Catio, A Cat's Palace- Easy, Affordable, DIY!!! 

Be aware zip ties degrade in the sun over time. You need to check them regularly. Also, a cat can push open a door held shut only with magnets.

Unless you intend using plastic ties to secure your catio, those plastic round things that are supposed to join the joints together do not work well at all, over time, they tend to fall apart. I would not risk my cats, getting out by just using them. Although, I use plastic covered metal grids to hold my rabbit pens together. If they get out, I don't worry, because they are inside a double garage which has a window and drywall walls. Harbor Freight also sells the foam interlocking flooring cover. I am thinking of using astro turf for mine. Instead of making my own catio, I bought one from Omlet for $499.00 for a balcony style with a Dutch door. it is 3ft wide, 6 H and 9ft long. The only problem is that even if it is actually used on a balcony as intended, it still needs to be secured, so that it will not blow over in heavy winds. Either mine will need to go against a building or, a wooden fence because I want to be able to see it from inside my house. The square 6ft style cost $799.00 plus s&h and tax, quite a chunk of change. I decided upon Omlet, because I live in a northern State and the wooden catios would not hold up well, the Omlet ones are guaranteed for two years and are also very sturdy, which is important to me. Buying the metal grids, even if on sale are not particularly cheap either, so hopefully, I made the right decision. I realize if you DIY you can build the catio to your own specifications which is convenient.

I was considering buying a bookshelf when I realized after watching your video, that I already have these grids stored away in my closet. I use to have guinea pigs and I use them to make a diy cage for my pigs. Great idea. Thanks 😊.

Great ideas, here: Interlocking floor tiles; side areas for the cat; wires for catio stabilization; and using storage cubes (since they may be much cheaper than buying the catio grid panels!). Nice catio

Hey Ruthie! You did a great job explaining your project and introducing your sweet Kittie too. Good work and have fun!

Love it I would just maybe add a lil 🔐 to the doors to secure only while the kitty was in there

Thank you for sharing. It looks like a great solution for my daughter to use on the balcony of her apartment. 💞

So sweet! Thank you for caring for her!

You are pretty darn Kool!! What an awesome Mama ❤

I love your idea! This is affordable but simple to put together as well as customizable!

👍💯👍 Great job on the catio & great work on the video. That is a purrfect place for a cat to get some stimulating time outdoors but stay safe doing so. The doors & anchor cables are a pro touch. Sweet cat, BTW. (S)he looks just like my departed best bud, Lamar (RIP). Thanks for posting & for opening up your 🏡 & 💛 to a 😸. They give the 💛 back many times over

Other than the magnets, great job.

Nova is in kitty cat heaven. Very well done Ruthie. God bless you for your good heart.

I literally was thinking about making a DIY cation yesterday, and today I find you in my feed! Google can be scary sometimes🤣. Thank you for sharing, and I will be checking out the rest of your channel and referring back to this video come spring. Thank you!

I love this video. I was looking for a catio that I could make myself and wouldn’t be too expensive. This is purrfect!

Great idea! Definitely replace magnets with stronger security like stainless steel latching hooks. I know you upgraded the magnets via your comments. How has materials held up against weather? Concerns would be rusting of frame grids and mold from water soaking the mats. Bravo on your efforts. 😁

This is brilliant !!! And yes, the bungies hold doors shut much better, cats can push open magnets on doors. I'm enlarging my catio using your idea, if I can find these items you listed . Thanks!!!!❤

Looks nice, but please be aware that some kitties may be able to push open the 2 magnetized doors if they throw their weight against it, or paw at it. Hopefully I'm wrong! :-)

Love the video! Wasn't 100% sure I understood what you cut to make the doors. Would love any detail you could provide. Thanks!

Beautiful, creative and functional. Great idea for my cat solution. Thanks for this video

This is so amazeballs.. I bought the storage cubes when the cats were kittens. Now the cats are older they are just sitting there taking up space. totally going to give this awsome idea a go

Thanks for your video! I’ve been trying to find something like this that I could build and put on my back patio. Living in a senior condo, I couldn’t attach anything to the structure of my unit and this works just perfect!!

I love the look of your Catio and I think I may try making this myself, as I must put it on my deck since I live in a condo and don't have a yard. I have looked at many videos of how to make Catios, but I am a small woman alone at age 77, and I am not a carpenter so I think this could be the perfect solution for me that I could make myself. I live too close to busy streets to allow my kitty to roam freely outside, but he always want to be out.

well done this is lovely and will keep nova safe so she can see the world!!!

Very smart idea! Good for you!🐈‍⬛🐾💕

GREAT video! I had already gotten that general idea, already ordered the cubes, and was looking for inspiration and insight, and BAM! There you were. Thanks so much!!

This is so amazing, I've been looking for something like this for my cat! I'll try it out

I lost my kitten at 7 months old to an RTA and it scarred me. It means his older brother (who was also an outdoor cat) is now an indoor cat because I have such bad PTSD about letting him out :( we got another cat to keep him company and I think they both want to get out and have some play outside, so I was considering building a wooden structure to house them. But it would be weeks in assembly along with very expensive materials and tools. I found this by chance and I'm blown away by how easy you've made that look. I'm looking into your method now! Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video, I hope I'll have 2 very grateful kitties soon!!

Nice....I can tell you kitty loves the outdoor experience. Would be grreat if the catio could be expanded for more space of exploring.

You are a Genius thank you Sharing Your Smart Idea .

