Our readers have been kind enough to share pictures of cat enclosures, catios, and cat runs they have built. Today’s outdoor cat enclosure needn’t be just a cat cage. It can be a piece of work to be proud of. What better example than the Deluxe cat enclosure built by Murray and Jeanette for their cats. It is complete with a pond, waterfall and tunnels for cats to explore. (Pictured above)
Below you will see photos of cat enclosures our readers have built to give you some design ideas to build your own. Readers tell you how they built their cat enclosure and what it cost to build. If you are not a DIY person, we also have photos of cat enclosures and cat runs that Professional outdoor cat enclosure builders build
Whether you would like to build a DIY cat enclosure or get a professional builder to do it, I am sure you will enjoy the following cat run and cat enclosure information, ideas and photos.
If you have an excellent Cat Enclosure, please share photos and descriptions with us to add to this site.
Please get in touch with us with your information, and we will be happy to review them and publish them on this page if suitable.
Isabella's cat enclosure
All our cats are indoor cats with full access to our first floor balcony (which runs the length of our house) and a enclosure (we call it our “cat sun room”) connected to the balcony located in our small garden.
The main enclosure extension is hexagonal shaped with a built in staircase connecting the enclosure to our first floor balcony. We have also installed blinds and vinyl water proofing to shelter our precious babies from the harsh weather. It is literally a dream house for any cat. I’ve been told by my friends that it is 6 star cat sun room. OUR CATS DO NOT SLEEP IN THE ENCLOSURE. THEY SLEEP ON OUR BED 🙂
Sue's cat enclosure
This enclosure suits a more a rural setting as it blends in with the surroundings. It is made of poles and wire. The cat enclosure is very simple to put together with fencing wire and overlapping poles placed at the top of the fence. A single wire is strung and the wire attached and then tensioned.
This cat enclosure has lots of room approx – 15 metres long and 7 metres wide which gives the cats plenty of room to roam outdoors. It is accessed from the house through a cat flap in the window, so cats have access to inside and outside.
Old branches are placed inside the enclosure for the cats to climb on.They have a pond to drink out of, and there is lots of space to explore. There is a cubby house for shade and beds.The cubby house has a verandah for shade in summer and shelter in winter. The cats love it!
I have never had a cat escape from this enclosure.
Sue from Osiris (V) Abyssinians
Sally's cat house
Building Dimensions, Materials and Sources
Overall Dimensions – 12′ x 20′ x 10′
Labor – One boyfriend/fiancé helper – Not for sale
Roof – Because we wanted the most sun exposure for our cats, we used clear corrugated Polycarbonate roofing panels Purchased at Lowe’s. Note: If you plan to walk on the roof, use something else. Though it has served our purposes as far as translucency, it is not terribly durable for walking on and it recently rendered us rather helpless during a rescue effort to retrieve Cutie from over 100 feet up in a tall maple tree nearby!
Fountain – Three tier cedar fountain purchased from Drs. Foster & Smith for $149.99. I added a coat of stain since the fountain was placed on the end of the enclosure exposed to the elements.
For more pictures of this amazing cat house and building materials used to build it please visit:
“This is a story about a house that love built and the rescue effort through which it began. More importantly, it is a story of 13 homeless cats and their trials and triumphs in the pursuit of life, love and home.”
Jan's cat enclosure
What a great idea! The cats can exit the house via a cat flap just above the window. (see picture 1) They enter an aerial tunnel which runs through to the outdoor cat enclosure with all the mod cons a cat could ever need.
What a wonderful way to keep your cat safe while allowing them the freedom of the great outdoors
Adrian's cat enclosure
The cat run was originally built for two longhair tabbies one ginger and white (Tim) and one tortoise shell (Tam) Brother and Sister respectively.
The shade clothed fernery was originally installed to keep the sun off the house in the afternoon but was easily converted to a run for the cats by installing a gate at the southern end (as seen in the photo’s).The northern end currently has a cat door into the garage which in turn is attached to the house via a standard door (no cat door due to the house alarm).
From that it grew to a caged outdoor cat run along the fence which also consisted of two small cubby style house one of which has now been replaced by a large aviary style caged area (as seen in the photo’s). The cats access the cat run via a cat flap in the laundry wall.
