Check Out Jonathan’s Custom Catio for Dove, Poppy, and Pickle
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If you haven’t heard yet, Jonathan, Zooey, and the kiddos have three new fluffy family members! They brought home Dove, Poppy, and Pickle earlier this year and instantly, the whole family fell in love. They adore their new fur babies! And as every cat owner knows, when you first bring home your new kitties, you might need to make some adjustments so they have everything they need to feel comfortable. This includes cat trees and cat beds, the right slow or automatic cat feeders and water fountains, litter boxes, and of course, plenty of toys.Jonathan and Zooey have made plenty of fun new additions to the house to get the cats acquainted—including a homemade catio.
Jonathan knew that the cats loved watching the birds and wildlife, and getting fresh air, but he wanted to make sure they were safe from danger while they explored outdoors. Being an expert in all things home renovation and building, he knew he wanted to make something special for them. A catio is basically an enclosed outdoor patio made smaller, just for furry friends. It can include things like perches, scratching posts, ramps, cat grass, and more. Jonathan thought of everything: From a cat tunnel to an easy-to-clean drainage plate, plenty of platforms for them to climb, and even some sneaky ways to make the structure blend into their house exterior (more on that below). Keep reading for his best tips!
Tips and Must-Haves for How to Build a Catio
Materials matter: The structure itself is the most important part here, so make sure your materials are not only sound, but installed correctly! Jonathan wanted everything to be safe, secure, and stylish, so he called his friend Alan Breslauer (widely known as @catioguy) to help customize and build the perfect catio for Poppy, Dove, and Pickle. “It’s built well, it’s built to last, and the cats absolutely love it,” Jonathan says.
Make sure it’s accessible: For the cats, of course, but also for the humans! You want to be able to get in there and clean easily. They added a human-sized door to the exterior so it’s easy to pop in and wipe things down as needed. Jonathan also included a metal pan underneath the structure for easy draining when they hose down the catio.
Consider a cat tunnel: Jonathan and Zooey wanted to be sure the cats had a way out onto the catio directly from Zooey’s office, since they love hanging out by her during the day. So, they decided to build a cat tunnel! From Zooey’s office, through Jonathan’s, and out onto the catio, the three kitties have an easy, fun way onto their enclosure. The tunnel doors even have actual functioning doorknobs so Jonathan and Zooey can control when the cats can go in and out.
Bonus: Painting the mesh wire black will make it almost vanish visually, which will help the structure blend in nicely with the rest of the house!
For all the fun details, watch the video above and subscribe to our Drew & Jonathan YouTube channel for more peeks inside Drew and Jonathan’s homes, historic house tours, and more.
Build Your Own Catio
Bree Pulver
Bree is the Senior Digital Editor at DrewandJonathan.com. In the past, she’s worked for publications focused on home improvement and sustainable living. Bree’s Pinterest board is filled with cozy textures; vintage patterns; sculptural furniture; and moody, warm-toned colors. She has a degree concentrated in the intersection of writing and architecture, which influences her passion for exploring creative solutions to unusual home layouts and stylish renter-friendly decor. She’s a self-proclaimed pro at finding the best antique furniture in the most unlikely of places (but her cat Blue can certainly back these claims).
