‘Catios’ Bring Cats Outdoors

[Liberal_in_LA]

My cats would be in cat heaven! more pics at the link



WHEN it comes to their homes, there are few things New Yorkers prize as much as a little outdoor space — a terrace, perhaps, or a small deck in the backyard.

‘Catio’ Enclosures Protect Cats Outside

Madelaine Ann Hare’s second-floor porch in Toronto encloses three Abyssinians, as does an attached 25-foot walkway. More Photos »
Their cats feel the same way.

So some cat owners who would never dream of letting their pets roam free outside have come up with a creative compromise: an enclosed space — usually in the form of a screened-in porch or deck — that allows them to share the great outdoors.

Please don’t call it a cage. They prefer the term “catio.”

“The cats, they like to sit out there,” said Stefanie L. Russell, 44, referring to the balcony of her 12th-floor Greenwich Village apartment, where a homemade enclosure keeps her three Burmese cats safe. “Before, we basically didn’t use the balcony at all, because we were afraid that the cats would fall or jump.”

Two years ago, she and her husband, Robert Davidson, who are on the faculty of the N.Y.U. College of Dentistry, fenced off half the balcony, which runs the length of the apartment. They used industrial-grade PVC pipe and heavy black netting, creating a fully enclosed space that they decorated with furniture, plants and carpeting.

Now the couple and their 9-year-old daughter, Sophie, leave the terrace door open for Oliver, Lily and Jackson, who are, as Ms. Russell put it, “the type of cats that love to run out in the hallway.”

The cats seem happier, she said, and there has been an unexpected bonus: “Before, we used to have pigeons nesting on the balcony, and it was just a mess.” These days, the birds keep their distance.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/garden/17catio.html

[nemo137]

1. Yeah, my folks do this with their cat

if you have a screen porch, you can do it. they leave the window open during the day so the cat can get in and our and enjoy eying the birds, squirrels, etc.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. So coooooooooooool.

[Catshrink]

3. I have an Arizona room and cut a pet door in my door.

(In Illinois we called these Florida rooms.)

The cats come and go as they please. They can hear the birds chirping and get some fresh air. They love it and they're safe from the coyotes and snake bites. Every now and then a little lizards creeps in through the drainage holes and Ricky brings it to me. Alive. With or without its tail. Ick.

[JHB]

4. Meh. I've seen the same thing done for years...

There's a house around the block that has a similar space enclosed in wire mesh. In the warm weather it's a walk-in, indoor-outdoor aviary for their parakeets.

And this is just across the river from the "catio"...

[petronius]

13. Yeah, but that's completely different

If you were a wicked-cool urban hipster, you'd understand...

:)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. In Minnesota we call them screen porches

:-)

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. did you see some of the other pictures?... enclosed walkways at tree level

way beyond screened porches

[Orangepeel]

6. the chain link looks awful, but any self respecting cat is going through regular screen

at least that was my experience

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. it does look unattractive

[NJCher]

22. vines

We have several rather elaborate catios and I agree they can be unattractive. What we did is build them into pergolas with vines over them. Can't even see them most of the time. Even in the winter, the wisteria branches hide about 80 per cent of my garden catio and the other one is hidden in the evergreens.

So that's one solution.


Cher

[supernova]

7. My cats love the sun room!

:D

I have an eclosed porch with sliding doors and screens. They are surrounded on all sides by the lawn and the woods. They stay out there no matter how hot it is. But I make sure they come in every hour or so for a water break.

At some point, I want to put in a cat door so they can come and go as they like.

[awoke_in_2003]

8. would be great for declawed cats...

since they can't defend themselves as well. Myself, I would never declaw a cat. There is something about it I don't like.

[Zoeisright]

9. No kidding. Imagine having your fingers cut off. That's what it's like.

I think it's animal cruelty.

One of the worst things I ever saw was at our vet, a little kitten had just been declawed. And the owners wanted to pierce it's ear too! That was totally unethical. The poor little thing was shivering and crying.

[awoke_in_2003]

11. I feel the same way...

about a procedure that is performed on baby boys, but invoking that word tends to cause a shitstorm :hi:

[Canuckistanian]

10. Our cats practically live outside during the summer

Well, actually, the spring and fall, too. Only snow discourages them. But then again, we live in the country, where the dangers of cars and predators are few.

This idea must be ideal for nature-loving felines cooped up in a city environment.

[Luminous Animal]

12. I'm fortunate, living in San Franciso...

that the cats can go outside and we have a cat door, only locking them in at night. All the backyards on the block are closed off to the street by the buildings. It is kitty heaven out there. A lot of trees, flowers, bees and butterflies in the flowers, plenty of sun to bask in, and no danger from traffic or predators.

[K8-EEE]

14. I have a great cat yard here in L.A. and she never goes past the fence

My cat would go loco stuck inside but I think if they are raised that way from being a kitten they are good with it.

[AnnieBW]

15. Our cats LOOOVE our screened-in deck

They get more use out of it than we do! Our female cat is out there pretty much 24/7 during the summer, unless there's a thunderstorm or she's eating or using the cat box.

[nickinSTL]

16. I've thought for years about this being a great idea

of course, I don't have cats, and haven't for years, but...

If I ever do again, I'll seriously consider doing something like this.

[Arugula Latte]

17. That's awesome. I wish we had a catio.

*turns green with envy*

[KatyMan]

18. we built one...

have a cat flap that fits in a window, and built an 8x8 catio (we call it the cat house) enclosed in lattice. Put a small brick patio inside it for the litterboxes, covered half of the roof with corrugated plastic and the other half with very strong netting to let light and air in. They love it. We're expanding it in a few weeks to a 16x8 room, because we think they need a little more leg room. It's great....and, um, yeah, we're "those" kind of cat people (we only have 4 tho!) :)

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. lucky cats. Sounds cool