Total cost about $1500 to build the enclosures for our cats.
The cost of materials for this cat run set me back about $1200
And the labor to build it was about 40 Hours.
Sarah's cat enclosure
Photos of Sarah’s amazing cat enclosure system. Her cats must get immense enjoyment from using this cat adventure land.
How much did it cost to build this cat enclosure system?
What Sarah has to say All up, I would say that we have spent about $1200 on everything so far. That includes a second hand cat enclosure system, timber for furniture which my hubby made, and actual made-to-measure furniture from an cat enclosure place.
How long did it take you to build?
We spent a full weekend outdoors putting the cat run together. Building included cutting of bricks and pulling up concrete. We have a second aerial cat run which will soon go up and we are looking at 2 more modules to connect it up on to the roof!
Overall, we have spent about 3 weekends making cat furniture, putting up the cat run, gardening the modules, laying bricks in the module because of the appalling cat-poo smell!
You can get a lot of things made for you or you can build them yourself. I would recommend making the cat walks yourself and finding an easy plan to make your own hammocks if possible. Mind you though, the cat hammocks we got from South Australia are just amazing. They have metal outers and properly made mesh overlays. The cats just love them!! “
Marianna's cat enclosure
Marianna has made her garden a wonderful safe playground for her family of cats. A series of cat tunnels allow her cats to access the playground and Cat Gym.
Netting is placed on top of the fences to make them cat proof.
How much did it cost to build this enclosure for our cats? I bought two 50 meter rolls of bird wire to cat proof the top of the fence. They cost less than $100. I also bought four 10 meter rolls of chicken wire for the wire tunnels and the cat enclosure in the garage from the reject shop for only $8, what a bargain! I went to the local furniture factory and got off cuts for the wood needed to build the cat run. The indoor wire doors were bought at a demolition place for $10 each. We didn’t have a lot of money to spend to create a run for our cats so I was always on the look out for cheap materials. For the cat furniture we got cheap off cuts of carpet. I even got the paint for the enclosure cheap at an auction.
Julia's cat enclosure
The Safe Garden
A delightful garden in the UK. Read the complete story and see more photos. See how this breeder created a ‘Safe Garden’ for her cats by visiting her website. The entire garden has been made into a cat enclosure
Rameses Burmese, Tonkinese and
Old-style Siamese
from Oxford, England
Doreen's cat proof fence
This is the cat proof fence and now some of the plants are starting to grow. Eventually it will be totally covered with plants and you won’t see the wire mesh any more. We actually tore down and replaced our last fence which was cat-proofed in the same way and where the plants had totally covered the mesh, no-one even knew there was mesh there. I can’t wait for the current plants to grow up now…
And here is our front gate, the little monkeys either climbed up it or jumped over it… until we put a piece of clear Perspex at the top. It is now too high to jump over, and the Perspex is too thin for them to get a grip on top, and the smooth surface of the Perspex over the wrought iron means their little paws have nowhere to grip as they climb up near the top. Very effective, and more slightly than putting mesh over the top of the gate. We drilled a few holes through the Perspex and attached it with screws and washers on both sides.
Christina's cat enclosure
Photos of Christinas Enclosed verandah.
A very effective Cat Enclosure
The verandah is L shaped. This is the other end.
Cat flap is in the window
Enclosing Patio for Cats
These outdoor cat runs are at the side of the enclosed verandah with a walkway between so all cats can see each other & don’t get lonely. The 1st half of the cat runs are positioned between 2 sheds & the 2nd half in the open garden. Each run is 8 metres long by 1 & half metres wide. Lots of shelves & branches for climbing.
It’s hard to photograph. It is an L shaped sleeping place & a small run for females if they need to get to know the stud first. This is about 4 by 3 metres to the left. It was all quite easy to build & protected from too much hot or cold.
David's cat enclosure
My outdoor cats can stay in here full-time as we have mild climate and the enclosure features a covered weather shelter at one end. The blue box in the shelter is a plastic storage box with doors cut into each end, and has a cooling fan for summer (the shelter portion is in the shade ofa tree) and a heating pad for winter.
For climbing, there are ramps leading to an elevated deck and a natural branch. I will add more climbing features.
