The Skyline Sanctuary | Recent Catio Build in Hillsborough, North Carolina
📍Location📍
Hillsborough, NC
Project Overview
This custom house-attached catio was designed for a home in an area frequented by wildlife such as coyotes and foxes, requiring enhanced safety without sacrificing aesthetics. Built at an impressive 12 feet tall—significantly higher than standard enclosures—the structure provides expansive vertical enrichment and clear sightlines for the cats. Crafted from pressure-treated lumber and enclosed with 1″x1″ black PVC-coated welded wire, the catio ensures long-lasting durability and dependable protection.
To seamlessly blend with the home, the catio was painted to match the exterior and positioned starting from the left window, with the option to extend to the edge of the house or slightly past the fence. Inside, the space features a combination of shelves, ramps, cat bridges, bubble domes, and two custom cubbies, along with a natural cedar “tree-style” scratch post. A human access door provides easy entry for cleaning and maintenance. The result is a secure, functional, and visually integrated outdoor environment designed to enhance feline enrichment while complementing the home’s architecture.
Project Goals
- Create a secure outdoor enclosure suitable for a property visited by local wildlife, including coyotes and foxes
- Maximize vertical enrichment with a tall 12-ft structure featuring shelves, ramps, bridges, and cubbies
- Blend the catio with the home’s exterior by matching paint colors and utilizing a clean, cohesive design
- Provide multiple vantage points, bubble domes, and natural elements for varied sensory and climbing experiences
- Build a durable, long-lasting structure using pressure-treated lumber, welded wire, and a classic ribbed metal roof
- Ensure easy access for maintenance with a dedicated human entry door
Design Challenges
- Working with the home’s existing layout:
- Attaching the catio directly to the left window while allowing optional extension toward the fence
- Maintaining clean sightlines from the home’s exterior and matching the house paint for cohesive aesthetics
- Ensuring structural integrity for a tall enclosure:
- Supporting a 12-foot height—a larger vertical span than typical catios
- Securing shelves, ramps, bridges, and bubble domes at multiple elevations
- Prioritizing safety in a wildlife-active area:
- Using 1″x1″ black PVC-coated welded wire for enhanced protection against coyotes and foxes
- Creating a fully enclosed system with a human access door while maintaining cat comfort
- Incorporating enrichment features without overcrowding the footprint:
- Integrating three cat bridges, two bubble domes, and two cubbies within a compact 10×6 layout
- Positioning a natural cedar “tree-style” scratch post to maximize interior flow
Key Design Features
- 12-foot-tall custom catio providing exceptional vertical enrichment and open climbing pathways
- Pressure-treated lumber framing for durability and long-term resistance to moisture and weather
- 1″x1″ black PVC-coated fencing chosen specifically for increased predator resistance
- Classic ribbed metal roofing to protect cats from the elements while tying into the home’s architecture
- Painted exterior to perfectly match the house color for seamless visual integration
- Interior shelving and ramp system offering multiple perch levels and continuous movement opportunities
- Two enclosed cat cubbies for cozy retreats and elevated hideaways
- Three custom cat bridges creating elevated runways throughout the structure
- Two bubble domes allowing safe, elevated outdoor viewing from inside the enclosure
- Natural cedar scratch post bringing natural texture and climbing enrichment
- Human access door for easy cleaning, maintenance, and emergency access
Enrichment Elements
- Interior shelves and ramps offering multiple climbing paths and elevated lounging spots
- Two cat cubbies providing cozy hideaways for resting and observing from secure nooks
- Three cat bridges that create overhead walkways and encourage natural feline exploration
- Two bubble domes giving panoramic outdoor views while keeping cats safely enclosed
- A natural cedar scratch post modeled like a tree, adding texture, scent, and vertical scratching enrichment
Catio Gallery
Build Specifications
This custom house-attached catio was designed for safety, durability, and year-round outdoor enrichment. Built with pressure-treated lumber and enclosed with 1″x1″ black PVC-coated welded wire for added predator protection, the structure provides a secure space for cats in an area with coyotes and foxes. The catio’s 12-foot height offers exceptional vertical room for climbing, perching, and bridge pathways, while a classic ribbed metal roof and color-matched paint ensure seamless visual integration with the home.
Dimensions & Layout
- Main Catio Structure: Approximately 10 feet wide × 6 feet deep × 12 feet tall.
The tall height expands vertical enrichment and allows multiple elevated elements such as bridges, ramps, and bubble domes. Built directly against the home starting from the left window, with the option to extend toward the edge of the house or slightly past the fence. A human-access door is included for cleaning and maintenance. - Roofing System: Classic ribbed steel metal roofing provides weather protection, structural longevity, and a clean finish that complements the home’s exterior.
