Start from the wall, window and ground the catio really meets
Most catio problems start at the house: a dryer vent inside the enclosure, a door that cannot open, a window that was the bedroom’s fire exit. OpenCatio3D keeps the house in the same model as the catio so the checks can see them.
Walls, openings and obstacles
Add the host wall and mark what is on it: windows, doors, patio doors, dryer and appliance vents, meters, hose bibs and downspouts. Each has a position, size and sill height, so the planner knows which opening the cats use and which ones the enclosure must stay clear of.
Trees, AC units and no-build zones can be marked on the ground, along with the ground itself — grass, soil, concrete, pavers or decking — because what the catio stands on changes how it is anchored and whether it needs a dig-proof skirt.
Measured, then confirmed
Every key dimension records where it came from — typed, taped, AR or LiDAR — and whether you have confirmed it. Concept designs need no confirmation. A build-ready package needs confirmed dimensions: an unconfirmed width or opening is reported as a blocker, so a guess never becomes a cut list.
Bring the house from OpenPlan3D
OpenCatio3D reads and writes OpenPlan3D files. A house drawn in OpenPlan3D keeps its walls, doors and windows, and the catio travels back as a sized object.
Plan
Front elevation
In the beta
- Host walls with windows, doors, vents, meters and utilities
- Ground type and site obstacles
- Measurement source and confirmation on key dimensions
- Metric or feet-and-inches
Planned
- Photo-based scale capture on iPhone
- LiDAR-assisted wall capture with a confidence review
- Sun exposure by hour
Questions
Do I need a laser measure?
No. A tape measure is enough for most catios. What matters is that you measure the real wall and openings and confirm them before ordering materials.
Can I use my phone’s AR to measure?
The iPhone app will offer AR measuring as a convenience, but AR is a visualisation aid, not a precision guarantee. Build-ready exports still ask you to confirm dimensions.
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.