DIY “Catio” - Outdoor cat patio! (Made it all by myself!)

My 2 cats (bengal & snow bengal) love being outside with the dogs so I always wanted to get a catio for them. I checked some prices who make those catios but they’re so expensive!! A few quotes I got were like $2.5-3.5k for the size I made. (8ft x 7ft x 5.5ft) I’m sure it’d look much better and fancier but I didn’t have that much money to spend on it so I decided to make my own!
I’m pretty proud how it turned out. My 1st DIY catio.
Please leave a comment if you have any questions. If I can make one by myself, you'll be able to make one for your cat too!

[@d-padqueen1103]

This is great, but I would recommend building the panels separately and attaching the wire before erecting the construct as its less tricky to attach wire when its on the floor.

[@sharonashley1008]

Looks great and you did it all by yourself, you go girl! 💪🏼

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you!! 💪🏻💪🏻

[@MegaLivingIt]

Good old Home Depot! You are indeed smart shoppers for our kitties!😊

[@ev868]

I really want to thank you for this video! This is something I've been promising to do every Spring for almost 10 years but in my head, I over-complicate things. You made it look SO easy!!! We started our list of supplies for when it gets warm out!!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Awesome! Good luck 👍🏻

[@frznrrfan.frznrrfan102]

I do the same thing, it looks pretty easy, the cost of materials look about the same a one you can buy and you can customize it to your liking, I definitely think this is going to be my next project.

[@barbarasmith6414]

Same here. My barbies need this so much

[@borntwice4724]

Well done girl, you nailed it, what’s more important is that the kitties love it.

[@Ponce17]

How much did it cost you. We just got two kittens and I want to make them a catio by my daughter's window and add a little cat door on the window so they can come in and out.

[@itsjourdon]

This looks great!

[@mongosaqqara]

They love it!

[@FreakyBo0o]

Awesome job!

[@ulichapa8555]

Well done! I love it.

[@DMills-un1tl]

Girl, and critter, power! ;)

[@christinalovescolorado]

That looks great.

[@janelightning73]

Very impressive!

[@jeancarmentorres1889]

Great job 👏 thanks for the video 😊

[@nataliamarchan9089]

amazing! you are very talented!

[@patriciaharris9300]

really excellent! I am inspired

[@Shirden]

Thank you for sharing your world with me :)

[@shailacs8851]

Great job and very useful video! Thank you 👍

[@CCAST-so4ny]

For a woman who made a Catio, surely loves her pet. May more people like you.

[@i78q902c]

cute doggo 😍😍😍😍

[@AngieiCam]

Brilliant 👍

[@megah5028]

It’s beautiful! What a great job you have done.

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you ☺️

[@hoanipakau657]

Well done!!! Awesome save on the $

[@AjizzleTV]

You motivate me to try and make my own now Awesome job!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you!! Your cat will love you for it! It’s totally worth it:)

[@StaceyMilo2011]

I can't wait to have a larger yard to build one. I love yours! Great job!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you 😊

[@Halloween111]

Well Done!

[@michaelgartner6663]

You had a helper, they were just napping on the job at 2:00. Great job!

[@kailanivallente9692]

i love this so much!! looking to build my kitty one as well! using this as inspo!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Awesome! Good luck I know they will love it 👍🏻

[@OurCatioHome]

Good job! I hope the cats will enjoy their new space.

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you our cats live in there most of the day now! lol

[@kathygray977]

You did a FABULOUS JOB, and to add to that, I agree, your fur babies are Precious!!!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you!!

[@maryescamilla9620]

Good Job !!!

[@AngieiCam]

That’s fabulous given me some inspiration👍

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you!! 😊

[@stephaniebrielmaier8176]

well done!~

[@flynnpaul26]

You did a great job, congratulations.

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you! My cats are still loving it 😁

[@kathleenj1158]

Wow!!! You did such an AMAZING job. ☺🙋‍♀️😸

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you =)

[@jessearmaline7485]

Love that you’re one dog is helping and the other one is supervising.

