Oh Behave
Does your cat need to go outside to be happy?
It is a common belief that cats need to go outside to be happy. In fact, cats can lead fabulous lives indoors. Indoor cats live two to three times longer than cats who go outside.
Here’s what cats miss when they don’t go outside:
- Fleas, ticks and worms (Ewwww)
- Being attacked by another animal (Ouch and cha ching!)
- Being unintentionally poisoned: Rodent poison works up the food chain; ingesting the poison itself, or an animal that has eaten it, may be fatal for your cat (Devastating)
- Being hit by a car (Heartbreaking)
- Being lunch or dinner for a coyote (Too painful to contemplate)
Indoor cats appreciate an environmentally enriched home that will keep them stress free and healthy. Read the full Tails of Marin Article about keeping your cat happy.
Looking for some inspiration? Here are some of our staff members’ cat enrichment areas (“catios”). Or, skip ahead to view commercially available solutions and fencing!
Tour Bradley & Sheldon’s cat enclosure, made from reclaimed redwood and wine barrels!
This catio extends out from the guest room windows and wraps over to a fixed window looking into the living room.
Reclaimed materials were used for the project.
A safe outdoor space.
Lots of vertical space and ledges to spring to and fro.
A dismantled redwood deck provided all the redwood lumber for free.
The base is a deck of pressure treated wood and redwood with a Trex surface. Keeping everything off the ground and easy to clean.
The exterior welded wire mesh and other hardware are coated black to add distinction to the rustic enclosure.
A safe outdoor space.
A two-tiered loft.
The cradles are made from the staves and coopers hoops of used wine barrels.
Built on the north side of a 1925 Craftsman Bungalow.
Several ledges, perches, and ramps connect the three cat rest cradles
The corrugated roof is made of a tinted UV-ray blocking polycarbonate that shields, but lets plenty of natural light through.
A door built in the outside for humans only!
The cradles are made from the staves and coopers hoops of used wine barrels.
The catio measures 14’ long, 4’ wide, and 10’ tall.
Access is from the guest room double-hung windows.
Easy access
Easy access
A Lotus cat tree provides a step to the outdoors.
Looking in
The lists below are provided as a resource only and do not imply endorsement by Marin Humane.
Commercially Available Enclosures:
Catio Spaces
Lots of pictures, DIY plans and ideas for your catio adventures!
C & D Pet Products
Commercial kits and diagrams for enclosures available in various sizes and prices. Local professional installation available. Also offers custom enclosures.
C D & E
Modular metal enclosures.
SunCATcher Enclosures
Free-standing gazebo style outdoor cat enclosures for yard or patio.
Building your Own Enclosure:
Community Concern for Cats
Lots of ideas for building your own enclosures.
This Old House
Step by Step instructions for building a small catio.
Cat Fences:
Purrfect Fence
Commercial kits and instructions for free-standing cat fence systems.. And now offering “Cat-Proofer” system for converting existing fencing to make it escape-proof.
Easy Pet Fence
Cat and dog fencing and fence conversion kits for cats.
Critter Fence
Polypropylene and metal fencing.
Cat Fence In
Fence conversions and tree guards.
Oscillot
Fence rollers to keep cats inside and existing fence.
This list is provided as a resource and does not imply endorsement by Marin Humane
