The catio
- Footprint
- 8' x 5'
- Floor
- 40 sq ft
- Height
- 80" to 87-1/2"
- Door
- 30" walk-in
| Kind | Lean-to catio |
|---|---|
| Door | 30" x 76" walk-in |
| Cats | up to 1 at 40 sq ft each |
| Roof | solid panel roof, falling 7-1/2" to the front |
| Inside | 3 shelves, 1 perches |
| Base | on a patio |
Free starting design · Lean-to catio
8' x 5' lean-to catio
40 sq ft for up to 1 cat, 80" to 87-1/2" tall
Kept in, kept out: 1 x 2 in welded wire screwed every 6 in, no gap over 1 in, the door on two latches. Roof under snow: solid panel roof and purlins checked at 30 psf. Not verified by the planner: wind uplift and anchorage.
10 of 10 planner checks green
Drawn by the designer from this planAs drawn, at 30 psf of snow
- Access
- 30" x 76" walk-in door
- Footprint
- 8x5 ft, up to 1 cat
- Inside
- 3 shelves, 1 perch
- Mesh
- 1 x 2 in welded wire, screwed every 6 in
- Roof
- solid panel roof, checked at 30 psf
- On the house
- 2x8 ledger into the framing, wood or fiber cement siding
About $1,054 in materials, before sales tax, delivery and tools.
Building it? The $29 builder's plan dimensions every stud, every cut and every roll of mesh. See sample sheets
Planner checks
10 planner checks passed at 30 psf of snow.
Each bar is what this design gives against the line we check it on: floor space per cat, shelves, height for climbing, and the roof purlins under 30 psf of snow. The open part of a bar is room this design does not use. Floor area per cat is one line we check, not a welfare assessment: shelves, raised resting places, access back indoors and how your cats get on matter as much.
what this design asks room to spare
Green meets the source or the default we checked against, amber asks you to confirm something on your wall, your site or the product before you buy, red is outside what a source accepts or what we draw. Planner checks don't replace your local building department or a look at your own wall.
OKMesh
- This plan
- 1 x 2 in welded wire, 16 gauge, galvanized
- Needed
- galvanized welded wire with openings of 2 in or less (1 x 2 in, 16 gauge or heavier), or 1/2 in hardware cloth. Note: Galvanized after welding lasts longer outdoors. With kittens, a small head fits through 1 x 2 in, so use 1/2 in hardware cloth. Recommended additional feature, not included in this plan.
OKGaps a cat can slip through
- This plan
- mesh screwed every 6", bottom plates fastened to the patio
- Needed
- no gap over 1 in anywhere (1/2 in with kittens): every mesh edge screwed down, cut wire ends covered, nothing open at the floor or on top, door and hatch closing tight. Note: On uneven paving, fill any gap under the bottom plate with a strip of treated wood or mortar.
Airlock recommended (ASV 2022)Walk-in door
- This plan
- 30" x 76" in the front wall, two latches, no airlock
- Needed
- a door or a cleaning hatch, latches that close tight; a double-door entry (airlock), as the shelter vets recommend. What to do: Double-door airlock. Recommended additional feature, not included in this plan. The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (2022) recommends a double-door entry on every enclosed outdoor space. Turn on the airlock and the plan draws a second door 36 in inside the first. Without it, open the door only with every cat accounted for: a cat waiting at the door slips out fast.
OKFloor space per cat
- This plan
- 40 sq ft for 1 cat, 40 each
- Needed
- 21.5 sq ft per cat (18 in shelter group housing, 11 at the least)
OKHeight to climb
- This plan
- 80" at the front, 87-1/2" at the house
- Needed
- 79 in (2 m) at the low side
OKShelves at different heights
- This plan
- 3 shelves and 1 perch
- Needed
- at least 2 (two, plus one for each cat after the first), and a hiding place per cat
OKShade and rain cover
- This plan
- panel roof over the whole catio
- Needed
- a solid part of the roof for shade and rain. Note: Clear polycarbonate lets light through: on a hot sunny site add shade cloth over it. Bring the cats in during extreme heat or cold.
