While cats love exploring nature, the great outdoors can offer a variety of dangers for our feline friends. In fact, many outdoor cats who visit DoveLewis need treatment for an injury acquired while roaming outside.

“Most of the outdoor cats that we see come in for various traumatic injuries – the most common of which are probably vehicular trauma (hit by cars) and dog maul injuries,” said Dr. Erika Loftin, a DoveLewis critical care specialist. “Outdoor cats can also be injured by other cats. We see tons of cat bite abscesses. And in addition, outside cats are more likely to ingest toxins and to acquire certain infectious diseases. We also see ‘high rise’ cats – cats who leap from balconies of various heights and sustain fractures or blunt trauma when they hit the ground.”

But don’t fret – there is a way to help guard against these risks without depriving your cat of outdoor time. A cat patio, or “catio,” is an enclosed outdoor space that allows kittens to enjoy the sunshine or a cool breeze without being exposed to many outdoor hazards.

“We decided to build a catio to give our indoors-only cats the experience of smelling and hearing the great outdoors, while still keeping them safe,” said Dr. Loftin. “In addition, we have a multi-cat household (six at the moment!), so it gives our cats the opportunity to have some private time in a separate space.”

Catios come in a variety of sizes and styles. Pet owners can build one from scratch or they can purchase ready-made versions. Anya Stites, cat lover and owner of a feline boarding and day spa, put up her first catio over a three-week period with the help of a friend. She purchased the inexpensive materials from Home Depot, and created a design that offers multiple levels and an enclosed walkway from the window to the catio.

Most of her cats mastered the walkway immediately. One of her cats at the time, Tinka, took a few days to work up the courage to explore the catio. But soon enough, they were all enjoying the space. She built her second catio after an elderly neighborhood cat showed up on her front door and decided to stay. Anya took in this emancipated, sick cat and named him Clyde. He refused to be an indoor cat and broke every screen window in her house. She eventually built him a smaller catio in the front of her house, his favorite hangout spot. Clyde spent time there every day for his remaining months.

“This is so important for people to learn about,” said Anya. “Catios not only increases the quality of indoor cats’ lives by offering safe enrichment options, but they also keep wildlife safe. They are easy to build and can be catered to any type of housing and budget. Fresh air rocks!”

Dr. Loftin’s youngest cat, Jasper, is often so comfortable in the catio that he refuses to come inside for the night. They set up a bed and water bowl in the catio just for this occasion. Each of her cats have found their special place within the catio – young Minerva props herself on the highest beam; the older brothers, Widget and Pumba, primarily lounge on the window ledge; and the middle-aged girls, Ladybug and Hermione, use the catio to escape the baby cats when they get rowdy.

“For me, the biggest catio benefit is the ability to give cats some protected outdoor time, without all the dangers that come with being an outside cat. Some cats do much better with environmental enrichment – in fact, this is one of the recommended treatments for cats who have chronic bladder inflammation, as stress reduction can help with this condition,” Dr. Loftin said. “Catios also serve as a compromise for owners who firmly feel that cats cannot be happy if they don’t get to go outside.”