More Pet Parents Are Getting Catios… Should You?

We all know what curiosity did to the cat, which is why a growing number of cat parents in the UK are making changes to their cat’s outdoor cat status and are opting for something of a middle ground: the safety-first compromise of a catio.

What is a catio?

A catio, or ‘cat patio’, is an enclosed space covered on all sides, usually attached to a house, that allows your cat access to the outdoor world while preventing them from experiencing the dangers that fully-outdoor cats might encounter. These include dangers such as road traffic, getting shut in, disease transmission and the risk that other animals or humans can bring.

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Benefits of a catio in the UK

We all want the best for our pets and for cat parents that means finding a way for them to live their optimum life; keeping them physically and mentally stimulated, whilst also doing our best to keep them safe. Despite generally being a nation of outdoor cats, some cat parents have decided that a catio offers the best of both worlds: the chance for their cat to feel the breeze in their whiskers, watch wildlife, get some exercise and experience outdoor stimulants whilst staying safe from harm.

Initially gaining popularity in the 1990s in North America, catios are now are becoming increasingly popular on both sides of the Atlantic as cat parents strive for that balance of freedom for their cat with a desire to keep them (and the local wildlife) safe. In the UK it is estimated that 67 percent of cats have access to both the indoors and outdoors. In the United States, where there are more natural predators, 63 percent of cats are estimated to be indoors only.

There are pros and cons on both sides: outdoor access provides cats with mental and physical stimulation, reduces boredom and allows cats to engage in natural behaviours such as climbing, exploring and hunting. However, free-roaming cats face risks including car accidents, diseases, poisoning, fights and theft. They are also a threat to wildlife: a 2022 study estimates that UK cats kill 160–270 million animals each year, with huge impact to local ecosystems. On the flip side, indoor cats do live longer than outdoor cats but can suffer from boredom, frustration, stress and obesity if they’re not provided with adequate mental and physical stimulation.

A catio then, allows cats to be kept active and stimulated whilst protecting cats from outdoor dangers.

How much does a catio cost?

The type of catio you go for depends on the size and design of the catio you want, your own DIY skills (should you decide to build it yourself), and the amount of money you want to spend: a growing number of increasingly luxe catio companies are available to help you add on everything from heating systems to suspension bridges.

DIY catios

There is plenty of scope for getting creative when it comes to designing a catio to make the most of the space you have available. To ensure a catio is safe and durable though, there are some basic guidelines to follow when it comes to the materials used. 

There are a number of tutorials online. We like this one from B&Q.

If using a wooden frame, it is essential to treat the wood to protect it from the weather. All stain, varnish and paint treatments, however, must be non-toxic for cats. Look out for products with no or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Stainless steel frames are also popular due to being resistant to rust. The floor materials most commonly used for catios are grass if it is covering the lawn area, or decking or paving if installed over a patio. 

The British weather is something to bear in mind when deciding on the catio roof. Unpredictable weather and colder seasons might reduce the amount of time a catio can be practically used. A solid roof will allow for year-round use, protecting the cats from rain or snow. A mesh roof will maximise the air flow but will mean the catio is open to the elements.

The cost really depends on the type of catio you plan to build and the existing structures you have in place already to work with but DIY builders online quote anywhere from £50–1,500. One guy even spent $125,000 (£93k!).

Professional catios

Catios and cat fencing are at the heart of ProtectaPet, which was established in 2014. Co-founder Eve Davies and her husband set up the business after losing their cat in a road traffic accident. She says that this is one of the main reasons given by customers who come to them for a catio. All ProtectaPet’s catios are all made of steel and cat owners can choose between getting their catio installed by one of the team or getting a catio designed and delivered for DIY building. 

Eve says they have seen a real increase in popularity of catios since starting their business. At ProtectaPet, prices range from £700 (1.2m x 2.4m) to £2,500 (4.8m x 4.8m) for DIY installation.

Grant Cubley, founder of Sanctuary SOS, says they are serving a growing US market as well as their UK customers. He says: “We have seen a huge rise in business since we started in 2016 and we do a lot of trade in America and Australia too. People understandably love their pets and we are asked to create everything from balcony enclosures for people living in flats to an enclosure measuring 25m by 16m for a client in the Scottish Highlands. The spectrum is enormous and I think the market is going to keep growing.” Prices at Sanctuary SOS range from £1,000 to £36,000.

“We are getting busier every year,” says Clare Nicholson, founder of Catsafe UK. “People come to us who have lost cats through being hit by cars or being stolen. They just want to keep their pet safe.” All catios from Catsafe UK are bespoke and delivered across the country. Clare says: “You can tell how busy we are – just this year our delivery van has clocked up 55,000 miles!” They use both timber and steel in their designs and have a three tier range for customers to choose from ranging in price from £700 to £2,000. 

Flat-pack catios

There are a number of flat-pack catios available for purchase online which vary wildly in price. Our advice? Stick to the ones from well-known brands and read the reviews of the product and brand on impartial review sites before purchasing. If an online catio price seems too good to be true, it probably is – and it’s your cat’s safety at risk.

Do I need planning permission for a catio?

Planning permission is not generally required for a catio although it is always worth checking (or at least looking into similar planning applications that have been submitted) as different geographical areas have different planning restrictions, such as conservation areas. Generally though, structures that are less than eight foot tall, are situated in the back garden (not the front) and don’t take up over half the garden, should be OK, but do check with your council to avoid being told to take it down.

What cat parents say

Saffron Powell Brown, from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, has a catio for her three cats, Bubble, Squeak and Rocky. She invested in a catio after her first rescue cat was hit by a car. Her first catio was installed by a builder as options and space were restricted and the second was a more DIY build, along with secure fencing installed by ProtectaPet to ensure safety.  Saffron says: “The catio 100 percent improves the quality of life for our cats. They get fresh air, can watch the birds, catch bugs and enjoy the sun on their fur. Now we can share the whole garden with them and they love curling up with us on the sofa or the egg chair we have in there.”

Lewis Young and his wife Kerri Prince, from Middlesbrough, had a bespoke catio installed by a local joiner. Lewis says: “We wanted our cats, Ellen, Betty and Harold, to have the option to enjoy the outside but to do so in a safe way. The catio cost us about £600 but it's well worth the money for the amount of the time the cats are in it. 

“Although they were a bit unsure to begin with, all three of them love it now. They all sit out there watching and chatting to the birds, or basking in the sunshine. Sometimes it’s a battle to get them all in for the night they love being out there so much!”

Resources

Pirie, T.J., Thomas, R.L. and Fellowes, M.D.E. (2022). Pet cats (Felis catus) from urban boundaries use different habitats, have larger home ranges and kill more prey than cats from the suburbs. Landscape and Urban Planning, 220, p.104338.

Foreman-Worsley, R., Finka, L.R., Ward, S.J. and Farnworth, M.J. (2021). Indoors or Outdoors? An International Exploration of Owner Demographics and Decision Making Associated with Lifestyle of Pet Cats. Animals, [online] 11(2), p.253. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020253.

Pdsa.org.uk. (2024). PAW PDSA Animal Wellbeing Report 2024 – Cats. [online] Available at: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/pdsa-animal-wellbeing-report/paw-report-2024/cats.