Why We Built a Catio for 21 Cats (and What's Next: The Wheel)

Aug 14, 2026

When "let the cats outside" isn't a realistic option for 20-plus animals, you build differently. The catio is the compromise that actually worked — a screened-in space where cats get sunlight, birds, and the illusion of the outdoors without the actual risk. Lulu's claimed it as her own personal viewing box, parked there for hours watching birds and the neighbor's chickens do their thing. Couie's usually nearby, lounging in the same space, somewhere between people-watching and plotting. The catio isn't the only new piece of hardware around here, either. Teanie — the runt of the third litter, and one of three cats here with what we'll generously call an aggressive eating habit, likely a holdover from a feral kittenhood where there wasn't always enough milk to go around — was the whole reason we picked up a cat exercise wheel. It's here now, and true to form, a few of our orange cats have taken a real liking to it too, because apparently that's just orange cat behavior. We've got video of it in action; editing it is on the to-do list, so watch this space.