# Anybody ever build a "catio"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 10, 2017, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ever-build-a-catio/786254 "2017-05-10T03:57:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ever-build-a-catio/786254/21 "2017-05-13T15:14:35Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > that is really nice 🙂 If you ever find yourself in western PA, I can arrange a visit. It’s kind of freaky. Imagine building a home from scratch with cats in mind. The place houses 70 - 100 cats. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ever-build-a-catio/786254/22 "2017-05-13T17:17:17Z")
Many houses in Florida have what looks like that catio in **kayaker** ’s pic. But it’s not for cats; at least not primarily. Instead it encloses the entire patio, BBQ, and pool area in a fine mesh screen so you’re not sucked dry by mosquitos in the first 30 seconds of enjoying the fine tropical sunshine. The fact it keeps the gators from eating Cuddles, Fluffy, Fideaux, Pwecious, \*and \*your toddlers is only a plus. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ever-build-a-catio/786254/23 "2017-05-13T17:54:23Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If you ever find yourself in western PA, I can arrange a visit. It’s kind of freaky. Imagine building a home from scratch with cats in mind. The place houses 70 - 100 cats. I would enjoy that - I just watched a video on their facebook page. and now, excuse me, I have something in my eye. it now seems weird and sick to me that we usually keep homeless cats in small metal cages, WTH ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ever-build-a-catio/786254/24 "2017-05-14T02:10:44Z")
A house in our neighborhood used to have a little screened-in gazebo, about 2 feet square, mounted atop the home’s 6-foot cinder block wall. Every so often we’d see the owner’s Pekinese watching the world go by from inside it. There was a ramp on the inside of the wall so the dog could get to his viewing post. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2017, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ever-build-a-catio/786254/25 "2017-05-14T12:41:54Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > I know - but - the thin gauge of chicken wire, with the open space, will irritate a cats skin (I built a cage for cats - the hardware guy pointed out the problem). Chicken wire comes in different guages, and the stuff that’s advertised as fox proof should be fine for cats. Doesn’t harm my cats, anyway (I have no cation but I do have chickens). > [@usedtobe](#): > > Decide if cat is indoor or not (I will not allow a cat outdoors unless it really enjoys a harness). If it is to touch dirt, you may as well open the door - all you avoid is direct contact - any “open air” will attract other cats - parasites become an issue. > > A box and scoop is not so big a problem as to risk disease and injury (yes, remote). > > Why do you want to do with this? if a litter box (use clumping - great stuff!) is huge problem, why do you have a cat? To prevent them going onto a busy road, maybe? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ever-build-a-catio/786254.md?page=1)