Design for how your cats actually move
A catio is for the cats. Shelves, ramps and hiding places are parts of the model with heights, sizes and mounts — so the planner can count them, place their brackets, and check that every cat can reach what it needs.
The pieces
- Shelves, ramps and bridges
- Cubbies and hiding boxes
- Scratching posts and panels
- Beds and hammocks
- Planters for cat grass and cat-safe plants
- Water stations and a ventilated litter annex
- Cat doors and window access kits
Welfare rules that use your cat profiles
Tell the planner about your cats — age, mobility, size and how determined they are to escape. Collecting only what changes the advice, it then checks for resting and hiding places, more than one height, alternative routes and spread-out resources when several cats share the space, and gentle step-ups or ramps for senior and less mobile cats.
This follows the environmental-needs guidance feline veterinarians publish: a safe place, separated key resources, room to play and climb. See the behaviour guide.
In the beta
- Shelves, ramps, bridges, cubbies, scratchers, beds, planters, water
- Cat doors, window access and cleaning hatches
- Welfare checks tuned by cat profiles
- Watch cats use a layout in Catio Quest, the free game
Questions
How high should catio shelves be?
Vary them. Several heights give cats choices; steps of roughly a cat’s comfortable jump suit adults, and seniors need much smaller step-ups or ramps. The planner flags big step-ups when a cat profile says mobility is reduced.
Can I put the litter box in the catio?
Many people add a covered, ventilated litter annex. Keep it away from food and water, and easy to clean. The planner treats it as a resource like water and resting places.
Related
Design your catio in your browser
Free to design and check. Fit a catio to your wall, window and yard, run the safety checks, and see the materials list before you buy a single board.