Cat Suite: Pet Owners Build Outdoor Enclosures for Their Felines
06/18/2010
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From The New York Times:
| Catios have made inroads in the suburbs, where they range from small, practical structures — like a box made of wood and chicken wire — to all-out fantasy cat playgrounds, replete with tunnels and scratching posts. But such enclosures remain a rarity in the city, where giving up even a square foot of real estate to a litter box can seem like a sacrifice. |
Still, they do exist in the city. One of my neighbors in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, has converted an air conditioning grate into a catio (see photo above). All it took was putting down a board on the bottom of the metal box and wrapping mesh around it to ensure the kitty can’t escape. Though the cat wasn’t there when I snapped this photo this morning, the owners often leave window open so it can enjoy its own private screened-in porch.
And as a plus, birds might benefit if catios catch on and fewer felines are on the prowl. The American Bird Conservancy estimates that 150 million free-ranging cats kill 500 million birds a year in the United States, Ted Williams recently reported in his Audubon story “Felines Fatales”.
Catios come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Kittywalk Systems, for instance, provides a variety of options, from the Penthouse, a vertical outdoor enclosure with three levels, to modular tubes for the lawn or patio, and even a gazebo. Those who are handy build their own catio, and some folks go all out with custom-built ones. In Toronto, Madeline Ann Hare’s three Abyssinians have a sweet setup: a screened-in second-floor porch with an attached 25-foot walkway that wraps around a tree. It gives a whole new meaning to ‘catwalk’.
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Catio for Astrocat
I so need one of these.
Bird Houses are Still An Excellent Way of Protecting Birds
The catio is a novel mechanism for harmlessly containing your cat and protecting birds that frequent your home. We at Green Products Gallery offer a number of bird houses and feeders that can be installed on a four foot pole that will be a formidable, if not impossible challenge for a household cat.
I LOVE this idea
This is such a great idea. I LOVE new and fun ideas that improve our lives (or in this case, the lives of our cats).
Very interesting!
Very interesting indeed. It will also make it less important go spay or neuter your pet since that often has some side effects. I have my two cats on pet insurance so I'm quite ok with them being able to experience a little bit ot the outdoors... not too much though :)
Urban Catios
For folks who have city restrictions, apartment restrictions, condo associations that will not approve netting out a porch or balcony - check out
Kritter Kommunity, LLC
http://kritterkommunity.com
I think it also suitable for
I think it also suitable for my cute rabbit.
So cute!
I'm glad cats have a way to get outside safely. Also nice are patios and, even better, Naturescape sunrooms for their human beings. Elite Lifestyle Sunrooms offers customizable sunrooms at a reasonable price.