Read thisLitter and water
- This plan
- none in the catio; the cats can go back indoors
- Needed
- 2 litter boxes for 1 cat; in the catio, a sheltered box unless the cats can go back indoors
Read thisPlants
- This plan
- no plants drawn
- Needed
- only plants on the ASPCA non-toxic list; never lilies
OKRoof purlins under snow
- This plan
- 2x6 purlins 19-1/2" apart; it uses 69% of the most this size may span at 30 psf, 138-9/16" (strength governs); our margin is 95% at most. This figure is the span check only: it does not cover lateral stability, wind uplift, connections or anchorage.
- Needed
- purlins that span 96" at 30 psf, using at most 95% of their limit
OKRoof panels
- This plan
- 1-1/2" of fall per foot, purlins 19-1/2" apart, rated 40 psf by the maker
- Needed
- at least 1-1/2 in of fall per foot, and a panel rating of 30 psf at the purlin spacing
OKTreated wood
- This plan
- treated bottom plates only; untreated studs; shelves, perches and ramps in cedar, never treated wood
- Needed
- treated bottom plates; shelves, ramps and perches in cedar, never treated wood
OKFraming spans
- Roof purlins under panels, 2x6it uses 69% of the most this size may span at 30 psf, 138-9/16" (strength governs); our margin is 95% at most. This figure is the span check only: it does not cover lateral stability, wind uplift, connections or anchorage.
Our span check
Every purlin and rafter stays within the span we check for its size and your snow load.
OKBedroom escape window
- This plan
- covers no bedroom window (as you told us)
- Needed
- never over a bedroom's emergency escape window. Note: A sleeping room's emergency escape window must stay clear to open fully, with a path out to the yard. If unsure, ask your building department.
Have it checkedFastened to the house
- This plan
- wood siding over framing; a 2x8 roof ledger and the side walls' end studs lag-screwed into the house framing
- Needed
- a pressure-treated 2x8 ledger bolted or lag-screwed into the house framing (never nails, never brick or stone veneer), flashed over the top. What to do: Find the studs or the rim joist behind the siding before you drill, never nails, and flash over the ledger so water runs past it. A builder or your building department can confirm the fastening for your wall.
Ask locallyPermit
- This plan
- attached to the house
- Needed
- your building department's answer
Specification
The 8x5 lean-to catio, part by part.
The frame and mesh
- Studs
- 2x4
- Purlins
- 2x6, 3
- Mesh
- 1 x 2 in welded wire
- Ties
- 6 H2.5A
| Lumber | 3 1x2, 1 2x8 PT, 2 1x6 cedar, 2 2x4 PT, 16 2x4, 3 2x6 |
|---|---|
| Mesh | 1 x 2 in welded wire, 16 gauge, galvanized, 156.8 sq ft from 3 rolls 36 in x 25 ft |
| Mesh fixing | 428 screws with washers, every 6 in |
| Roof panels | 5 polycarbonate panels, 5' 2-1/2" long |
| Hurricane ties | 6 H2.5A, both ends of every purlin |
| Shelves | The 1x6 cedar is planned on 8 and 12 ft boards: the Home Depot store we priced had no 16 ft cedar 1x6. |
Cost and time
What it takes to build.
Catio materials, before tax and delivery$1,053.83
- Hardware and fasteners$452.32
- Lumber and plywood$215.62
- Roofing$196.92
- Mesh$188.97
Shelf prices read at Home Depot, Hamilton Mill store, Oct 8, 2026; Home Depot, Hamilton Mill store, Oct 13, 2026; Lowe's, Atlanta-Edgewood store, Oct 8, 2026; Tractor Supply, Augusta, Kansas store, Oct 8, 2026; Home Depot, Bronx Terminal store, Sep 30, 2026; Amazon.com, shipped, Oct 10, 2026; Amazon.com, shipped, Oct 13, 2026. Before sales tax, delivery and tools.
