London Family Builds Most Creative DIY Catio for Their Maine Coon Cats

Plenty of families choose to let their cats explore the great outdoors freely and come back to the comfort of indoor living when they are ready for it, but my cats have always been indoor only. It's for the best, really — they're both very spoiled felines who enjoy lounging by the fireplace and sleeping in my bed. But I do wonder if they're missing out by not getting to be outside sometimes, and if you feel the same way I do, there may be a way to give your cats the chance to broaden their horizons without totally letting them loose in the wild.

It's called a catio — an enclosed patio space for your cats to hang out where they can easily come and go from the rest of the house. And after one family shared the one they created themselves, I'm really starting to wonder if this is a DIY project I should take on, too... 

As @bobbymouse77 shared in a video on TikTok on Tuesday, February 13, their two Maine Coon cats had always been indoor cats, so they wanted to mix things up a bit for them. Doesn't hurt to keep life interesting, even for your pets.

They built it themselves, but it was a very impressive project. It was accessible via a tunnel from the conservatory in their house, and this catio wasn't just a small semi-outdoor space — no, it was basically a vacation home for these lucky cats.

From the inside of the house, the cats would go through a flap to enter through the tunnel that leads to the catio, which their parents said they "absolutely love." 

Judging by the photos at the end of the video, it's clear that they really do enjoy it! 

How to Build Your Own Catio

The beauty of DIY projects like this is that you can make them as easy or as simple as you'd like, depending on what your budget looks like and what your skill level is. 

This website offers clear instructions and lists of materials that you'll need, along with different plans you can choose from to fit the needs of your home and your cats. If you're already building it on an existing deck or patio, your flooring is taken care of, but otherwise, you'll need to purchase some kind of flooring along with wire, wood, some type of roof, and cedar for shelves that your cats can climb and relax on.

It's also a good idea to fill the catio with things they'll want and need to use to ensure they enjoy the space, like a litter box, toys, a water bowl, and a cat scratcher.

This project is the kind that you can really have fun and be creative with. That tunnel really is cool! Not to mention they'd get some extra exercise in...