Well-designed outdoor enclosures (catios) provide safe access to outdoor stimulation while protecting cats from outdoor risks and protecting local wildlife from cat predation.
A well-designed catio gives cats what free outdoor access provides — fresh air, natural light, bird-watching, scent stimulation, and the ability to be outside — while eliminating the welfare risks of unsupervised outdoor access. For cats who clearly wish to go outside, a catio is not a compromise but a welfare enhancement: they experience outdoor stimulation safely. The design matters: a bare wire cage with minimal furniture provides little enrichment, while a thoughtfully designed enclosure with plants, climbing structures, and weather protection provides a rich behavioral landscape. Agency — the ability to choose when to enter and exit — adds a welfare dimension by giving cats control over their environment.