[@lifewithanimals12]

😂😂

[@ccoleman2801]

Anyone building a Catio should make sure you have a door tall enough for you to walk through if your cat(s) is an escape artist. I built a Catio 8ftx8ftx8ft, which now houses 5 cats. I was lucky to find a 6 foot wooden framed screen door at Lowes that had been discounted due to a hole in the screen. The Catio cost me just short of $500.00, but it is larger than any I would have bought. My next Catio I will be using a 10'6 x 10'6 Metal Gazebo frame, which I can easily attach wire to. The roof will be the hardest part due to the angle cuts needed.

[@dianaesparza1878]

Thank you I’m going to attempt to built one 👍😆😻

[@YAHUAHbetheonlysavior.]

Looks great! 👍 Lol! Luv the catchy music too!🎶

[@lifewithanimals12]

haha thank you!

[@bellabowen3247]

Great job, im building one this spring cant wait!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Good luck!

[@TheRedhatsociety]

I also have to do these things without help, so thank you for an inspiring video!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Good luck for yours💪🏻

[@johrataleb2538]

The catio turned out really nice 👍 I loved it. I want to try this out for my daughter’s three cats. I was looking for some idea to make my own. You did a great job 👏👍

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you!! Good luck for yours! 🙌🏻

[@persebra]

Great job! I am going to build one for my 3 kitties this summer.

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you! And good luck for you as well 🐱 They will love it 😊

[@bsasteve]

Good job 🙂

[@Aqishriana_]

Ahh amazing 😍 i got 15 cats n 4kittens rn need to buy new catio but it so expensive so i decide to make it my own thanks for the quote

[@clairagreen1485]

You are one clever Lady, hope you are proud of yourself because I am proud of you. Lucky cats

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank youuuu❤

[@pjj9491]

good job...good momma

[@flowerchild777]

Nicely done. It's huge! Now, I want to do one🤗 Just not so large, and maybe mobile🤔

[@frznrrfan.frznrrfan102]

That is so awesome, I'm going to ask my neighbor to help me, I know it will be a weekend job and definitely save a lot of money by doing it myself, thanks for your inspiration,

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you and good luck! 👍🏻

[@SB-000]

Good job!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you 😊

[@chelseacox2736]

This is awesome! I would love to know how to put this together myself!

[@lifewithanimals12]

I’m sure your cat will love it!!

[@vickiemeeks5085]

Good job.

[@mobayguy]

Awesome Job - Well Done - We're getting ready to do the same for our two felines - they're ready to move outside. Thanks

[@lifewithanimals12]

Good luck!

[@micmike]

Nice job

[@magdislv]

I went to pinterest and found your video. I'm really interested in something like this for my 4 indoor cats. I will try to do it as soon as possible. your cats are beautiful and your dogs the same,

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you! Good luck to make one for yours =)

[@haruruben]

That’s cool, keep em safe and let them go outside. I was thinking about buying a big chicken coop and connecting it something like this

[@lifewithanimals12]

Yes my cats looooove it!

[@brianolesen2302]

What a handy-woman💪🏻

[@jessargarate8642]

I'm following your video as a blueprint for my catio. You are amazing, I'll let you know how it turns out!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Awesome! Can’t wait to hear how your cats will like it :) Good luck 👍🏻

[@jessargarate8642]

@@lifewithanimals12 And we finished it! It looks pretty much like yours, really. Still need to work on some shelves for the cats to have fun and relax and other details, but is working out fine so far, cats are happy and safe. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Wow awesome!! Good job doing that:) I’m sure your cats gonna just want to stay there day and night all day from now on haha. I’m glad I could help others little bit in anyway! 🙌🏻

[@DYIFruitTrees]

ThAnks I’m building one just like yours 🙌🏽

[@lifewithanimals12]

Good luck!

[@wandacollins9437]

I ❤ it... I'd love it for my cats. I don't have concrete floor.

[@chucky6367]

Not sure if you anchored it to the ground, but l would. I'd also add some diagonal bracing for strength. But you did an amazing job, the cats look happy in their new space.

[@rexirwin1283]

I'm going to build this for Autumn, Bathsheba & Shelby

[@joseespinoza2402]

Thank you so much for this video I'm currently moving and my new roommate is allergic to cats and I don't know what to do with my three little ones. This definitely gave me an idea ♥️

[@lifewithanimals12]

Aww wish you the best!

[@Sham33rah]

Great work!!! I want to do something like this for my cat, quote i was given is so expensive!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Yap exactly that's why I did it by myself and I'm proud I did =)

[@amanda-lw1ps]

wow thats really helpful! i adopted three cats from the streets and my grandma dont let them live with us inside the house so im gonna build a catio for them!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Great I'm sure they will love it. Good luck!!

