CREDIT: AMAZON
Why Cat Patios (Catios) Are the Perfect Outdoor Solution for Your Cat
If you want to give your cat the joy of fresh air and outdoor exploration without the risks of letting them roam free, a cat patio—or “catio”—is the ideal solution. These enclosed outdoor spaces provide a safe environment where your cat can enjoy nature, climb on perches, and get mental stimulation—all while staying protected from dangers like traffic or wildlife.
Jessica Sewell, LVT, a veterinary technician with over 20 years of experience, explains,
“A catio is a safe and easy way to give a cat more territory and provide stimulation, and can help reduce conflicts and behavioral problems with other pets in the household.”
Our Top Catio Picks for Every Budget:
- Our Favorite Catio:
Aivituvin Outdoor Cat House — Available on Amazon for around $200 - Bring the Outdoors In:
Cat Solarium Sun Room Package — Available at Catsolarium.com - Budget-Friendly Option:
Outback Jack Outdoor Cat Enclosure — Amazon, about $60 - Spacious and Fun:
Kitty City Outdoor Mega Kit — Amazon, around $76 - Simple and Practical:
Amazon Basics Large 3-Tier Cat Cage Playpen — Amazon, about $80
Our Favorite Catio
Aivituvin Catio Outdoor Cat House
CREDIT: AMAZON
What We Like:
- Multiple levels with six platforms and two enclosed “resting rooms” for cozy privacy
- Spacious enough to comfortably fit 3–5 cats
- Designed to easily connect to your house via windows and pet doors
- Includes a human-sized main entry door for easy access
What We Don’t Like:
- Assembly can be a bit challenging and time-consuming
If you have multiple cats who love to explore and need plenty of room, the Aivituvin Extra-Large Cat Patio is a perfect choice. Standing 70 inches tall, it features plenty of vertical space with multiple platforms and cozy resting boxes, giving your feline friends lots of room to climb, lounge, and play.
CREDIT: AMAZON
Crafted from high-quality wood, this catio features a waterproof flat asphalt roof to keep your kitties safe and dry in any weather. The exterior is wrapped in a durable yet thin mesh that prevents escapes while allowing plenty of fresh air and sunlight. Plus, if you want to create a larger outdoor play area, you can easily connect multiple units together for even more space and fun.
This spacious cat patio is built to last, featuring reinforced wooden corner strips that add extra stability and durability, ensuring it won’t break or fall apart easily.
Size: 31.5” x 31.5” x 70.9” (width x depth x height)
A Glimpse Into the Outdoors: Perfect Catios to Bring Nature Closer to Your Feline Friends
Cat Solarium Sun Room Package
CREDIT: CAT SOLARIUM
What We Like:
- No interior footprint—won’t take up space inside your home
- Available in multiple versions to fit different window sizes
- Includes a bug screen and a convenient entry door for your cat
What We Don’t Like:
- Makes the window unusable for other purposes
If your cat loves watching the world from the window, a window-mounted catio is a fantastic way to bring the outdoors closer. We tested this model with a curious one-year-old kitty, installing it right in their favorite sunny spot. It took about a day for the cat to figure out how to use the flap to enter the solarium, and now it’s their daily hangout. Our tester even noticed their cat finding new favorite perches inside the enclosure.
CREDIT: CAT SOLARIUM
The solarium features a unique half-circle design that extends outward from your window, giving your cat a stunning 180-degree view of the outdoors. Built tough enough to support cats up to 50 pounds, it comes in a variety of configurations to suit your space and needs. While the base model offers a simple setup, the Sun Room Package includes a bug screen to keep pests out and a convenient cat flap door—allowing you to easily close off the catio when it’s time for your furry friend to come back inside.
We recommend the Sun Room Package as the minimum catio setup for optimal comfort and protection. If you’re concerned about colder winter months, you can upgrade with a weather enclosure bundle made from plexiglass and wood to keep your cat warm and shielded from the elements. Keep in mind, setting up the weather enclosure requires a bit more effort than just screwing parts together—they suggest using wood glue or caulk to securely seal the sides for better insulation.
Size: 14.5” x 25.5”
How We Picked Our Top Catios: Real-World Testing With Our Own Cats
To find the best cat patios on the market, we carefully selected six of the bestselling and highest-rated catios for hands-on testing. Each product was sent to a volunteer tester’s home along with a detailed guide outlining our testing process.
Over a two-week period, testers observed key factors such as:
- Ease of assembly
- How well their cats adapted to the catio
- Overall size and durability
- Value for the price
Testers also shared their personal experiences, including what they liked and didn’t like about each catio. We asked them what they would improve and whether they’d buy the catio themselves.
By combining these insights with numerical scores across different categories, we were able to rank and recommend the best cat patios for every cat owner.
Other Catios Worth Considering
PawHut Outdoor Cat House Big Catio Wooden
This basic yet functional catio features a sturdy wooden frame with chicken wire walls and multiple staggered wooden platforms for climbing and lounging. It can be set up next to a window to allow your cats easy access, though it lacks security anchors for extra stability. Our biggest downside? The setup was quite challenging. Our tester noted that assembling this catio definitely requires two people, no tools are included, and the instructions were confusing with semi-prepped parts.
