Catio

I got Balerion when he was 12 weeks old. I wanted to be one of those cool people who walked their cats outside. It took a while, but it soon got to the point where Balerion considered himself an outdoors cat, and I was falsely imprisoning him. He constantly wanted to get out. He ripped a hole in my screen door to escape. He knocked the AC vent hose out of the way to escape. It was time to do something. A catio is basically a patio for cats. Get it? Since I rent an apartment, it couldn’t be permanent. I came up with a solution that would basically use 2x2s on either side of the window frame, to hold the catio in place. Then some legs to hold it up. Simple.

All told, it cost about $250. The design is pretty simple. It’s a box with wire mesh around it. Be sure to get wire that won’t rust. The wood is 2×2 treated wood, and some plywood I had lying around. I cut a notch in the second floor, so he can clime up through it. I also added a slant to the top, so any rain would roll down. It will be under the upstairs neighbor’s deck, so I doubt much rain would get in. Still, it looks fancy.

 

 

 

 

I painted it white, and added carpet to both floors. I went through 6 cans for white spray paint. That was probably the most expensive part. I wasn’t sure what type of carpet he’d like, so I got three different kinds. They are just floor mats, that I cut to size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, I made a door, just in case. It’s locked, so no one can steal my cat. But also, if anyone wants a cat, let me know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He’ll get in and out through a doggie door. I painted it white, then covered it with another floor rug. The rug turned out to be more of a hassle than it was worth. I tried spray glue, but that didn’t work. Then I tried hot glue, and that worked for a while, but was no match against Balerion’s blades of hate. He quickly ripped it off.

 

 

 

 

 

Trimming the wire was a joy. If I didn’t have carpal tunnel, I do now. Be sure you use rust proof staples, as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The roof is just a piece of acrylic. I drilled a hole in the center and dangled some rope through it, so he has something to attack in between attacking the carpet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The legs were pretty simple. More 2×2 and an angled brace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I cut a hole in the bottom to fit a water bowl, in case Bitey McBiteface was too lazy to go back inside. Instead, the little fucker figured out that he could hit the bowl really hard and bounce it out of it’s hole and use that to escape. I had to take the bowl out and cover it with more wire.

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly, I added some flowers for him to enjoy. They are fake.

So far he likes it. A lot. He spends most of his days in his catio, silently judging those who walk past him. He still desperately wishes to survey his vast domain but this helps keep the edge off.

In hindsight, I would do something else with the back. That carpet didn’t work. I also should have covered the frame with rope,  because he’s already started ripping that apart. And I didn’t mount it very well. It was just me, and it’s super bulky, so getting it level was a challenge. But it’s close enough. Plus it’s not permanent, so my landlord won’t get mad.