Outdoor enclosures provide cats with safe outdoor access and environmental enrichment. Well-designed catios significantly improve welfare for indoor cats.
Catios bridge the gap between the welfare benefits of outdoor enrichment and the safety of indoor-only living. Indoor cats that cannot access outdoor environments miss significant sensory enrichment including fresh air, natural light cycles, weather variation, and the sights and sounds of the outdoor world. These sensory deprivations contribute to boredom-related behavioral problems and stress-related diseases. Well-designed catios provide genuine enrichment that improves psychological wellbeing while eliminating the mortality risks of free-roaming. The relatively modest cost of basic catio construction compared to the substantial welfare benefit makes them one of the most impactful cat welfare investments available.