[@DanielField2023]

We have about 9,000 sq lawn or more ,and a 2000 sq house near Corvallis Oregon. We bought it for $370 it's a PawHut About 71x39x71 at Overstock in sale. At Amazon was $409 we have to make some modification add L brackets and a Clear PVC Roof we have one cat color grey , and six small dogs rescue . Great job about using 2x2 lumber.

[@3rdandlong]

I would have a Catio if I had a house. Without a doubt. But I would go for putting a "Slap Door" near the floor where they could go in and out as they choose. You'd have to cut a section of the house out, but what the hay! Happy cats are healthy cats.

[@lifewithanimals12]

Exactly! Just do whatever you can to make them happy 😊 I’m sure they appreciate it!

[@jeffreynolin9339]

They are probably fine with the window flap door.

[@foxyroxytm]

This is so awesome, and you make me feel like I could actually do this myself!

[@lifewithanimals12]

If I could do it, I do believe you can too! Good luck =)

[@Clarkssman]

great job. Maybe its just an illusion but it looks like you have the corrugated roof angled back towards the house?

[@donniep.1513]

This was great!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you 😊

[@patriciashaw7857]

This looks perfect. Thanks for posting. I keep being told by handymen that it must be anchored to the ground and use 2x4s for strength. Is this free-standing and what keeps it from shifting away from the cat door or window? Thank you to poster or any commenters who can answer this.

[@lifewithanimals12]

Mine isn’t anchored and it’s free standing. I run pet business and always have guest dogs and they jump on the catio when my cats are out in there. But it’s very steady and heavy they can’t move it at all. And for me to move it I need another strong person to push it together! It’s been almost 2 years but it’s been good with any rain and wind we got in LA..! I used corner braces on each corner that’s why it doesn’t shift :)

[@patriciashaw7857]

@@lifewithanimals12 Thanks for taking the time to reply. The weight keeps it in place so long as the ground is pretty level, That's great. I had a handyman build me a rather small one and that cost me 100 in materials (I painted it) and 100 in labor. It is wedged between the house wall and a cinder block wall 2 ft away and dug into the ground some. I still need a big one for the front window so I am considering your nice design. Thanks again.

[@ashlynhorwood6040]

Looks awesome! Thus is exactly what I wanna build. How many boards did you use? Did you attach the structure to the wall?

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you!! I got about 26-30 lumbers and got 3 wide ones for shelves:) It’s not attached to the wall so if I want to I can move it. But it’s strong/heavy enough so cats or dogs won’t be able to move it!

[@irenec3408]

Looks amazing but how does the door lock?

[@radiospank]

Nice job, yes carpenters might scoff at build but you got it done for a fraction of the cost and it will last long enough.

[@lifewithanimals12]

Yes it’s been almost 2 years and it’s still in good shape 🙂

[@BenJamnCampbell]

I know I am a little late to the party. Great video share because it is inspirational. We have the power to acomplish. My only question/concern is, how did you anchor the catio to the ground? In some climates, wind is no joke.

[@lifewithanimals12]

I didn’t anchor to the ground but it’s heavy enough dogs or other animals can’t move it at all and to move it I’ll need at least 2 strong adults haha. We just had really bad wind storm last wknd but my catio was totally fine:)

[@rklevens]

wow, great job! Is the rain loud when it hits the PVC roof panels? I wasn't sure if I should get them or use wood. Thanks.

[@lifewithanimals12]

It’s not quiet but I had to redo my roof as water kept stucking in the middle and broke it one day. After that I put new roof on my catio then also set up a tarp above the catio so the water will go down from my roof to the side of catio. Good luck for yours!

[@ju_l]

Loved watching this! Do you have a list of the materials you bought? I figure I’d just go to the store with your list! 😅

[@lifewithanimals12]

Awww unfortunately I don’t have the list just I kinda showed all the stuff I got in the video tho..! I hope you can make one for your cat :)

[@Bellfontaine]

This was amazing!! Do you still have the wood dimensions? I absolutely want to do this!

[@danny2b82]

Thank you. This was very helpful. Did you secure it to the house.

