A domestic cat enclosure (or cat cage or catio as a

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordscat The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of ...

'' and ''

patio A patio (, from es, patio ; "courtyard", "forecourt", "yard", "little garden") is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that adjoins a structure and is typically paved. In Australia the term is expanded to include roofed str ...

'') is either a permanent or a temporary structure intended to confine a

cat The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of ...

or multiple cats to a designated space for the cat to experience the outside. Some cat enclosures have a secondary function of ensuring the cat's safety by keeping other animals out, such as predators of cats ( coyotes,

wolves The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, and gray wolves, as popularly un ...

, etc.) or the safety of other smaller animals like cat prey (

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...

s, mice, etc.). Enclosures may be constructed in either an indoor or an outdoor environment. When a cat enclosure is constructed outdoors, it is used to prevent cats from wandering off where they may become lost, endangered by cars, or eaten by predators. Cat enclosures may also be constructed outdoors in order to provide a predominantly indoor cat a means of exploration and outdoor enrichment, while maintaining their safety. Domestic cat breeders may use indoor cat enclosures to separate animals or encourage

selective breeding Selective breeding (also called artificial selection) is the process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to selectively develop particular phenotypic traits (characteristics) by choosing which typically animal or plant m ...

. One specific situation where a cat enclosure is particularly useful is when a cat is moved from one house to another. Cats have an instinctive drive to return home, often called a 'homing instinct', which is normally beneficial, but can endanger the cat immediately after a move if the distance between homes is significant. Placing a cat in an outdoor enclosure when it reaches its new home may prevent the cat from attempting to perform this instinctive behavior. Most domestic cat enclosures are constructed of a metal or wood frame with a steel wire mesh. Considering that cats are excellent jumpers and climbers, most enclosures also feature some type of roof structure to prevent cats from escaping. An enclosure may or may not have an integral floor. For those enclosures that do not have an additional floor, the existing surface where the enclosure is constructed serves as the floor. Cat enclosures may be home-built or may be acquired from commercial suppliers. Those enclosures which are home-built are typically custom-made. Enclosures purchased from commercial suppliers may feature a

modular Broadly speaking, modularity is the degree to which a system's components may be separated and recombined, often with the benefit of flexibility and variety in use. The concept of modularity is used primarily to reduce complexity by breaking a s ...

design that allows for some customization, or might only be offered in standard shapes and sizes. Ideally, a cat enclosure should be tailored to the cat's needs, considering its breed, personality, behavior tendencies, and age. Some essential factors to consider are access to sunny areas, shelter from harsh weather (including rain, wind, and excessive heat), a sleeping compartment and exercise area, a litter tray, and regular worming and

vaccinations Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine to help the immune system develop immunity from a disease. Vaccines contain a microorganism or virus in a weakened, live or killed state, or proteins or toxins from the organism. In stimulating ...

as recommended by the veterinarian.

References

{{Reflist Containers Buildings and structures used to confine animals Cat equipment

See also

Further reading

References