- Material Construction:
- Framing: Pressure-treated lumber for long-term durability
- Enclosure: 1″x1″ black PVC-coated welded wire for enhanced strength and wildlife resistance
- Finish: Painted to match the home’s color for cohesive aesthetic integration
- Connection Points:
- Catio structure attaches directly to the home’s left window for easy indoor–outdoor access
- Layout designed to follow the home’s footprint while allowing slight extension beyond the fence line
- Integration of multiple elevated elements while preserving openness inside the 6-ft depth
Materials Used
Each material was selected for durability, safety, predator resistance, and seamless visual integration with the home’s exterior. The combination of treated lumber, welded-wire fencing, and a steel roof ensures long-term performance while supporting the catio’s tall 12-foot design.
Lumber: Pressure-Treated Pine
Why Pressure-Treated Lumber?
- Highly durable and weather-resistant, ideal for year-round exposure
- Moisture- and rot-resistant, helping the 12-foot structure remain stable over time
- Enhanced structural strength, allowing safe installation of bridges, ramps, shelves, and elevated domes
- Cost-effective and long-lasting, making it a smart choice for homeowners wanting a robust build
- Easily painted to match the home’s exterior for clean visual cohesion
Roofing: Classic Ribbed Steel Metal Roof
Why Metal Roofing?
- High durability and long lifespan, standing up to wind, rain, and seasonal weather
- Provides reliable shade and shelter, keeping cats dry and comfortable
- Low maintenance compared to shingle or polycarbonate options
- Clean, modern profile that ties into the home’s aesthetic
Fencing: 1"x1" Black PVC-Coated Welded Wire
Why This Fencing?
- Predator-resistant design chosen specifically due to the presence of coyotes and foxes
- PVC coating prevents rust and corrosion, extending the lifespan of the enclosure
- Small 1″x1″ grid openings offer maximum security while maintaining clear visibility
- Sleek black finish reduces visual impact and blends naturally with the home environment
Interior Features & Enrichment
This catio was designed to maximize vertical movement, sensory engagement, and cozy resting spaces—all within a tall 12-foot layout. Its interior features support climbing, perching, exploring, and observing the outdoors while keeping the cats safely enclosed in an area frequented by coyotes and foxes. The combination of bridges, bubble domes, cubbies, and shelves creates a dynamic environment that encourages active play and comfortable lounging.
Feature List
- Climbing Shelves & Ramps
Pressure-treated lumber shelves and ramps run throughout the catio’s height, giving cats multiple pathways to climb, leap, and perch. Their staggered placement takes full advantage of the 12-foot vertical space, encouraging natural feline movement and exploration.
- Cat Cubbies
Two built-in cubbies provide secluded resting spots where cats can hide, nap, or observe from a cozy enclosed nook. Elevated placement helps create a sense of security and allows for varied lounging experiences.
- Bubble Domes
Two bubble domes are integrated into the upper levels of the enclosure, offering panoramic outdoor views while keeping cats fully protected. These domes give curious cats a chance to safely survey the surrounding environment from elevated vantage points.
- Cat Bridges
Three custom cat bridges span across the interior to form elevated walkways. These bridges encourage cats to traverse the enclosure confidently at height, promoting agility and providing a fun alternative to floor-level movement.
- Natural Cedar Scratch Post
A handcrafted cedar “tree-style” scratch post, adds an organic element to the space. Its texture and vertical form give cats a satisfying outlet for scratching, stretching, and climbing.
Feature Purpose & Pet Personality Fit
This catio was tailored for a pair of energetic, height-loving cats known for climbing anything they could—including the top of the refrigerator. The design takes full advantage of the catio’s impressive 12-foot height, creating a vertical playground that satisfies their natural desire to scale, perch, and observe from above. Safety was equally important, given local wildlife such as coyotes and foxes, so each feature balances enrichment with secure containment.
- Tiered shelves, angled ramps, and elevated pathways were chosen specifically for cats who crave height and movement. The 12-foot structure gives them a place to climb freely without getting into household trouble—or onto appliances.
- Three cat bridges expand their territory upward, letting them cross the enclosure at different heights and enjoy satisfying aerial routes that mimic the high surfaces they seek indoors.
- Two bubble domes offer lookout points for curious, observant personalities. These domes give the cats a safe way to monitor the yard from above, fulfilling their instinct to watch the world from a high vantage point.
- Cozy cubbies provide retreat spaces when the cats need downtime after high-energy play. These enclosed areas help reduce overstimulation and create a sense of security.
- The natural cedar scratch post adds both texture and scent enrichment, giving the cats a grounding, sensory outlet that complements their love for vertical activity.
- Materials were selected for safety and comfort—from the PVC-coated welded wire that protects against predators to the pressure-treated framing and shaded metal roof that make the space durable, cool, and inviting year-round.