a sitting chair for yourself, allowing for additional bonding time with your cat outdoors, which is healthy for both parties. Even if you’re not outdoors with your pet, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your cat is in a self-enclosure while still enjoying the outdoors.

Making or buying a catio

While a full patio-sized catio gives your cat the most space, it doesn’t have to be large. The website Adventure Cats shows examples of two smaller types of catios that can be attached to a window. One is made out of a chameleon cage, and the other is a dog cage repurposed to attach to the window.

Adventure Cats also reminds people to build up if they can’t build outward or wide. Cats enjoy climbing and sitting in high places, and you can easily build ledges for your cat to tower high above in a catio.

Directions to build your own small catio that can be adjusted to fit any window size can be found on Adventure Cats’ website.

If you’d rather purchase a catio, there are several websites from which you can order one. Catio World provides descriptions and links to several online options, such as pre-designed kits from Habitat Haven and Amazon.