Skip to content

The Skyview Cat Chalet | Recent Catio Build in Wellington, Colorado

View More Projects Across Colorado
View More Projects Across Wellington

📍Location📍

Wellington, CO

Get a Free Quote Today

Project Overview

This freestanding catio in Wellington, CO was built just outside the living room window—where the cats already loved to relax and sunbathe. Designed for three cats, including two active cats and one senior, the space needed to balance energy, comfort, and accessibility.

To avoid attaching anything to the home, the structure was built on a stable deck base, creating a secure, fully independent enclosure with room for essentials like litter boxes. Finished with premium cedar lumber, the result is a warm, durable catio that blends seamlessly with the home while providing a safe, enriching outdoor space tailored to the cats’ needs.

Full front view of a handcrafted outdoor catio with multiple platforms, a central tree trunk, enclosed walls, and a secure entry door.

Design Approach

  • Took advantage of the open layout to create a straightforward, efficient build process
  • Prioritized placement outside the living room window to maximize natural light and daily use
  • Designed for a mix of activity levels, ensuring both energetic play and easy accessibility for a senior cat
  • Kept the layout simple and practical, balancing enrichment space with everyday functionality

Key Design Features

  • Freestanding structural design allowing the catio to remain fully independent without attaching to the home
  • Reinforced deck base foundation providing long-term stability and support for the structure
  • Full-size human access door for easy entry, cleaning, and ongoing maintenance
  • Extended roof over entry offering added protection from the elements at the access point
  • Clear polycarbonate roofing maximizing natural sunlight while maintaining weather protection
Interior view of a catio showing wooden steps, climbing shelves, a vertical tree trunk, a litter box enclosure, and window access to the house.

Dimensions & Layout

Main Catio Size: 10 Ft Wide x 5 Ft Deep x 9 Ft Tall

Cat Access Point: Direct entry from the living room window

Human Access Point: Full-size door for easy cleaning and maintenance

Catio Gallery

Full front view of a handcrafted outdoor catio with multiple platforms, a central tree trunk, enclosed walls, and a secure entry door.
Custom wooden catio attached to a brick house featuring multiple elevated platforms, ramps, and a transparent roof panel, enclosed with wire mesh and positioned over a mulched backyard area.
Side angle of a wooden catio showing mesh enclosure, interior ramps, shelves, and connection to a house window for cat access.
Interior view of a catio showing wooden steps, climbing shelves, a vertical tree trunk, a litter box enclosure, and window access to the house.

Materials Used

Lumber: Cedar

Why Cedar?

  • Naturally rot-resistant and built to handle outdoor conditions
  • Strong yet lightweight—ideal for freestanding structures
  • Pet-safe with no harsh chemical treatments
  • Holds up well over time with minimal maintenance
  • Resists warping and cracking better than many wood options
Side angle of a wooden catio showing mesh enclosure, interior ramps, shelves, and connection to a house window for cat access.

Roofing: Clear Polycarbonate

  • Installed to allow natural sunlight to enter the catio, creating a bright and open environment
  • Filters out harmful UV rays while still providing safe, comfortable sun exposure for the cats
  • Protects against rain and outdoor elements without darkening the space
  • Durable and weather-resistant, designed for long-term outdoor use with minimal maintenance
Interior view of a catio showing wooden steps, climbing shelves, a vertical tree trunk, a litter box enclosure, and window access to the house.

Fencing: 1×1 Black Critterfencing

  • Material: Galvanized steel core with protective black PVC coating
  • Mesh Size: 1×1 inch square openings

Why This Fencing?

  • Keeps cats securely enclosed 
  • Provides strong structural protection while maintaining open sightlines 
  • Durable and weather-resistant, ideal for year-round outdoor exposure
  • Black coating reduces visual obstruction, allowing the structure to blend naturally into the landscape
  • Rust-resistant finish ensures long-term performance with minimal maintenance
Custom wooden catio attached to a brick house featuring multiple elevated platforms, ramps, and a transparent roof panel, enclosed with wire mesh and positioned over a mulched backyard area.

Interior Features & Enrichment

  • Climbing Shelves
    Cedar shelves installed at varied heights create a multi-level environment where cats can climb, perch, and observe from different vantage points. The staggered layout encourages natural movement and exploration.
  • Ramps
    Strategically placed ramps connect each level, allowing for smooth transitions between heights and making the vertical space accessible for all cats.
  • Natural Cedar Cat Tree
    A built-in cedar cat tree provides a dedicated area for climbing, scratching, and play while blending seamlessly with the structure.
  • Cat Cubbies (x2)
    Two enclosed cubbies offer cozy, sheltered spaces for resting and retreating while still being outdoors.
  • Cat Bubble Domes (x2)
    Two bubble domes give cats a unique vantage point to observe their surroundings from a secure, enclosed perch.
  • Outdoor Litter Box Area
    A designated space for litter boxes keeps essentials organized while maintaining a clean and functional layout.

Feature Purpose & Pet Personality Fit

This catio was designed for a household with two young, active cats and one senior cat, requiring a balance between energy, accessibility, and comfort. The goal was to create a vertical playground that supports both high activity and easy movement throughout the space.

  • Accessible vertical design allows the senior cat to move comfortably between levels using ramps, making it possible to reach higher areas without jumping
  • Spaced shelving layout gives the more active cats the freedom to jump, climb, and move dynamically throughout the enclosure
  • Cedar scratching post and climbing elements provide an outlet for natural behaviors like scratching and climbing, especially for more playful cats
  • Open, shared space ensures all three cats can be outside at the same time, with enough room to lounge, explore, and enjoy the sun together

Get Inspired: Start Your Own Catio Project