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Catio safety checklist

Walk round your catio — or your design — with this list before the cats move in, and again each season. Your ticks are saved in this browser only.

0 of 33 checked

Enclosure

Every face is enclosed, including the roof
Mesh openings are small enough for your smallest cat (kittens especially)
Mesh is welded wire, not chicken wire or plastic netting
No gap at the base, roof edges, corners or the house wall that a cat could push a head through
Mesh is fixed at close, regular spacing along every edge and stays taut when pushed
Cut wire ends are turned in, covered or filed — no sharp points

Doors and access

Every door latches without being pushed and cannot be nudged open by a cat
Doors close by themselves, or there is a vestibule (two doors) for escape-prone cats
You can walk in (or reach every corner) to clean and to retrieve a cat
The cats’ way in from the house can be closed from inside

The house

No dryer, furnace, water-heater or other appliance vent opens into the catio
Meters, shut-offs and utilities stay accessible from outside
No bedroom emergency-exit window is blocked
Wall fixings go into structure, not just siding or trim

Weather

Part of the catio is shaded at the hottest time of day
There is shelter from rain and wind
Water drains away and nothing pools on the roof
A mesh roof can shed snow, or the catio is closed in heavy snow

Ground and predators

On soil or grass, a mesh skirt or buried mesh stops digging in or out
The frame is anchored so it cannot shift or lift
The roof and walls are strong enough to keep wildlife out

Welfare

Fresh water is available and cannot tip into the mesh
There is somewhere to hide and somewhere to rest out of the sun
Several heights to climb, with easy steps for older cats
With several cats, there are two ways off every high shelf
Litter is available on long visits, away from water

Plants and chemicals

Every plant within reach has been checked against a toxic-plant list
No lilies (Lilium or Hemerocallis) anywhere a cat can reach
No slug pellets, pesticides, cocoa mulch or treated-wood offcuts inside
Finishes on wood the cats touch are fully cured

First use

Check the whole catio with a cat-sized eye before the first visit
Supervise the first visits and watch where your cat tests
Re-check latches, mesh and fixings each season and after storms

A checklist is a prompt, not an inspection or a guarantee. Local building, HOA and landlord rules may require more. Why each item matters is explained in the catio safety guide.

Let the planner check your design

The planner runs these checks — and more — on your design as you draw it, with the reason and a fix for every finding.

Start designing Open a sample catio