Catio: the latest must-have for pets and their owners

As councils launch a crackdown on wandering pets, owners are finding imaginative ways to keep their animals engaged and native wildlife safe.

Mary Balch with Rupert in her cat enclosure at home, in Marrickville, today. (CATIO story)Picture:Justin Lloyd

As councils crack down on wandering cats, pet owners are seeking imaginative ways to keep their animals engaged and playing by the rules and vulnerable native wildlife safe.

Enter the catio.

It’s a cat-friendly play on patio but is quickly becoming every pet and owner’s latest must-have. No longer are cages or wired-up coops even close to being good enough. These days the aesthetically pleasing apparatus is something more akin to the cutting edge containment facilities you would see in the cricket nets at the MCG or at a kids trampoline park.

They’re also known as cat runs or enclosures but the word catio is now part of the pet owner vernacular, and an official word according to Macquarie Dictionary.

As authorities in most of our major metropolitan areas introduce or consider

Catios are the new big thing. Picture: Justin Lloyd

introducing regulations around cat behaviour such as curfews and prohibition on being outdoors unless on a harness or leash, owners are finding a middle crowd between their love of felines and environmental responsibility.

Mark Winney, founder and director of catnets.com.au, established 10 years ago, said sales have grown exponentially over the past year in response to new rules, owner demand, pet wishes and evolution of his product.

Prices start at around $150 for the cheapest catio with the most expensive and engaging catios worth thousands of dollars.

“It’s great peace of mind for the owners and great fun for the cats. They keep the animals and native wildlife safe and you can fill them with all sorts of interesting things,” he said.

“There has been a huge increase in demand, driven by the concerns that people have. That education is coming from the owners themselves but also breeders, pet shops and other figures in the industry.”

Mary Balch with Rupert in at home in their catio. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Mr Winney said the catio is proof the terms responsible cat owner and environmental concerns are not mutually exclusive.

“Enclosures have been around for a while but they have become much more mainstream recently,” he said.

“They are more affordable, more available and they look great too. It’s something you can do yourself or get a tradesman to do at a very reasonable price.”

Mary Balch said she loves her catio as much as her three cats Miss Marbles, Rupert and Stella do. She was driven to get one when Rupert ate rat poison and almost died.

“It’s something we are all thinking about as part of our communities, the health and wellbeing of our pets but also of the native wildlife,” she said.

It’s a cat’s life. Picture: Justin Lloyd

“The money spent is well worth it, especially if it is instead of vet bills.

“It keeps my cats safe but also gives them the opportunity to roam and exercise. – they love it. There are a lot of myths about keeping cats indoors. As long as they have some space, toys to play with a place to sleep, it’s not an issue.”

At Home magazine March 13, 2021.

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