Porch and deck catio
A covered porch or a deck already has a floor, a roof or posts. Enclosing part of it can be the quickest catio of all — if every gap at the floor, posts and ceiling is closed.
Concept mode today
Porch infill is a concept-only template for now: you can design and share it, and the checks run, but the planner does not yet issue a build package for infill between existing structures it cannot inspect. Model it as a lean-to or freestanding catio on a deck base to get a full materials list.
What to get right
- Gaps under deck boards, around posts and at the ceiling line
- Railings: the mesh, not the railing, is the barrier — and guardrails should not be altered without review
- Doors to the house and the yard, and a latch on each
- Shade and airflow under a solid roof
In the planner: Porch infill (concept)
Concept only Designs and checks run; no build package is issued.
| Starts at | 9 ft 10 in × 6 ft 7 in × 7 ft 10 in high |
|---|---|
| Depth | 3 ft 11 in – 16 ft 5 in |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in – 9 ft 10 in |
| Front height | 6 ft 7 in – 9 ft 10 in |
| Width | 3 ft 11 in – 26 ft 3 in |
Sizes outside these limits fall back to concept-only.
In the beta
- Deck base option on lean-to and freestanding templates
- Porch infill concept template
Questions
Can I just staple mesh to my porch railings?
Railings are usually spaced and sized for people, not cats, and often have gaps at the floor and posts. A proper frame with mesh on the inside of the railing is sturdier and easier to make escape-resistant.
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.