A catio gives an indoor cat fresh air, sun and birdwatching without the risks of roaming. For most households the best catio kit is a walk-in enclosure with a weatherproof roof, such as the Coziwow Catio Outdoor Cat Enclosure, while apartments with no yard are better served by a window catio like the VistaGato VistaBella. Match the kit to your available footprint and number of cats, then check wire, wood, roof, door and assembly.

Below we compare six ready-to-ship kits sold at Chewy, organized by space: walk-in, window, patio and deck, yard, wooden and budget. This is a research-based comparison of documented features and catalog details, not a hands-on test, so we quote only what each listing states and flag what it leaves out.

Compare the catio kits

Catio kits fall into a few types by space: window boxes, portable mesh playpens, freestanding wooden houses and walk-in enclosures. The table lists the exact model, the space each suits, the size as the listing describes it, the material and the catalog price at Chewy at the time of writing. Most listings give no full dimensions or wire gauge, so check the listing dimensions against your space before ordering. Searching for a catio for sale mostly turns up DIY plans and local builders, so this comparison sticks to kits you can order and assemble yourself.

Premade catio kits ship flat-packed with the panels already cut, so an outdoor catio is usually an afternoon of assembly rather than a weekend build. If you only want the short version: the walk-in suits a yard, the window box suits an apartment, and the playpen suits anyone who wants to pack it away in winter.

What is the best catio on the market?

The best catio on the market for most homes is a walk-in kit like the Coziwow Catio Outdoor Cat Enclosure, Grey, Large, because a walk-in door, several platforms and a roofed condo cover one to three cats in one purchase. No single kit wins every space, though. A window box beats it in an apartment, and a portable playpen beats it on a rented deck. Use the exact model and catalog price in the table to shortlist two, then confirm the listing dimensions.

Our catio kit picks

Each pick below is chosen for a specific space, from a large enclosure you can step into to a mesh walk that folds into a bag, plus compact wooden houses for smaller groups. Brand, model, size, material and price band come from the Chewy listing; the kits differ most in footprint and how they handle weather.

Best overall walk-in: Coziwow Catio Outdoor Cat Enclosure, Large

A human-height walk-in door, several climbing platforms and a private condo make it the most complete single kit for one to three cats.

Petful may earn a commission when you click through to Chewy, at no extra cost to you.

The Coziwow Catio Outdoor Cat Enclosure, Grey, Large is the most complete single kit in this set. A walk-in door lets you step inside to clean, refill water and sit with your cat, and the listing describes several climbing platforms plus a private condo, so a household of one to three cats gets height and a hiding spot. The weatherproof PVC roof keeps rain off the condo area.

The listing does not state the frame material or the wire gauge, which is the honest limitation here. Check the listing dimensions against your patio or yard, and plan to anchor the base if the site is exposed.

• Brand and model: Coziwow Catio Outdoor Cat Enclosure, Grey, Large
• Size: large walk-in with multiple platforms and one condo
• Material: weatherproof PVC roof; frame material not stated in the listing
• Price band: over $100 (about $320 at Chewy at the time of writing)

Best window catio: VistaGato VistaBella Cat Window Catio, Litter Box and Perch

Mounts at a window so no yard is needed, and it includes a litter box and perch, which suits apartments.

Petful may earn a commission when you click through to Chewy, at no extra cost to you.

The VistaGato VistaBella Cat Window Catio, Litter Box & Perch mounts at a window, so you need no yard, balcony or patio. It includes a perch and space for a litter box, which makes it practical for apartments where floor space is tight and a cat may spend long stretches outside the window.

The listing describes a weatherproof enclosure but does not itemize the materials, and fit depends on your frame. Measure the window opening and sill before ordering, and check your lease if you rent.

• Brand and model: VistaGato VistaBella Cat Window Catio, Litter Box & Perch
• Size: window-mounted, with perch and litter box space
• Material: weatherproof window enclosure (materials not itemized)
• Price band: over $100 (about $206 at Chewy at the time of writing)

Best for small patios and decks: Kittywalk Town and Country Collection Outdoor Cat Playpen

Steel frame and netting set up on a deck or patio without a roof structure, and it packs into a storage bag between seasons.

Petful may earn a commission when you click through to Chewy, at no extra cost to you.

The Kittywalk Town & Country Collection Outdoor Cat Playpen is the portable pick: steel components and rip-resistant, water-resistant netting set up on a deck, patio or lawn with no roof structure to build. The set combines a 6-ft Deck & Patio section with a 5-ft three-level Penthouse and Kabana, so cats get several levels in a narrow strip.

