Published Feb 11, 2026
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Just like dogs, cats should never roam freely outdoors. From predators to contagious illnesses, there are simply too many risks! However, there are a few potential downsides to keeping your cat fully indoors all of the time.
Indoor cats are often bored and inactive, which leads to an increased risk of obesity and related illnesses. Luckily, this is nothing that daily playtime and mental enrichment can’t solve!
One of the best ways to provide enrichment in our cats’ lives is to let them explore the outdoors safely, either on a harness and leash or with a catio (also known as a cat patio or outdoor cat enclosure).
In this article, I tested and reviewed five catios to help you decide which will work best for your home.
At a Glance: Best Catios To Buy
In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Coziwow Wooden Outdoor Catio
- Three shelves to explore and a hammock for lounging
- Sturdy, weather-resistant wood and a weatherproof roof
- Two latched doors so that you can collect your cat with ease
Aivituvin AIR37 Walk-In Outdoor Cat House
- Five shelves and two houses for your cat to explore
- Seven doors so that you can access your cat no matter where they are in the catio
- Lots of floorspace for litter boxes or toys
Outback Jack Kitty Compound Cat Playpen
- Large pop-up enclosure for those who can’t keep a catio up year-round
- Set-up and disassembly can both be done in minutes!
- Mesh bottom helps keeps cats in and pests out
LovMor Catio
- Raised platform on wheels keeps cats off the ground and is easy to move
- Two large doors so that you can easily access your cat at any time
- Three platforms for curious cats to explore
Aivituvin AIR22-M Wheeled Cat House
- Multi-level catio provides several levels to explore while taking up minimal floor space
- Two large doors for human access, as well as two latching cat doors
- Pre-assembled hinges and latches
Why Trust Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
I’m a lifelong cat owner who’s always kept her cats indoors, but I also know the importance of enrichment and letting cats explore new environments safely. I’ve harness trained a number of my cats and was excited to test and review several catios to see what works best in various situations.
I’m a very cautious person, especially when it comes to my cats’ safety, so the first thing I looked for in each catio were potential escape routes. I also took notes on the assembly process, the durability of the materials, and how my cats felt about each catio. Below are my honest reviews.
Top 5 Best Catios Tested and Reviewed
There are many factors that go into choosing the best catio, and every household has different needs. While the Coziwow Wooden Outdoor Catio is our top pick, we’ve also broken our selections into categories such as the best pop-up catio and the best indoor enclosure. We hope this helps you find the catio that’s best for you and your cat!
#1 Overall Best: Coziwow Wooden Outdoor Catio
Out of the five catios I tested, the Coziwow was the best-crafted. Made of weather-resistant wood, it felt sturdier than the others on our list and didn’t splinter or show other issues during construction.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The enclosure is surrounded by sturdy mesh and topped with a plastic roof that effectively keeps rain out of the enclosure. I accidentally tested it by forgetting a blanket inside of it during a rainstorm, and it was dry when I checked on it the next day.
Your cat can enter the catio through one of two doors, one of which is located on the bottom and one next to a small shelf. Once inside, there are three shelves and a hammock for them to explore, and the spacious design allows for more items to be added to the bottom, such as toys, food bowls, or even a litter box.
What We Liked
- Spacious catio with three shelves to explore and a hammock for lounging
- Made of sturdy weather-resistant wood with a waterproof roof
- Two latched doors on the top and bottom keep your cat safely contained while allowing you to reach them easily when playtime is over
What We Didn’t Like
- Lacks predrilled holes
#2 Runner Up: Aivituvin AIR37 Walk-In Outdoor Cat House
I love the size of the Aivituvin AIR37, and it has plenty of levels for cats to perch or play. Accessing your cats is easy with the large center doors, and there are also smaller doors at the top and bottom of each side and one on the back.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The hinges and latches come pre-assembled, which greatly reduces assembly time. Personally, assembling the smaller bits is my least favorite part of catio building, so I really appreciated this touch.
Unfortunately, Aivituvin’s weakness is in the materials. For instance, the wood on this catio splits easily. The catio already arrived split in some places around the pre-assembled bits, and cracked a couple more times during assembly. While the tears I noticed were all fairly small, it’s important to be careful while putting this together so that you don’t damage the wood irreparably–especially in places where the holes haven’t been predrilled.
The other problem I had with the catio was that the cat houses didn’t align properly, making it more difficult to fix them in place.
Once the catio was fully assembled, my cats and I did enjoy the end result. The catio comes with five shelves and two cat houses. When I put my cat inside, he immediately went around exploring!
We also liked the weatherproof cover, which works well at keeping out rain and snow. However, the roof itself is mesh–not asphalt as advertised in the Chewy product listing.
What We Liked
- Five shelves and two houses for your cat to explore
- A total of seven doors allow you to access your cat easily, no matter where they are in the catio
- Excellent size for multiple cats, with a larger size available
- Doors and latches come pre-assembled
What We Didn’t Like
- Weak wood splits easily during assembly
- Cat houses are difficult to place
#3 Best Pop-Up Enclosure: Outback Jack Kitty Compound Cat Playpen
The Outback Jack Kitty Compound is a great option for those who can’t keep a catio up permanently, but still want to let their cat explore the outdoors in a large, enclosed space.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
I found it surprisingly easy to set up, taking less than a minute for the main tent and a little longer if you want the tunnel attached. Taking it down is as simple as pulling a string on the tent and collapsing the tunnel.
