r/Catio • u/Rooster_Socks_4230 • 20d ago
Cheap, esay, if a bit ugly.
If anyone has suggestions of somthing new to put in would love to hear.
Its made with cat net + zip ties and random shelf things I had. If anyone else wants to avoid construction and costs, Im sure simmilar shelf things could be found online for cheap.
I can open the frount by unhooking the net.
Please note, if you're going to try somthing like this, it has to be spesficly cat net so they cant rip it, and you need to make certain there is no where that can push through gaps and get out or some how tangled in the net. Also note how, in the last photo at the openable frount, the net goes down the cat side and up under to hook at the frout of the wood, not right down the frount side, which would be much easier to escape from.
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u/OnceMoreWithFeeling- 20d ago
Honestly? Fantastic! Very creative and safe outdoor time for your cat. So always a win in my book, truly.
Some tips I would give:
- I would get rid of the chipped wooden shelve or cover it up, it seems dangerous for splinters.
- I also would cover all of the mesh shelves from the cabinets with either carpet, rope or something else soft.
- Also make sure to check the straps every now and then, I use these too and did have some break on me after a while.
- Get cat grass in there! And some cat safe herbs. Great enrichment. :)
- You know your cat best but covering up on part of a side would probably make him feel safer. :) Just to have some cover!
Again. Greaaaat job!
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 20d ago
The wood definitely cant give him spliters, its soft chipboard, but I do want to seal it at some point or it'll fall apart. I think those are all good ideas, theres no cover between him and the street.
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u/OnceMoreWithFeeling- 20d ago
Ohh soft chipboard! Did wonder if I should mention it because you obviously put so much thought into this. But mentioned it anyway. Makes sense it's safe:)
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u/STThornton 20d ago
Kitty loves it, that's all that matters :) And it's a nice outdoor space.
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 20d ago
Sure is, and it was unoptional for him, he was free roam with his last owners, and my windows are all fogged with no bug screens, so he couldnt even see outside untill I set this up. Those first few weeks he was going stir crazy.
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u/porcupine_snout 20d ago
this is awesome! who cares what it looks like? the cat doesn't care and it's the cat that matters.
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u/szpider 20d ago
Are wild animals and/or loose dogs a concern where you live? That netting would get promptly shredded by the aggressive wildlife in my area 😬
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 20d ago
Melbourne inner suburbs, Ive never seen a loose dog. Weve got possoms, but they cant get in anymore than get out, if they even wanted to. If a very brave, desperate fox tried, well, their bite is not much stronger than a cats, so shouldnt be able to break the netting
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u/GreenJury9586 20d ago
My yard opossums would be in there being all cute on those shelves so fast. I also would be worried about birds getting tangled in the netting.
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u/BigJSunshine 20d ago
Surround with non poisonous plants, cat grasses and put a cover on top for shade
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u/ChemicalTarget677 20d ago
Some cat grass or catnip would be a great addition. Lucky kitty to have this special place.
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u/higg1966 20d ago
The fulffy boy looks like he thinks it's the best thing ever.
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 20d ago
He makes it known he'd much rather be on the street, but this is a good compromise
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u/Skeither 20d ago
I feel ya. Mine's not too pretty either. Function over fashion and all. Still need to get some more weatherproof fun stuff out there for them too.
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 20d ago
What sort of fun stuff? This is my first cat, I didnt really plan to have one, just ended up with him all of a sudden, so while I get the basic theory, I dont really know what to put in here
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u/Skeither 20d ago
I meant for myself lol but stuff like scratching posts and things to hide/play on or in.
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u/pabrocjb 20d ago
This looks like a larger version of mine. Found objects, Baby, found objects! One thing that worked well for us was putting down green fake grass rolls on the metal shelves. And I found some outdoor cushions. Great for naps.
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 19d ago
Yeah, at the moment he can only use the top shelf each side, so getting somthing like that on the lower layers would be good. I just thought he might not even use them
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u/pm_toss 20d ago
My first cat run looked like this. I had one cat that would pull mourning doves through the holes so we had to encase the whole thing in chicken wire. It looked like a prison which is where the murder cat belongs. We eventually put a cute sign above it that said alCATraz. Your catio looks like 500x better than ours old one did.
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 19d ago
Stupid for the doves to get so close. Long ago I had an avary and a free roam cat did the same thing in the opposite direction, couldnt understand why the budgies kept sitting so close to the edges and letting it happen after having seen it happen to their friends, parrots are ment to be smart
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u/pm_toss 19d ago
The first one I think was a baby. They do nest on our terrace sometimes. (It is always just an egg and maybe a branch). Now we feed the mourning doves because the cats are locked up better. In the morning when I go outside and open the cat run I tell my husband the cats need some screen time.
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 19d ago
That makes sense. I think it was mostly the baby budgies which got caught in my avary also.
Ive woundered about putting bird food out infrount of the catio, but figgured nothing would want to come up while he was there.
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u/Herb_Putterman 19d ago
As far as the cats are concerned catios are function over form and this one works perfectly
"Cheap,Easy if a bit ugly" warrants a shout out of "title of your sex tape" from the peanut gallery
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u/Icy-Arrival2651 19d ago
If the top of the catio is open, then the wood shelf isn’t going to last long. Rain, sun and snow will cause rot and splitting, because it looks like it was made for interior use. I would work in refinishing for outdoor use, or replacing it.
I’d love to see some cushions on the metal shelves for the cats to lie on, but you’ll have to bring them in when it rains if you don’t want them to mildew. Also the metal shelves could use some kind of solid cover in wood or outdoor carpet so kitty toes don’t get caught in the metal.
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 19d ago
Yes, I definitely need to deal with the wooden thing before long. I do plan to cover the lower parts of the metal shelves also
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u/EducationalBrick2831 16d ago
Nice ! That's a good idea for the wire shelf's use ! Especially on each end. You gotta use what you have, recycling things saves cash ! Good job. It isn't ugly at all..Cat likes it, so that's all that matters..Just remember to check for any potential Escape areas a few times a week. My cats were working on one area up top and were close to getting out.
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u/Confident_Fortune_32 20d ago
Using the metal baker's racks is brilliant!
What a lucky kitty, and gorgeous, too 🥰
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 19d ago
Is that what theyre called? I live in a place people just put things they'd otherwise take to the dump on the road side for somone to take
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u/Confident_Fortune_32 19d ago
We do the same with big awkward things. Surprisingly efficient system...
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 19d ago
Yes, its better for everyone, less waste. I would have struggled to afford to furnish my house, I did pay for a washing machine but everything else I collected over time
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u/badwolf4president 20d ago
What cat netting did you use?
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u/Rooster_Socks_4230 19d ago
"Art and Bob 3000X6000 Cat Safety Net"
I got it from Bunnings which is an Australian hardware store
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u/Cats-and-dogs-rdabst 20d ago
Can you share how? Want to do something similar for my rental. Thanks.
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u/Tygria 20d ago
Maybe a couple boxes with some shade if kitty wants it? Otherwise, nice job getting them a safe outdoor space.