3 Stunning Custom Catios From September 2025 You Have to See
Join us as we explore how thoughtful catio architecture transforms outdoor spaces into stylish sanctuaries for cats.
Oct. 10, 2025
Outdoor living isn’t just for humans anymore, and these catio builds prove it. Across the country, custom-designed spaces for cats are reshaping the way people think about outdoor architecture, merging beauty, safety, and imagination into something truly unique.
At Cat Topia, every catio is designed with purpose, built to enrich a cat’s life while enhancing the home’s style and livability. These aren’t basic enclosures; they’re architectural extensions crafted with the same precision, creativity, and care you’d expect from high-end outdoor design.
In this article, we’re highlighting our top three favorite catio builds from September 2025, each one a showcase of craftsmanship, creativity, and design. From a modern luxury catio built from sleek cedar and black accents, to a two-tone pressure-treated build designed for strength and style, to a statement catio featuring a sky bridge and vertical play zones, these projects redefine what it means to blend architecture, function, and feline comfort.
Each design has its own story, from the inspiration behind it, to the materials that brought it to life, to the cats whose personalities shaped every detail. Whether you’re a lifelong cat lover or simply someone who appreciates great design, these catios are proof that creativity and craftsmanship can turn even the simplest idea into something remarkable.
Catio #1: The Meow-sion
A modern, floating sanctuary where luxury design meets feline freedom.
Design Story
Built for Lisa, a design enthusiast with a fully custom, modern home in San Francisco, The Meow-sion is a catio that redefines what luxury pet spaces can look like. Lisa wanted a catio that blended seamlessly with her home’s black accents and clean architectural lines. The goal: something modern, minimal, and high-end, not rustic or traditional.
Dimensions & Structure
Measuring 14 ft deep, 7 ft wide, and 8 ft tall, the catio features a cantilevered deck that gives it a floating, sculptural look. Inside, multi-level shelves, ramps, cubbies, and a floor-to-ceiling scratch post create a vertical playground where Lisa’s two energetic cats can climb, nap, and play safely year-round.
Design & Materials
Crafted from black-painted cedar lumber, the structure offers both luxury and longevity. The natural cedar decking contrasts beautifully against the black frame, emphasizing a modern two-tone aesthetic. PVC-coated 1×1 black critter fencing provides safety without compromising views, while the black ribbed steel roof protects against San Francisco’s changing weather.
Design Highlights
- Modern, minimalist aesthetic matching Lisa’s custom home
- Floating deck for sleek architectural appeal
- Weather-resistant materials built to last 25+ years
- Custom specialty lock (for one very clever door-opening cat!)
Catio #2: Fort Mountain Cats
A rustic-modern retreat built for safety, freedom, and style in the Northern California mountains.
Design Story
When Dave retired and moved to his new mountain home, he wanted his three cats — Rambo, Hemmy, and Theo — to experience the outdoors safely among the pines and wildlife that surrounded them. With bears, mountain lions, and coyotes in the area, free roaming wasn’t an option, but keeping them inside wasn’t either. The result was Fort Mountain Cats, a freestanding catio system connected by a tunnel from Dave’s kitchen window, designed for durability, safety, and year-round adventure.
Dimensions & Structure
Measuring 8 ft wide, 5 ft deep, and 8 ft tall, this custom catio connects to the home through an 8 foot tunnel. The tunnel opens into a spacious multi-level enclosure built directly off the house, providing shade, climbing zones, and lounging areas. The tunnel itself is open to the sky, giving the cats a sunny spot to stretch out or stargaze, while the main structure features a slanted metal roof for protection during storms.
Design & Materials
Built from sealed pressure-treated lumber, the catio showcases contrasting light and dark wood tones for a subtle two-tone effect that blends naturally with the forest surroundings. The 1×1 black PVC-coated critter fencing allows mountain air to flow freely without obstructing the view. A brown ribbed steel roof tops the main enclosure, complementing the wooded aesthetic while ensuring long-term weather resistance.
Design Highlights
- Freestanding structure with no attachment to the home
- Multi-level interior with shelves, ramps, and cubbies for active cats
- Open-air tunnel for sunbathing
- Durable materials built to withstand mountain weather and wildlife
- Custom “Fort Mountain Cats” logo featuring the three cats’ faces, a playful, personal finishing touch
Catio #3: The FurFort
A crisp black-on-natural statement that extends a black-brick home with a vertical playground for three cats.
Design Story
Karen’s Orlando home features striking black brick and clean lines. She wanted a catio that matched that aesthetic—painted black framing—while introducing a two-tone contrast with lighter, sealed pressure-treated lumber. Built off a window and adjacent to a stone patio (20″x20″ pavers), The FurFort balances style and function so the whole family—humans included—can enjoy the space together.
Dimensions & Structure
Planned at 8 ft x 10 ft with an elevated deck-style base for security and easy install. The layout emphasizes vertical movement—multiple levels, overhead bridge, and wall-to-wall ramps—so two energetic cats can sprint and climb, while the senior cat reaches upper perches without joint strain. A built-in bench lets Karen and her husband relax beside them.
Design & Materials
Black-painted framing pairs with natural PT lumber accents for a refined, two-tone look. The enclosure uses black PVC-coated mesh for visibility and airflow. Overhead, a two-layer roof—wood underlayment plus corrugated metal, both painted black—adds durability and sun/weather protection while staying visually seamless with the home.
Design Highlights
- Window-connected access; clean integration with patio setting
- Real tree branch for climbing and scratching
- Cubbies for tight hiding spots and naps
- Overhead bridge linking top levels
- Ramps tailored for a senior cat’s comfort
The Art of Custom Catios
Each of these September builds tells the same story in a different language, the story of how thoughtful design can bring harmony between architecture, nature, and the animals we love.
At Cat Topia, every catio begins with purpose. Each structure is more than an enclosure, it’s a space that reflects the homeowner’s personality and the cat’s natural instincts. From Lisa’s sleek modern retreat in San Francisco, to Dave’s rustic mountain escape, to Karen’s bold black-on-natural statement in Orlando, these designs prove that form and function can coexist beautifully.
Every beam, panel, and perch was built with intention, crafted to last, designed to inspire, and tailored to enrich daily life for both human and feline. Safety meets style. Architecture meets instinct.
Because great design doesn’t just look good, it changes the way we live.