Custom Catio Builder in Michigan
Michigan Catio Builders designs and builds custom catios, outdoor cat enclosures, porch catios, deck catios, window catios, cat tunnels, and cat-safe outdoor spaces for homes across Rochester Hills, Oakland County, Metro Detroit, and Southeast Michigan.
A catio gives your cat the best parts of being outside like fresh air, sunshine, bird watching, climbing, lounging, and mental stimulation…while keeping them protected from traffic, predators, getting lost, parasites, fights with other animals, and unsafe outdoor exposure.
Whether you want a small window catio, a large screened-in porch catio, a backyard enclosure, or a custom cat tunnel system, we build each project around your cats, your home, and Michigan weather.
How much does catio design cost? We charge 10% of your materials cost as a design fee, minimum $500. Payment of the design fee saves your space in our build line.
Ready to get started with your cats build? Click here to pay the design fee and save your space in line.
Custom Catios Built for Cats, Not Just Looks
A good catio is more than a screened box. Cats need vertical space, safe climbing areas, sunning spots, shaded resting areas, scratching surfaces, and comfortable places to watch the world.
We design catios with feline behavior in mind, including:
- Cat shelves and climbing platforms
- Scratching posts and climbing surfaces
- Safe entry points from windows, doors, walls, or tunnels
- Resting ledges and lounging areas
- Protected areas for shade and weather
- Strong screening and enclosure materials
- Secure framing to help prevent escape
- Layouts designed for multiple cats when needed
Every catio is custom-built to fit your home’s layout, your cats’ personalities, and how you want the space to look from the outside.
Types of Catios We Build
Attached Catios
Attached catios connect directly to your home through a window, door, wall tunnel, patio door, or porch opening. These are a great option when you want your cat to safely come and go from inside the house into their outdoor enclosure.
Porch Catios
A porch catio turns an existing porch or patio area into a screened cat-safe space. We can divide a porch into human space and cat space, add a screen door, install cat shelves, and create a secure enclosure that still looks clean and useful.
Deck Catios
Deck catios are built on or around an existing or new deck. These can include cedar framing, pet screen, wire reinforcement, polycarbonate roofing, cat shelves, climbing posts, and access points from the house.
Window Catios
Window catios are smaller outdoor enclosures that attach near a window. They are a good choice for cats who love sitting in windows but need a safe way to enjoy fresh air.
Freestanding Catios
Freestanding catios are outdoor enclosures that do not have to attach directly to the house. These can work well in yards, gardens, or areas where a direct window or door connection is not practical.
Cat Tunnels
Cat tunnels can connect a window, door, wall opening, or porch to a larger catio. Tunnels are useful when the best catio location is away from the house or when you want to create a more interesting route for your cats.
Built for Michigan Weather
Michigan catios need to handle changing seasons, rain, wind, snow, humidity, and temperature swings. We choose materials based on the location of the build, how exposed it is, and how the cats will use it.
Common material options include:
- Cedar framing
- Pressure-treated framing where appropriate
- Pet screen
- Wire or deer fence reinforcement
- Polycarbonate roofing
- Exterior-grade fasteners and hardware
- Weather-resistant trim
- Cat-safe shelves and climbing features
We can also design catios with roof coverage, drainage, shade, airflow, and winter durability in mind.
Why Build a Catio?
A catio helps indoor cats enjoy the outdoors without the major risks of free roaming.
Catios can help provide:
- Fresh air and sunshine
- Exercise and climbing
- Bird and squirrel watching
- Mental stimulation
- Reduced boredom
- Safer outdoor enrichment
- A protected space for lounging
- A better quality of life for indoor cats
For multi-cat homes, a catio can also create more territory and vertical space, which may help reduce stress and give cats more ways to spread out.
Our Catio Design Process
1. Tell Us About Your Cats
We start by learning about your cats, their ages, personalities, activity levels, and how they like to spend their time. A young active cat may need more climbing and play space, while an older cat may need easier steps, wider shelves, and more resting areas.
2. Review Your Space
We look at the area where the catio could be built, including windows, doors, patios, decks, rooflines, grade changes, drainage, landscaping, and access points.
3. Choose the Catio Style
We help determine whether an attached catio, porch catio, deck catio, window catio, tunnel system, or freestanding enclosure makes the most sense for your home.
4. Plan the Features
We can include shelves, ramps, scratchers, cat-safe plants, tunnels, resting platforms, climbing posts, doors, dividers, and human access points for cleaning and maintenance.
5. Build the Catio
Once the design is approved, we build the catio using durable materials and secure construction methods so your cats can safely enjoy their new space.
Service Area
Michigan Catio Builders serves Rochester Hills, Oakland County, Metro Detroit, and surrounding Southeast Michigan communities.
Common service areas include:
Rochester Hills, Troy, Auburn Hills, Royal Oak, Ferndale, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Sterling Heights, Madison Heights, Clawson, Shelby Township, Macomb County, Oakland County, Wayne County, Detroit, and surrounding Michigan areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a catio?
A catio, or cat patio, is a secure outdoor enclosure that allows cats to enjoy fresh air, sunshine, climbing, and bird watching while staying protected from outdoor dangers.
Do you build custom catios in Michigan?
Yes. Michigan Catio Builders designs and builds custom catios, outdoor cat enclosures, porch catios, deck catios, window catios, and cat tunnel systems throughout Southeast Michigan.
Can a catio attach to a window or door?
Yes. Many catios attach to a window, door, patio opening, or wall tunnel so cats can safely access the enclosure from inside the home.
How much does a catio cost?
Catio pricing depends on size, materials, roof style, access points, shelves, tunnels, site conditions, and the complexity of the build. Small window catios cost less, while larger custom deck catios with roofing, flooring, and catification features cost more. Contact us with photos and measurements for a custom quote.
Can you turn my porch into a catio?
Yes. Existing porches and patios can often be converted into cat-safe screened spaces. We can add framing, screen, doors, dividers, shelves, and other cat features.
Are catios safe for cats?
A properly built catio can be a much safer alternative to letting cats roam freely outdoors. Catios help protect cats from cars, predators, fights, getting lost, and many outdoor hazards.
Get a Custom Catio Quote
Ready to give your cats a safe outdoor space they will actually use?
Contact Michigan Catio Builders today to start planning a custom catio, outdoor cat enclosure, porch catio, deck catio, or cat tunnel system for your home.