It’s ‘catio’ season

Written by Carmen Dunn, former president of the Feral and Abandoned Cat Society, June 29, 2016

Enhancing your cat’s indoor life

If there is one issue that I have found divides the world of cat owners, it is whether pet cats should be kept solely indoors or allowed to roam freely outdoors.

Those who argue for keeping pet cats strictly indoors put forward a variety of reasons. Some of these include lowering the risk of injury and disease transmission from fights with other cats, preventing attacks by wildlife or on wildlife, and reducing the chances of injury or death caused by automobiles and other man-made hazards.

Neighbours would also argue that keeping pet cats indoors protects their flowerbeds.

Advocates for letting pet cats roam freely argue that cats have lived outside for thousands of years. They thrive on the kind of stimulation that only nature and the outdoors can provide and help with rodent control. These cat owners accept the risks involved with letting their pets out and many believe that time outside is important to their cat’s mental quality of life. In urban areas, where multiple cat-owners live close together, roaming cats are often tolerated by the neighbours.

So is there a compromise? If you choose to keep your pet cats inside, is there a way to keep them safe and yet provide the mental stimulation of the outside world?

The answer is yes — provide a “catio.”

A catio, or cat patio, is a screened enclosure that allows your pet to see, hear and smell the outdoors from the safety of a structure that extends from a window or doorway. Some are as simple as an enclosed platform with supporting brackets secured to the house. Others are much larger and extend to the ground.

For a catio built alongside a window or door, rather than leave the entrance wide open during the day, a panel with a cat door installed can be made to slide into the opening. The panel can then be removed and the window or door closed when the catio is not in use. For high windows, with a catio that extends to the ground, a ramp or “catwalk” will be required so your cat can safely descend and get back up. Inside the enclosure, your cat will appreciate having one or more perches and a raised comfy spot such as a chair or condo unit to curl up in for a nap. Large catios also require a man-door for such things as easy access for cleaning and making repairs.

A nice way to enjoy time in the fresh air with your indoor cats is to make all or part of your open porch or deck into a catio. This is not much different than screening it in to keep the bugs out. The main difference is that a heavier gauge of wire-screen, and sturdy framing, is required to secure your cats inside. You also have to be careful that they do not escape if people are coming and going through a door that leads outside.

This summer, if you want to do something to enhance your cat’s indoor life, why not build a catio and give them an “outdoor” life too.