Catio

A catio is an enclosed outdoor structure attached to a home that allows cats safe access to fresh air and outdoor stimulation. It connects directly to a door, window, or wall, creating a secure outdoor extension of the living space.

Designed to connect to doors, windows, or external walls, a catio creates a controlled outdoor extension of your home, ideal for cats who enjoy watching the world, lounging in the sun, and exploring safely without roaming.

ProtectaPet® Catios (cat patios) are discreet, durable, and carefully designed to suit modern homes, gardens, patios, and balconies.

A catio usually has a mesh roof, while a cat enclosure is typically made of freestanding cat fencing consisting of a fencepost and a cat fence bracket; it can be used to create large cat enclosures within an existing garden over different levels of terrain. Catios focus on smaller areas, often on a patio attached to a house, whereas enclosures create an expansive outdoor area.

Catios are ideal for indoor cats, rescue or nervous cats, older cats, and households in urban areas or near busy roads. They are also well suited to homes where full garden access is not practical or desired. We find our breeders and fosterers often choose catios over cat fence barriers and cat enclosures because there is reduced risk of neighbourhood cats coming into the cat's outdoor territory.

The size of a catio depends on available space and how it will be used. Clever use of the vertical space of even small catios allow for climbing, perching, and lounging, and compact designs can provide valuable enrichment when thoughtfully designed. Where space allows, larger catios enable cat owners to build in shared space such as garden furniture, outdoor garden loungers and tables for precious time together.

Yes, catios provide enrichment, fresh air, and stimulation while significantly reducing outdoor risks. They are widely used for indoor cats and cats that cannot safely free roam. We recommend that catios are attached to a house with free access through a door, window or cat flap so that the cat can come and go outdoors at freewill.

Cats can spend extended periods in a catio provided they have shade, shelter, water, and enrichment. Time spent outdoors should always be appropriate to weather conditions and the cat’s comfort. Ideally, cats should be able to autonomously decide when they access the catio or return indoors with a interconnecting cat flap.

In most cases, planning permission is not required for a catio in the back garden, particularly if it is a non-permanent structure. Requirements can vary by council and for listed buildings or conservation areas, so it’s advisable to check with your local planning authority.

The most effective catio design is one that fully appreciated the space available, making the most of verticla space with climbing walls, bridges and hideaways and lookouts. Catio rooves are fully enclosed with mesh, securely fixed to the ground - grass or patio and tailored to both the home and the cat’s requirements. Effective catios prioritise safety, stability, sheltered access points, and opportunities for enrichment rather than size alone.