Catios: which size and type suits your cat, your garden and your home?

A catio gives an indoor cat a taste of the outdoors without the roads, the neighbours' cats or the worry of them not coming home. It's an enclosed space, usually a wooden frame with wire mesh, where your cat can sit in the sun, watch the birds and climb between levels.

They come in very different sizes, though, and not every catio sold as "outdoor" is built for the garden. This guide covers how to pick the right size, whether you need to walk in, and where it should go. All seven catios in our catios and cat runs range are made by PawHut.

At a glance

How big should a catio be?

Start with the number of cats and what they weigh, as each PawHut listing gives a recommendation.

Height matters as much as floor space. Cats use vertical space, so a taller catio with several platforms gives them more room without taking up more of your garden. The 4-tier model has a four-level house plus a separate run with three platforms, and each level takes up to 15kg.

Our other catios include a wooden enclosure with a 170cm door, platforms and a condo, and two compact two-storey models with openable roofs. Check each listing for its dimensions and cat guidance.

Is a catio for indoors or outdoors?

Most are made for the garden, but check the listing rather than the title. Our PawHut catio on wheels is listed as designed mainly for indoor use, with fir wood framing, four wheels (two with brakes) and a door big enough to slide a litter tray in. It suits a spare room, a conservatory or a corner of the lounge.

The larger wooden catios are made for a patio or lawn. The 4-tier model is built from pine, fir and galvanised steel wire with a polycarbonate roof that lets light in and keeps rain off.

Walk-in or reach-in?

This makes a big difference to cleaning.

• Walk-in catios have a full-height door. The PawHut 4-tier has a 60 x 165cm door, so you can step inside to sweep out, swap bedding or sit with your cat.
• Reach-in catios are smaller and open from the roof or side doors. The catio on wheels has an openable roof, a 35.5 x 94cm front door, a middle door and a 15.5cm flap door.

If the catio will hold a litter tray, a big door saves a lot of awkward stretching.

Can a catio connect to the house?

Some can. The PawHut 4-tier catio has detachable mesh panels that connect to a window, so your cat can come and go between the house and the catio. Cats Protection's guide to catios describes catios built onto the side of a home with direct access, and says indoor cats still need a properly set-up indoor space too.

Otherwise, place a freestanding catio close to a back door so it's quick to carry your cat in and out.

What should go inside a catio?

• Fresh water, always.
• Shelter and shade, so your cat can get out of the sun, wind and rain.
• Somewhere to rest off the ground, such as the platforms, condos and hammock built into most models.
• A litter tray for longer visits.

Cats Protection also suggests not leaving food out unattended for long, as it can attract insects and other animals.

Can I use a catio in winter?

Yes, for short spells on drier days. Our catios are designed for supervised time outside during the day, so bring your cat in at night and in very cold, wet or windy weather. Smaller catios can be moved into a garage or shed for the worst months, or covered.

Treat the wood once a year with a pet-safe treatment, and check the mesh, hinges and fixings for wear.

How hard is a catio to put together?

They arrive flat-packed with instructions. The PawHut 4-tier listing says two people can build it in about three hours, so plan for an afternoon. Smaller models are quicker, and the catio on wheels has mesh panels that snap into the frame.

Catio checklist