John and Joanne's cat enclosure
The enclosure is around 4.8m long, 2.25 high and 1m wide. It is attached to one side of our house which we don’t have much use for otherwise, and access is through our laundry door so we can let our cat out when we choose. It is constructed out of lengths of 42x19mm pine, and rolls of 900mm wide 50x50mm wire mesh. It took most of a weekend to construct and we have added some shelves for Dari to climb and sit on. We plan to find a tree trunk to put inside for him to climb, as well as some more plants in addition to the cat grass and cat mint already in there
Christine's cat enclosure
This Cat Proof fence has plastic mesh. Metal is better because the squirrels chew through the plastic and I have to repair the holes. In fact they love to chew it. Maybe it feels good?
Hanging plants love the high fence as do climbers.
Although racoons can make it in and out, there is not much to attract them.
For more pictures and information please visit
Christine’s website
Sunni's cat enclosure
We used a powder-coated steel dog run that we bought for about $350US. Because our windows are high, we had to get creative with the roof. We filled the gaps with painted plywood. There’s a rope cat scratch that gets used constantly. The inside stump is also for scratching and sitting on. (The one on the outside was just there temporarily, while we decided if we needed it or not.) The lounge chair is for me on nice days, so I can read outside with a cat on my lap. There’s now a covered cat box behind the chair that is used often. Nice! Less smell and tracked litter in the house! We live in a desert area so we stuck with gravel instead of grass
Chirpy cats
I had always wanted to build an outdoor enclosure, or catio, for as long as I can remember. It was around ten years ago when I only had two cats, when I thought it would be perfect to create a safe outdoor haven for them. I began researching the best ways to merge the two worlds of a cat – indoors and outdoors. How nice would it be for the cats to have access to the outdoors in a safe environment, away from the dangers of cars and cruel people. Growing up as a kid we always had outdoor cats and this was the norm at the time. Today people are more aware of the dangers lurking outside and of the statistics of cats lost to road traffic accidents, not to mention exposure to diseases and poisons. It’s no surprise that indoor cats enjoy a longer lifespan than their outdoor counterparts. But keeping cats indoors comes with its own set of challenges.
A very unique Outdoor Cat Enclosure
This is the ultimate in an outside cat run complete with pond, waterfall, tunnel and fountain.
Absolute luxury living for Jeanette and Murray’s cats with fish to watch and tunnels to explore.
Be sure to click on the pictures to enlarge them.
The cats enter it by way of a cat flap from the lounge window. They go along a short tunnel and into the cat enclosure. It has a fish pond stocked with gold fish and no, they have never caught a fish. They have a bridge that goes across the pond and a waterfall made from local rocks which has many tunnels running under the waterfall where the cats play hide and seek.
There is also a kitty litter tray hidden inside the cave under the waterfall. There is a wooden spiral staircase that takes the cats up to all levels of shelves as well as suspended shelves.
They also have a swinging bridge. A double bench is a good place to sit with the cats.
The cat enclosure has a polycarbonate roof and is a good place to grow plants with a tropical feel.
The cats, kittens and ourselves spend many hours in the cat enclosure
Jeanette and Murray’s British Shorthair Website. Murray is the builder of this incredible cat enclosure.
Website: Britz British Shorthairs. Specialising in Blues and Silvers
Cat Enclosures – Suppliers & Builders
DIY pet enclosures are not for everyone. There are many professional outdoor cat run and enclosure builders in Australia that cater to everyone’s needs. Some of them are listed below.
Omlet
The Outdoor Cat Run from Omlet is available in two heights. The Hi-Rise version allows you to literally walk in to spend more time with your cats.
Your pet will be able to run and jump about and there is plenty of space for a bed, scratching post, litter tray, food and water bowl, and any other accessories you want to add. You could even set up a deck chair to sit back and relax with your pets. The Lo-Rise Version is a new concept, giving your cats plenty of secure floor space, at a lower height and a lower price (of course if you are less than 1.16m tall you can still walk in).
The Omlet outdoor cat run comes flat packed and is quick and easy self assembly – it just clips together. Available from 2m x 2m up to 7m x 3m you can choose the size that works for your backyard. It also comes with a skirt around the edge that can be pegged into the ground to stop other animals from digging in.
Priced from $549 plus delivery.