[@lifewithanimals12]

Nope I didn’t! But it’s heavy any animals won’t be able to move it :)

[@KittyBootie]

Will the staples rust? We get a lot of rain. Looks so amazing! You’re so talented!

[@esjex-sgxyz]

I was wondering that too. I guess that's the kind of thing that could come under annual maintenance, pulling and replacing any dodgy-looking staples.

[@lifewithanimals12]

Hi! So far staples are all still good and I haven’t replaced them for 2 years!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Sorry I must have missed replying on your comment before!

[@Evangelist.Eagle5777]

How long did this project take and what was over all cost for materials

[@MarianaDee22]

Wow! Very impressive. What did you paint the wood with?

[@lifewithanimals12]

It’s wood sealer for water protection!

[@DIYXplorer]

That's my first spring project! $800 isn't too bad at all, awesome job. Did you mount it to the wall or is it freestanding? Btw your kitties are beautiful! :-)

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you! No it’s not mounted so I can move it if I really need to. But it’s heavy enough so my pets can’t move it by themselves:)

[@whenwetalkaboutnature4903]

@@lifewithanimals12 How many hours did it take you to make this? With zero help, you're too awesooooome I can't even 🤧🤧❤️❤️ Thank you for sharing 🙏🙏❤️❤️

[@lifewithanimals12]

@@whenwetalkaboutnature4903 I used about 5 days and each I worked on 3-6 hours a day 😅 I don’t remember exactly how many hours it took but wasn’t too bad considering I didn’t get any help haha!

[@aliviabrooks1325]

Do you have wood measurements for the smaller pieces?

[@Dara-sv7ql]

Wow ! I never seen women doing this kind of nice work..I like your video, I go ahead give you a thumb up and subscribe your channel.

[@lifewithanimals12]

Thank you!!

[@MariE-go7ol]

So I’m assuming a lot cheaper if I don’t need to buy any tools. Maybe stain and treat the wood before.

[@mslinda9470]

The furbabies seemed to approve of it.

[@pedulidhuafa1347]

Sukses selalu

[@yesi23151]

Hi I’ll be making this, can you list the amount of boards, what size staples and nails? Please I would really appreciate it!!

[@syreetamcdonald8669]

Hi, Great cat house. Do you have a materials list for sale that you can share?

[@jasong3398]

What did you do for the catio door to swing open? Did you drill it in, or use hinges?

[@lifewithanimals12]

I made the frame and then used hinges!

[@John-gi3es]

My cheap ahh could never spend that much, I’ll look for a cheaper way to do it!

[@incrediblenif]

Question: did you overlap the roof pieces on each other and bolt down?

[@lifewithanimals12]

Yes I did, also I added another ledge going under them as well!

[@Trin3]

Loving this! Where did you get the little window with the cat door?

[@donnaquillen3375]

The pet doors are easily found, Lowes, Walmart, Amazon

[@lifewithanimals12]

Amazon!

[@lifewithanimals12]

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TVSXI6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

[@lifewithanimals12]

IDEAL PET PRODUCTS SE 1992 Aluminum Sash Window Pet Door, White, Medium 7 x11-1/4 Flap Size, (33SWDM)

[@mrsnapple5827]

i've seen the 2x4 ripped in half...seems to be 2x cheaper. would be cool to link supplies. :)

[@lifewithanimals12]

Yeah sorry I got all the stuff from Home Depot tho. And only reason I didn’t use 2x2 is cus the shop I went to get supplies didn’t have them in stock haha

[@camillewong7443]

May I ask if you attach the frame to the house wall? If so, how did you do that? Thanks!

[@lifewithanimals12]

Nope I didn’t attach it to my house wall! But it’s heavy enough it won’t move unless 2 adults try it together! It’s been almost 2 years and still in good shape 👍🏻

[@elindigeno1215]

Which is cheaper? Doing it yourself or already buying am "assemble" one?

[@lifewithanimals12]

For sure doing it yourself! The ones you can buy for $500-700 is much smaller than mine :)

[@nicolasramos9465]

muy chico para tantos gatos

[@Glammamaw]

Good job...wish I could do that..im too old😢

[@lifewithanimals12]

I hope your friends or family members can help you to build one for you :)

[@HendrixChad]

Did you use 2x4’s for your framing?

[@lifewithanimals12]

I used 2x3!