Catios: Where curiosity won’t kill the cat

Catios: Where curiosity won’t kill the cat


Most cats love the outdoors. But it’s a dicey world out there — one where cats are often predators to countless small mammals and birds, or prey to cars, other animals or worse. So how do you keep your feline friend safe while keeping her stimulated?

An ingenious compromise is the catio, a cat-accessible, protected, outdoor space that lets a cat commune safely with Mother Nature. Some catios are just screened-in porches, decks or smaller enclosures. Others are full-on playgrounds with tunnels, perches and scratching areas.

But catios needn’t be limited to outdoors. Small versions can be used inside to physically — but not visually — separate feuding cats until they can play nice.

Whether you build your own or buy one off the shelf, think of a catio as your cat’s safe route to get back to her roots.

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