Rest-Eazzzy Cat Tent
Perfect for on-the-go cat owners, this collapsible catio is ideal for travel and road trips. It sets up in seconds and takes up minimal space when folded. The tent offers 30 square feet of mesh-covered space and includes an interior leash clip for when you want the front window unzipped. However, its collapsible design means the frame is a bit flimsy, so it’s wise to use stake anchors for extra security and watch out for mesh tears.
Kittywalk Outdoor Net Cat Enclosure
While portable and convenient with its own carrying bag, this net-style catio didn’t impress us as much during testing. It lacks interior features, and the all-over netting can snag your cat’s claws and toes. Similar to the Rest-Eazzzy tent, it’s easy to transport but feels less durable overall.
What to Look for When Choosing a Catio
Assembly
Catios vary widely in assembly difficulty. Wooden cat patios often come flat-packed and require tools like screwdrivers for setup. While assembling them is usually no more complex than putting together furniture, having an extra pair of hands can make the process smoother and quicker. In contrast, collapsible catios are much simpler to set up but typically need to be reassembled for each use. Wooden catios are more permanent, acting like outdoor cat houses for your porch or patio.
Supervision
When introducing your cat to a new catio, especially if they’re indoor-only, supervision is key during the first few sessions. Always provide fresh water and ensure access to shelter and shade. Watch for signs of stress and potential threats like unleashed dogs or birds of prey. If your cat has free access between the house and the catio, both you and your pet gain more freedom. However, if the catio is standalone, never leave your cat unattended or unsupervised.
Acclimating Indoor Cats
While cats naturally enjoy exploring outdoors, indoor cats might find a catio intimidating at first. To ease their transition, veterinary technician Jessica Sewell recommends leaving the catio door ajar so your cat can come and go as they please. Feeding your cat inside the catio—whether with snacks or full meals—helps them associate the space with safety and comfort. For larger catios, consider adding a litter box to make it even more inviting.
More We Recommend
Outback Jack Outdoor Cat Enclosure
CREDIT: AMAZON
What We Like:
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Provides 360-degree visibility for your curious cat
- Versatile enough for patios, decks, and lawns
- Comes with anchoring stakes and sandbags for stability
- Collapsible design makes storage a breeze when not in use
What We Don’t Like:
- Not suitable for leaving outdoors unattended for long periods
Best Portable Option:
The Outback Jack Outdoor Cat Enclosure is a tent-style catio featuring an attachable mesh tunnel. The main tent offers about 30 square feet of play space, while the 62-inch tunnel provides extra room for your cat to explore and stretch their legs.
Kitty City Outdoor Mega Kit
CREDIT: AMAZON
What We Like:
- Highly customizable with several add-on extension sections
- Lightweight and fairly portable
- Includes cozy interior privacy cubes for your cat
What We Don’t Like:
- Setup can be lengthy, limiting true portability
- Not ideal for use in windy conditions
Best Expandable Option:
The Kitty City Outdoor Mega Kit is made from breathable nylon mesh, making it perfect for outdoor lawn playtime. What sets this kit apart is more than just a screened play area—it features an elevated bed platform and multiple hiding cubbies, giving your cat both comfort and privacy. (Note: The cubbies don’t have reinforced floors, so they’re better suited for lounging rather than jumping.)
One of the biggest advantages of this catio is its expandability and customization. Thanks to zippered side portals, you can easily attach extension sections—like tunnels—to create a larger play space tailored to your cat’s curiosity. Security is top-notch, too: the enclosure features two entry points that can only be opened from the outside via zippers, so clever cats won’t find any sneaky escapes. Plus, to keep the catio firmly grounded and prevent it from blowing away, it comes with stakes that you can securely place into the ground.
Amazon Basics Large Cat Playpen
CREDIT: AMAZON
What We Like:
- Simple to assemble with all parts included
- Collapsible and easy to transport
- Highly customizable design
- Spacious, multi-level interior for active cats
What We Don’t Like:
- Feels more like a kennel than a traditional patio
- Not recommended for outdoor use
Best Indoor Catio:
This budget-friendly, crate-style catio is perfect as a temporary indoor play area. Our tester found the setup quick and straightforward—taking just 10 minutes with two people helping out. The collapsible design and wheels made it easy to move around the house. Tested with a 4.5-year-old cat named Poppy, it took a little time for her to get comfortable, but it provided a safe, roomy space for indoor adventures.
FAQ
Can indoor cats use a catio?
Absolutely! According to Jessica Sewell, LVT, a seasoned veterinary technician, a catio is a fantastic way to let indoor cats safely enjoy the outdoors. While some cats might be hesitant at first, offering meals or treats in the catio can help them get comfortable and eager to explore their new space.
Should I put a litter box in my catio?
Yes, especially in multi-cat households! Adding a litter box inside the catio gives your cats more bathroom options. However, it should never replace the indoor litter box. Sewell recommends following the “one litter box per cat, plus one” rule to keep everyone happy and clean.