It’s surrounded by mesh on all sides, including the bottom, and it can be staked into the ground for added security. The three detachable panels on the tunnel and tent entrances are held together by zippers, which don’t lock. While this is an easy fix, it does make the enclosure less secure as cats could figure out how to open them!
This design is best for those who want to spend time outside with their cats, as I wouldn’t recommend leaving your cat unattended while they’re in the tent. It’s not predator or weather-proof, and might tear with persistent clawing.
I like that you can let your cat explore various areas of the yard by moving the tent around, and that when you’re done it folds up into a bag that’s easy to store. My cats also had a lot of fun running through the tunnel and exploring the big tent!
What We Liked
- Large pop-up enclosure is perfect for those who can’t have a permanent set-up attached to the house
- Super user friendly – set up, disassemble, and store the tent with ease!
- Mesh bottom helps keep cats inside and pests out
What We Didn’t Like
- Zippers don’t lock
- The design isn’t as durable as your typical catio, so it’s important to monitor your cat in the enclosure and never leave them unattended
#4 Best Indoor Enclosure: LovMor Catio
I immediately liked that the LovMor catio is on wheels and comes with several platforms and toys to encourage play. However, I noticed some issues during assembly and would only recommend it for indoor use. I also wouldn’t recommend this for anyone with large cats.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
During assembly, the wood split in a few places but held up better than the Avituvin catios. There was an error in the instruction booklet regarding which screws to use for step 6, which caused some slight confusion before I figured it out for myself.
The biggest issue I had with this one was the floor panel, which is too small for the enclosure and doesn’t attach, making it unsafe for outdoor use. The doors don’t latch, either, so cats can learn to push them open.
The shelves feel flimsy, and definitely wouldn’t hold up to 50 pounds as advertised on the product listing. They’re better suited to kittens or very small cats.
Though I was excited for the toys, the scratching post doesn’t attach at the top and the ball toy comes with a tie instead of a screw–and nothing to tie the rope to!
I think kittens could have fun in this one, and it held up okay to my smallest cats, who are under 10 pounds. However, I do wish the catio were better built and didn’t have so many potential escape points.
What We Liked
- Wheels make the catio easy to move and raise it off the ground slightly so cats aren’t touching the floor
- Two large doors allow easy access to your cat at all times
- Three platforms for your cat to explore
What We Didn’t Like
- Not designed with adult cats in mind, especially large cats
- Weak wood may split during assembly
- Not secure enough for outdoor use, as cats may escape the enclosure
#5 Compact Yet Versatile: Aivituvin AIR22-M Wheeled Cat House
The Aivituvin AIR22-M takes up a small surface area while allowing your cat to explore multiple levels, including three shelves, one scratching post, a hammock, and a cat house. It has two large doors for easy access, as well as two cat doors that can be latched to prevent escapes.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Unfortunately, it does suffer from the same weak wood as the larger Aivituvin catio. During assembly, one of the wooden pieces used to attach the wheels cracked, so I was unable to use the wheels.
I also had a problem with the scratching post not lining up properly between the shelves, so it couldn’t be assembled properly–leaving it flimsier than it should’ve been.
Something I love about this brand is that the hinges and latches for the doors come preassembled, but I did have to adjust one of them as it was put together improperly, and the door was unable to latch.
While I wished for more durable materials and better product design, my cats did enjoy exploring the catio. Like the LovMor, I think this is a great size to keep indoors, but this one would hold up better to outdoor use. The shelves also feel much more secure.
What We Liked
- Comes with three shelves and a house that’s perfect for cat naps
- Pre-assembled hinges and latches
- Two large doors and two cat doors, all of which latch to keep your cat securely inside
What We Didn’t Like
- Various construction issues, including weak wood prone to splinters and splits
How to Choose the Best Catio
A catio is an investment, and you want to make sure you get the right one for your cat! Here are some things to consider before buying:
Types of Catio
There are various types of catio, from freestanding enclosures on wheels to window boxes to large screened-in porches.
One of the primary things to consider is whether you would like the catio to stand on its own or attach to your home so that your cat can enter independently through a window or door. The latter are typically built onto your house or attached to the outside, so they’re more of a commitment. Freestanding catios are better for those who rent their homes or want to be able to move the enclosure around.
Size
Next, consider where your catio will be placed and how much space you have for it. Are you looking for a huge enclosure, or just a small box that can attach to your window?
Make sure to measure your space before purchasing, including the heights of your windows and any platform you want to set the catio atop of.
Escape-Proof Design and Human Access
Most importantly, you want materials that will hold up to cat nails and a design that’s difficult for cats to escape from. This means doors that latch, a secure bottom (or a flat surface for catios without a floor), and a tight fit against the house if it’s not a freestanding catio.
Another thing to think about is how you’ll get to your cat if you need them. The ideal is a human-sized door so that you can step inside and pick them up, but smaller access points work too. Ideally, you won’t have to work too hard to grab your cat, as this gives them more opportunity to potentially sneak past you and escape the catio.
Durability
When it comes to durability, there are a number of things to look for. First, it’s preferable if the catio is made of solid wood, but this can get quite expensive and isn’t within everyone’s budget.
You’ll also want to look for sturdy mesh surrounding the catio, securely attached to the inside of the frame. This makes it more difficult to push the screen out.
Lastly, think about protecting the catio from the weather. This might mean looking for a catio with waterproof roof, building a platform so the wood isn’t sitting on wet ground, or even placing the catio under an awning to protect it from heavy snowfall.