Thanks Ruthie, Great idea with the mesh boxes and water proof no rusting. I will build one for my Daughter but i may double them up to give the cats more room,,,Great watch and love the Cat Purrrrrfect.

That is very impressive. Well done. Thank you for sharing your video.

Such a great idea and result!!!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Genius!!! Thank you for sharing this.❤

Catpalace!!! Great stuff!

Thank you for an informative video. We currently have a big, sturdy chain link dog run (powder-coated dog run) catio (that cost like $400 twenty years ago) not to mention the wood for shelves and posts, and we wanted to add a second catio in another part of the yard... but we just can't spend that kind of money. I've been looking into these cubes and it seems like it's what we're looking for. You did a fabulous job in your video explaining everything. Thanks!

What a great idea! I'm definitely going to do this. Maybe you could put some toys in there for Nova.

Thanks so much for sharing this. I’ve been trying to come up with something like this myself. Love it😻!

Great use of ingenuity! I would only worry about the doors since they swing out not in, my cat could open those no problem and escape.

This is awesome. Gives me some great ideas!!! Thank you!

Has the cat ever pushed the magnet door open to escape. They can be so smart @ times

I just went and purchased this for my cats! I have three and I had a catio that we made from ikea shelves and screen that was drilled into the wall. There was no door and it was so hard to clean! This is way better

Great catio!

I like yours the best. Looks easier to do not needing to be secured to the rental I’m in still be solid

So creative and brilliant and an adorable kitty!!!!

I have one to put together. I hope I can put it together as easily as you did.

Wonderful job👍 Nova looks happy with it, for sure

Really nicely done 🏆

Hi, I was looking for something that was easy to put together for a cat cage for the backseat of the 3/4 ton pick up truck. For 2 cat's. to travel with on vacation in comfort towing a travel trailer. The cage should work out to be about this 42' long X 28" high X 14" wide. Second floor 24" L X 14"H X 14"W,. 1 door on the bottom end passenger side, and 2 door on the back end driver side. Back end bottom for Kitty litter, top door in case the little darling decides to hide on the top floor. Thank for the information. PS Buttercup & Whiskers are very fond of reading the book " How To Train Your Human". Jim

this is such a great idea and looks so easy! Thanks so much Ruthie! :)

Thank you for the ideas.

Thank you ,i rescued to cats and i feel sorry they cant play outside ,and also i have some dogs ouside that would have them for lunch 😂😳so i was thinking of building something like this ,and bam ,found your video ,i live in aruba so i will have to see if i can get it here or i will have to order it from the states,bless you sister gonna try and make one,shalom 😁🤗❤🌴

A little note about this product. the black plastic panels are easily torn I would not suggest using at all since the cats could escape if used on the sides. For a place to rest, the cats not only rip them to shreds but the wire frame breaks. Definitely use all the zip ties, this catio does not stay together without them. once you get the kinks out of the system, it isn't bad. though I would make my own next time with wire mesh and pvc pipe and zip ties.

This is genius! Thank you!!!

Really nice. Thank you.

Great job!! Just need to add some toys or a little bed.

She looks like my Nova!!

I really love the way you put those wire grids together and the cats love it too. I do believe you should maybe add floor grids (just my opinion)

You're awesome!

So clever

I love it

Great idea!

How did you make it outdoor safe? So that it won’t rust?

WELL DONE~!

Really great idea, but I think it's a bit narrow for a kitty. I guess you could easily make it wider.

Oh wow, I've been using these snap together things for a bookshelf for the past 4 years or so and I didn't even think about using it for this! My biggest question is how did you connect it to your house for them to go out? I've seen multiple ideas for allowing them to go out the window, but I'm concerned with leaving my window open for the AC and also, for people to be able to break in.

Fantastic ♥

We need this. My cat wants to runaway and we need this

Nice catio, I do think it is a bit narrow

Alternate description: how to assemble a catio if you just painted your nails 😭 excellent tips-thank you!

Hi Ruthie, I love your video and your idea is inspiring! I’m planning to build a Catio for my cat to go out in the garden safely without worrying about her escaping. May I ask how these metal grids cope with being outside permanently? Do they rust? Do they get blown over by strong wind? Are they strong enough to keep my cat in safely without her escaping it? Thank you so much for sharing!

No space for the litter tray?

Great Job!

Brilliant

Love this!

Thanks for the instructional video. How much did this cost you in total to construct?

How does this fare in different seasons/elements since it’s outdoors? Does the rain make it rust?

How many boxes of panels did you use

I hate the nails😭 but I love the cubes❤️

How many grids in total?

Wow I want to make this can you please be in touch with me when I make it ?

I'm afraid she will discover she can open the magnet doors. I've had many cats b in my life and they are curious beings one day she will push on it and out she will go.

Hi Ruthie what did you use there to secure the foam mat pieces so they don’t slip ? Thank you

Don't think the magnets are going to keep the kitties safe. Use another lock that you can easily unlock but cats or other animals can open.

i am trying to find a cat tower without carpet but those are expensive, if I use this indoor, they will get bored, right?

How many frame did you use?

How do you get to the foam parts to clean if needed?

Hi do you think it will fit and be strong enough for 5 adult cats?😬

u didnt make the bottom clips flat on the ground 😑

I think the magnet door are not secure...the cat will figure it out how to open it

You should take affordable out of the title 😂

Tienes novio eres ermosa

My caT can easiLy destroy that. I have that