It packs into a storage bag between seasons, which suits renters. The trade-off is that netting is less chew-resistant than metal or wood framing, so it is best for supervised sessions with cats that do not claw at mesh.

• Brand and model: Kittywalk Town & Country Collection Outdoor Cat Playpen
• Size: 6-ft Deck & Patio section plus 5-ft three-level Penthouse and Kabana
• Material: steel components with water-resistant netting
• Price band: over $100 (about $379 at Chewy at the time of writing)

Best large yard enclosure: Trygoal Wooden Catio Outdoor Cat House

Room for several cats, independent connected zones, and a side door that lets you expand later with tunnels.

Petful may earn a commission when you click through to Chewy, at no extra cost to you.

The Trygoal Wooden Catio Outdoor Cat House is built for multi-cat yards. The listing describes a multi-level layout with a platform and ladder, four access doors and independent connected zones, so cats that do not always get along can spread out. A side door lets you add tunnels later (sold separately), which turns one kit into a larger run over time.

It is a freestanding wooden unit with a weather-resistant top, not a walk-in, so you clean through the access doors. The listing does not give wire gauge or full dimensions, so confirm both before you plan a spot.

• Brand and model: Trygoal Wooden Catio Outdoor Cat House
• Size: multi-level with platform and ladder, four access doors, side door for tunnels
• Material: wood construction with weather-resistant top
• Price band: over $100 (about $316 at Chewy at the time of writing)

Best wooden kit: Aivituvin Catio Outdoor Cat House

Listed as decay-resistant fir with reinforcing wooden strips, a removable PVC floor layer to clean and an included scratching post.

Petful may earn a commission when you click through to Chewy, at no extra cost to you.

The Aivituvin Catio Outdoor Cat House is the clearest material story in the set: the listing names decay-resistant fir wood with reinforcing wooden strips, an opening roof, a removable PVC bottom layer for cleaning and an included scratching post. Connected indoor and outdoor areas give two to three cats a sheltered box and an open run.

Fir is softer than cedar, so a coat of pet-safe exterior sealant extends its life in wet climates. It is a compact unit rather than a walk-in, which suits patios and small yards.

• Brand and model: Aivituvin Catio Outdoor Cat House with Opening Roof
• Size: fits two to three cats; connected indoor and outdoor areas
• Material: decay-resistant fir wood, removable PVC bottom layer
• Price band: over $100 (about $200 at Chewy at the time of writing)

Best budget catio: TIMHAKA Catio Outdoor Cat Walk Cat Enclosure

Modular pine frame and mesh at the lowest price in the set, and it can be reconfigured or linked to a window.

Petful may earn a commission when you click through to Chewy, at no extra cost to you.

The TIMHAKA Catio Outdoor Cat Walk Cat Enclosure, Grey is the lowest-priced kit here by a wide margin. It is a modular pine frame with breathable mesh that you can reconfigure, and the listing says it can connect to a window, so it works as a balcony run or a window-linked walk.

Light pine and mesh will not stand up to strong wind on their own, so anchor it, and keep it out of heavy rain unless you add cover. For one cat and short daily sessions, it is an affordable way to see whether your cat enjoys a catio before spending more.

• Brand and model: TIMHAKA Catio Outdoor Cat Walk Cat Enclosure, Grey
• Size: modular walk enclosure that can connect to windows
• Material: pine frame with breathable mesh
• Price band: $50–100 (about $56 at Chewy at the time of writing)

How to match a catio kit to your space

Start with two numbers: the floor area you can give up and how many cats will use it at once. Footprint and cat count decide the kit type, and vertical levels decide whether a small catio still feels roomy, because cats use height more than floor. A catio attached to house walls or a window also saves footprint, since your cat enters from indoors. Use the space sizing comparison below to match your footprint and cat count to a kit before you buy.

A balcony catio needs a kit that is light, anchors to the railing or wall without drilling where the lease forbids it, and stays clear of gaps a cat could squeeze through. In an apartment, the realistic options are a window box or a modular mesh walk you can take down. In a small yard, a compact wooden kit with two to three platforms usually beats a wide single-level run, because cats use height more than floor area.

What is the best enclosure for cats to go outside?

The best enclosure for cats to go outside is a fully enclosed catio with a roof, solid framing and a secure door, sized to your space and cat count. In a yard that means a walk-in or multi-level wooden kit; in an apartment it means a window catio. Open-topped pens and harness tie-outs leave cats exposed to climbing out, predators and weather, so a covered enclosure is the safer choice.