Visit Omlet Website for more Information
CatWorks
At Catworks we design and build quality cat enclosures, cat fences and cat ledges.
We are a small family owned and run business.
We will design a cat enclosure to fit into your home, fit in with your life style and work into your budget.
We service all areas from Melbourne, SE suburbs and the Mornington Peninsula.
Our enclosures carry a five year netting guarantee it is soft, unobtrusive yet remains strong and secure for your cat.
Ben our manager has been in the building industry for 10 years and has personally installed every enclosure to date, ensuring quality comes first every time.
Visit CatWorks website for more details
Oscillot
Oscillot Cat Containment Solutions
Without the Oscillot® System, cats can generally escape over any Colourbond®, timber or even masonry fence regardless of height.
In fact, most cats can clear up to five times their own height in a standing jump!
The Oscillot® Ali-Kitty®Paddle System is a unique cat containment product consisting of a series of four-bladed paddles which are mounted along fence lines between end posts containing bearings that allow the paddles to spin freely when touched. As soon as a cat trying to scale a fence places a paw on the Oscillot Paddle, it acts like a step which then begins to spin. The cat cannot get traction and drops back to the ground.
Visit Oscillot Cat Containment Solutions for more details
Cat Nip
Park around Tree
Shadehouse around a tree linked via an Aerial cat tunnel to the house. Cat enclosures around trees! Great idea
A Modular Cat Park is a network of galvanized (or powder coated) mesh modules that are interconnected by tunnels, beginning from the cat door in your house. Remember – one module is a cat cage and two or more is a Cat Park.
Stockists and Installers available in Brisbane (QLD), Sydney (NSW), Melbourne (VIC), Adelaide (SA), Hobart (TAS) and Perth (WA).
Visit CatNip website for more details
Aussie Cat Enclosures
Cat Enclosures available in standard sizes or custom made to your requirements. Sturdy steel construction in D.I.Y Flat Packs or assembled and installed. Cat proof netting is a specialty and can be used to close in patios, verandahs and sides of houses, even a whole back yard.
Modules can be attached to your home with tunnels using either a window box or cat door. Modules come flat packed with full easy to follow instructions for the handyman or can be fully assembled and delivered to your door
Catmax
Some of the many ways cat owners can choose to have Clear cat net
installed are side awnings, garden cat enclosures, verandah sections,
catteries, roof top stretches and free standing and portable units
for the home or unit renter.
Visit Catmax website for more details
Classic Pet Enclosures
Galvanised Outside Cat Enclosure Complete with cat tunnels and shelf for bedding. Wire cat tunnels can go from your house to the cat enclosure
Complete with outdoor cat tunnels and a shelf for bedding. Wire cat tunnels can go from your house to the cat enclosure
Visit Classic Pet Enclosures Website
for more details
Catnets.com.au
Catnets.com.au is your one-stop shop for all cat enclosure products. Whether you are looking for a freestanding cat enclosure, D.I.Y materials for a self-installation , or want a full measure and quote, we can help. Our aim is to be able to offer cat-proof netting and accessories at affordable prices, right across Australia. We sell netting by the metre, along with stainless steel wire rope, net zippers, net clips, fence brackets and more
We pride ourselves on efficient service. We aim to answer all email enquiries within 1 working day, and most orders can be dispatched same-day upon receipt of payment. We supply netting and DIY accessories Australia wide, with no minimum orders. Regardless of if you need 1m x 1m of cat net through to a large commercial cattery, Catnets.com.au has netting to suit. We realise that no one installation (or cat) is the same, and as a result have three types of nets available to choose from.
Visit CatNets Website for more details
Yates Fabrication
Quality, all steel quality cat enclosures … your choice of powder coating colors….. Day and night enclosures available….. Full roof and enclosed end for shelter (night model)….. Two marine carpeted shelves included in the price (day and night models)….. Our enclosures consist of panels that can be added onto at any time or dismantled and moved easily if needed. Connecting tunnels also available
Our business is located in Geelong and we strive to provide a better quality,better value cat enclosures for our clients much loved feline friends….. Made to measure projects are welcome or we have standard enclosures available now. Standard day runs from $480….. Give Mark a call to discuss your requirements….. 03 5248 0013 or 0402419837 or email enquiries welcome [email protected]
