7 Must-Have Catio Upgrades Your Feline Friend Will Thank You For

If you have a cat who loves to play or spends hours looking out the window, you might need a catio (a cat patio). We researched, built, and tested the trend, and we agree: These structures are the cat’s meow.

There are many catios on the market, from petite structures to extra-large enclosures that hold multiple cats. Whether you opt for a purchased structure or build one yourself, a catio should be a safe, stimulating, and comfortable space for your cat to enjoy the outdoors. Look for one with a solid roof to protect from hot sun or rain showers, and multiple levels so your feline friends can play or lounge.

The one thing most purchased catios lack is personalization and creature comforts. We set out to remedy that by stitching up a few fabrications and potting some plants that bring these ideas to life. Here are seven things you should add to your outdoor catio.

Why Build a Catio—and What Should You Put in It?

A catio can be an essential part of a cat’s well-being, particularly if they’re able to engage in natural behaviors such as scratching and stalking. The enclosure protects birds and other wildlife from your cat while safeguarding the cat from wandering off or falling prey to a larger predator.

Your catio can be a stand-alone structure or attached to the house. You can buy a kit or design your own, then set it up in the yard or garden, or on a hard surface like a patio or deck. “A connected catio usually has an access door allowing a cat the freedom to go outside whenever they desire,” says Yvette Bacha, co-owner of Hellas Custom Catios in Edmonton, Alberta.

No matter the set-up, your cat’s quality of life is improved with stimulation and playtime; a catio provides both.

1. Create Places to Climb

Some catios include multiple levels that satisfy a cat's instinct to be off the ground. This gives a view to all the backyard happenings while protecting themselves from any perceived threats below. Clever ways to do this might include a series of steps or repurposing some large branches that give access to the highest level.

2. Add a Hammock

Make a cat-napper's dream come true with a generous hammock. A square of durable outdoor fabric with channels on each end, attaches with a length of nylon rope knotted to small carabiner clips. A perch like this is big enough for even a heavyweight cat to safely hop in and out. Not into sewing? A purchased cat bed or chair that sits above the ground will work, too.

3. Provide Enrichment Activities

Toys and plants take the catio from a cage to a destination and provide much-needed stimulation. We love the idea of a swat-tastic cat mobile, so we chose fabric with small prints that might resemble fish scales once the shapes were cut and stitched together. A length of natural twine sewn into the fish and attached to the ceiling keeps them secure. We stuffed our shapes with dried catnip as a treat. We love the fish, but it would be just as fun to make mice or bird shapes.

4. Stitch Soft Cushions

We made a simple knife-edge pillow from two different Sunbrella indoor-outdoor fabrics for each perch. The yellow stripe and solid orange make a happy, reversible mix, and we stuffed each with some polyester stuffing to soften the seat. You can use double-sided sticky tape to secure the pillows to the shelf.

5. Create Good Hiding Spaces

Whether its a tunnel, boxes, or pots of plants like this catmint, cats love places to hide behind when they need a quiet place to retreat.

6. Add Surfaces for Scratching

Place a vertical scratching post in your catio to satisfy your cat's instinct to scratch. It will spare any other furnishings or fabrics from being clawed up. A cat's got to do what a cat's got to do!

7. Make Food and Water Accessible

A constant supply of fresh water in an unbreakable bowl is a must. Some bowls include a fountain which keeps water moving and deliver the bonus benefit of a relaxing sound. We also added a pot of wheatgrass. Cats can safely nibble on wheatgrass. It aids digestion and reduces hairballs while adding additional stimulation to the space.

Note: Before you add any plant to your catio, check with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals's list of poisonous plants to make sure your choice is safe.