Window catio kits and window boxes

A window catio is a small enclosure that mounts outside a window so your cat steps from the window ledge into a screened box with a perch. It fits renters and apartments with no yard, needs only the window opening, and works best for one cat. Read the WebVet guide to window catios for more on placement and safety.

Window mount fit is where most catio window box purchases go wrong. Before you order, check:

• The width and height of the window opening against the listing dimensions
• Whether the window slides, swings or tilts, and whether it can stay partly open
• Sill depth and the wall below, which carry the box’s weight
• Clearance from heaters, AC units and ground floors where other animals can reach

A catio with window access also gives a cat a choice: go out when it wants and come back to the house. The VistaGato VistaBella Cat Window Catio, Litter Box & Perch is the window pick, and the TIMHAKA Catio Outdoor Cat Walk Cat Enclosure, Grey can link to a window for a longer run. Catios for windows need a secure seal around the frame, so close any gap wider than a cat’s head.

Buy a catio kit or build your own

Buying a kit makes sense when you want a known size, predictable cost and a weekend or less of assembly. A catio build makes sense when your space is unusual, you need a large run, or you want cedar framing and heavy mesh chosen by you. DIY catio kits sit in between: you supply the space planning, and the panels arrive cut.

If you decide to build, follow the WebVet DIY catio plans for materials and step-by-step instructions; this guide stays with the buying decision.

Is it cheaper to build a catio or buy one?

Building is often cheaper for a large catio, because lumber and mesh cost less per square foot than a finished kit at that size. For a small catio, buying is usually cheaper or close, since a kit like the TIMHAKA sits at the bottom of the $50–100 band and saves tools, cut waste and time. The build or buy choice also depends on skill: an under-built DIY frame costs more once you fix escapes.

How to make an inexpensive catio?

The inexpensive route is to keep it small and use what you have. Choose the lowest-priced kit that fits your space, attach it to a window or an existing fence corner so you need fewer panels, and add vertical levels with shelves rather than more floor. Reuse outdoor furniture for shade, and skip extras until you know your cat uses the space.

What to check before you buy a catio kit

Run this pre-purchase checklist against the listing and the product photos before you order. If a listing leaves a line blank, ask the seller or assume the weaker option. A waterproof outdoor cat enclosure is really a roof question: look for a solid or PVC roof panel rather than mesh alone.

Materials set durability. Cedar resists rot naturally and costs more, while fir and pine need a pet-safe sealant to last outdoors. Netting is light and portable but tears more easily than welded metal panels, so it suits supervised use. A solid or PVC roof keeps the interior dry, but check that the floor and sides drain too, or water pools in the corners.

Can you use a chicken coop as a catio?

Yes, you can use a chicken coop as a catio if you adapt it. Coops are built for poultry, so check that the mesh is small enough, the roof is fully enclosed, and the door latch cannot be nudged open. Remove any nest boxes that trap heat, add shelves for vertical levels, and confirm the wood has not been treated with products unsafe for cats.

Are catios safe and worth it for your cat?

A well-built catio is one of the safest ways to give an indoor cat outdoor time, because it keeps cats away from traffic, predators and fights while still offering sun, scent and movement. The Humane World for Animals catio guide makes the same case for enclosed outdoor space. For layout and decor inspiration, see our cat-friendly catio ideas, and for the bigger picture on what a catio is, the WebVet catio guide covers the basics.

Safety still depends on the setup. Provide shade and fresh water, keep toxic plants out of reach, and bring cats in during extreme heat, cold or storms. The Cornell Feline Health Center has broader guidance on feline health and enrichment.

Do catios make cats happier?

Catios can make many cats happier by adding stimulation that indoor life lacks: birds to watch, new smells, sun to bask in and room to climb. They also add activity, and a catio with platforms is one of several ways to exercise a cat. Shy cats may need time to warm up, so judge by behavior over a few weeks rather than the first visit.

Is it cruel to leave a cat outside all day?

It is not kind to leave a cat outside all day unsupervised, even in a catio, if it has no shelter, shade, water or a way back indoors. Weather changes fast and an enclosed cat cannot escape heat or cold. A catio works best as daily outdoor time with an open route back inside, or as a supervised extended session in mild weather.

Catio kit questions

An indoor cat cage with litter box space is a multi-level playpen with one level sized for a litter pan, used for confinement after surgery or for a new cat. This roundup covers outdoor kits, but the VistaGato window catio is the one pick that includes litter box space. The questions below cover cost, fit and setup. The best catio for most homes is the one that fits the space you already have, and the build or buy decision above usually settles the rest.