Catio Ideas: How to Set Up a Screened-In Porch for Cats This Summer

Catio Ideas for You & Your Cat

My cats are obsessed with their catio — no matter the season, they love lounging on our screened-in porch, watching birds and squirrels flit by and soaking in the sounds of the neighborhood. It’s perfect for sunbathing, fresh air, and mental stimulation. A screened-in porch for cats (aka a catio) is a simple way to enrich your indoor cats’ lives — and yours! In this post, I’m sharing the benefits of a catio, safety tips, and inspiring catio ideas to help you create the ultimate outdoor space for your feline family.

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Table of Contents:

Cat-Approved Porch Essentials

What Is a Catio?

First things first: what is a catio? A catio definition is simple: it is a screened-in porch where your cat can hang out.

Catios can come in all shapes and sizes, from large home patios to apartment or condo balconies. You can even get the enrichment benefits of a catio with an open window with screens.

What is most important is that the space is securely screened in and enclosed, whether that’s with a porch or with a specially designed Catio structure like these.

The last thing you want is for your indoor cat to get out of the prescribed catio area. As an anxious cat mom, I view catio time with my three cats as supervised time outdoors within our porch. I stay with them and leave the door to the house open. To be fair, the cats prefer it if I’m outside with them. If I come in to refill the watering can, for example, they tend to follow me back inside or wait by the door for me to come back out.

Lifestyle Perks of a Catio

Catios are great for so many things — from “cat TV” (bird and squirrel watching), to sunbathing and fresh air. My cats enjoy just lounging around on the patio pavers, smelling all the smells and hearing all the noises of the neighborhood around us.

If you have space for a garden, you can make your own cat garden and grow cat-friendly plants, like catnip or cat grass. My cat Olivia loves spinach, so I grow her a little pot of spinach. They also like to nibble on the leaves of my tomato plants. This is not my favorite thing for them to do, but I can usually distract them with some fresh cat grass.

If you decide to set up a garden with other plants, just be sure to check if they are pet safe! If they are toxic to cats, keep them up or in a space where the cats can’t get to.

Click here to learn how to grow your own cat garden!

Catio Setup Inspiration: What to Include

For a comfy catio set up, consider what you would want for yourself for spending time out there — IE: comfortable, weather-safe chairs, a table, storage if necessary — because I highly recommend keeping catio time supervised.

If your catio space is not shaded, I recommend looking into some kind of canopy or large umbrella so that there is a consistently shaded space for you and your cats to lounge under. We have a large canopy like this that came with the house, and it is a great resource during the warmer months. Under the cover, it is easily a few degrees cooler, and the cats can still chill and roll around on the pavers, getting all the enrichment benefits of the catio, without being in direct sunlight.

Beyond that, you can build out the cat garden I mentioned above (more details on that in my cat garden guide here) and look into outdoor-safe cat furniture. There are a variety of cat trees or condos like this one, for example, that are made with weatherproof materials. In general, avoid carpeted or soft materials that will mold or fall apart in the elements.

If you’re going to be outside for a while, consider bringing out a bowl of water and ice for your cats, even if you leave the door to the house open. You can never be too safe with cats and the heat!

Keep It Safe: Catio Must-Knows

There are a few things you should consider in your catio plans.

Catio time, in my opinion, should always be supervised. Cats are clever little creatures and I do not trust them not to try to climb the screen (Louis has tried), tear the screen, or just get themselves stuck. So, I am always around for catio time. I’ll pop inside to the kitchen to refill the watering can, for example, or grab a drink for myself, but am never away for more than a minute or two. And, even then, the door is open so the cats can get back inside if they want to.

Second, keep the door open so your cats can get back inside if they want to — whether to get a snack, get some water, or just get out of the sun. Having the door to the home open reduces the chance of stress in your furbaby. In my experience, this occurs in two situations: first, if they get started by a loud noise (a neighbors dog barking, some random car noise, a loud truck, etc.) and, second, if they get too hot.

Cats, in my experience, hate feeling cornered (think about trying to get them into the carrier for a trip), and that anxiety can easily be compounded by loud noises or sudden inclement weather. So, keeping the door open can help ensure that catio time goes smoothly and is a pleasant experience for everyone involved!

Heat & Weather Considerations for Catios

As a Florida cat mom, heat is the biggest factor I consider for the cats and the catio. While I check the paver temperature with my own feet, I find, even in direct sun, ours generally seems to stay cool enough for the cats. Occasionally, though, it is too hot, especially at mid-day in peak summer. However, consider your indoor cat’s delicate little toe beans — if it’s too hot for your feet, it is way too hot for theirs.

As with any summer activity, you should keep an eye out for heat exhaustion or heat stroke in cats. I recommend checking out this article from Chewy about how to tell if your cat is overheating and this article from PetMD about how to mitigate heatstroke or heat exhaustion. Here are 11 of the signs of heat exhaustion to look out for as listed in the Chewy article:

1. Panting or trouble breathing
2. Restlessness
3. Rapid or increased heart rate
4. Drooling
5. Lethargy or weakness
6. Overall increased body temperature
7. Stumbling or loss of balance
8. Vocalizing
9. Gums that are bright pink or red
10. Red tongue
11. Glazed eyes

Should your cat experience any of these symptoms of heat exhaustion, you should call your vet and take your cat in for medical treatment. If your vet is not available, call your local emergency vet and get their help.

For more information on how to protect your cat from overheating or heat stroke, and how to prevent this from happening in the first place, please review these relevant articles:

• Heatstroke in Cats: Signs, Treatment, and Prevention – PetMD
• Is Your Cat Overheating? 11 Signs of Heat Exhaustion in Cats – Plus, what to do to help a cat with heatstroke. – Chewy
• Heat Stroke in Cats – Symptoms & Treatments – Purina

P.S. don’t forget to stay hydrated yourself!
I often sip on LMNT electrolytes when I’m on the catio myself — try them out and get a free sample pack with your first order here!

Summer Catio Ideas for a Safe & Happy Cat

To make your cat (and your) time on the catio more comfortable in the summer months, consider getting a fan to run for your time outside. This, along with some kind of covered or shaded space, will make catio time that much more enjoyable for everyone involved. You could opt for an umbrella like this or something more substantial, like this gazebo structure.

For cooling support, I recommend this great pet water fountain. This is for indoor use, but keeping it available by leaving the door open will help your cat stay comfortable and hydrated. You can even add ice to the bowl to make it even cooler — my cats love when I do this!

And since we’re talking about summer, we can’t overlook hurricane season. While you obviously should NOT take your cat outside during a hurricane (or any storm), I wanted to share my Hurricane Pet Preparedness Guide should you find it useful in your own Cat Mom Life.

Final Thoughts on Why I Love Our Catio

All in all, creating a safe outdoor space for your indoor cat can be such a fun experience. I always love watching my cats on the catio — they get so excited about the world around them, while staying safe within the screened in porch. It’s great to sit out there under the canopy and read while they bounce around, stalking lizards or watching squirrels run along the fence. A lot of times, they’ll wind up hanging out right next to my chair, and that’s special bonding time, too!

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Please note: This content is intended for informational purposes only and reflects personal experience as a cat owner. It should not be considered a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your veterinarian with any questions or concerns about your pet’s health.