Shelf prices read at Home Depot, Hamilton Mill store, Oct 8, 2026; Home Depot, Hamilton Mill store, Oct 13, 2026; Lowe's, Atlanta-Edgewood store, Oct 8, 2026; Tractor Supply, Augusta, Kansas store, Oct 8, 2026; Home Depot, Bronx Terminal store, Sep 30, 2026; Amazon.com, shipped, Oct 10, 2026 and Amazon.com, shipped, Oct 13, 2026, before tax and delivery. Every line of the materials list has a price. For the cats, buy separately (not in the materials sum): 1 hiding box (one per cat), a scratching post and a water bowl. The plan does not draw them; set them where the cats can reach them, the water under the solid roof.
Materials priced: $1,053.83 · every line priced · Labor if hired: $1,550 to $5,000 · Excluded: tax, delivery, permits, tools
- Per cat
- $1,053.83
- Per sq ft
- $26.35
- Build time
- 15.5 to 25 h
- two people with basic power tools, by our estimate (shopping, ground prep and painting not included)
- Labor if you hire it out
- $1,550 to $5,000
- Separate from the materials.
Lumber$215.62
| 3 boards | 1x2 furring strip, 8 ft1 in. x 2 in. x 8 ft. Furring Strip Board | $4.62 |
| 1 board | 2x8 pressure-treated (ground contact), 8 ft2 in. x 8 in. x 8 ft. #2 Prime Ground Contact Pressure-Treated Southern Yellow Pine Lumber | $12.88 |
| 1 board | 1x6 cedar board (S1S2E), 8 ft1 in. x 6 in. x 8 ft. S1S2E Cedar Board | $19.24 |
| 1 board | 1x6 cedar board (S1S2E), 12 ft1 in. x 6 in. x 12 ft. S1S2E Cedar Board | $28.86 |
| 1 board | 2x4 pressure-treated (ground contact), 8 ftWeatherShield 2 in. x 4 in. x 8 ft. #2 Prime Ground Contact Pressure-Treated Southern Yellow Pine Lumber | $4.88 |
| 1 board | 2x4 pressure-treated (ground contact), 10 ftWeatherShield 2 in. x 4 in. x 10 ft. #2 Prime Ground Contact Pressure-Treated Southern Yellow Pine Lumber | $8.38 |
| 6 boards | 2x4 framing lumber, 8 ft2 in. x 4 in. x 96 in. #2 Premium Grade KD-HT Stud | $25.50 |
| 6 boards | 2x4 framing lumber, 10 ft2 in. x 4 in. x 10 ft. #2 Grade SPF Dimensional Lumber | $44.16 |
| 2 boards | 2x4 framing lumber, 12 ft2 in. x 4 in. x 12 ft. #2 Premium Grade SPF Dimensional Lumber | $17.68 |
| 2 boards | 2x4 framing lumber, 16 ft2 in. x 4 in. x 16 ft. #2 Grade SPF Dimensional Lumber | $23.56 |
| 3 boards | 2x6 framing lumber, 8 ft2 in. x 6 in. x 8 ft. #2 Premium Grade SPF Dimensional Lumber | $25.86 |
Roofing$196.92
| 5 panels | Corrugated polycarbonate roof panels, 26" x 8 ftSuntuf 2.2 ft. x 8 ft. Corrugated Polycarbonate Roof Panel in Clear | $144.90 |
| 88 screws | Roofing screws for polycarbonate, 2 in, EPDM washerWoodtite 2 in. Hex-Head Wood Screw with EPDM washer (50-Pack) | $13.96 |
| 6 | Foam closure strips for the panel profile, 36 inSuntuf 36 in. Horizontal White Foam Roof Closure Strips (5-Pack) | $21.10 |
| 1 tube | 100% silicone sealant, polycarbonate-safeGE Supreme Silicone 10.1-oz Window and Door Clear Silicone Caulk | $13.48 |
| 1 | Z-flashing, galvanized, 10 ft, over the roof ledgerUnion Corrugating 2.0-in x 0.63-in x 120.0-in Galvanized steel Z Flashing | $3.48 |
Mesh$188.97
| 3 rolls | 1 x 2 in welded wire, 16 gauge, galvanized, 36" x 25 ft rollYARDGARD 25 ft. x 3 ft. 1 in. x 2 in. Mesh 16-Gauge Galvanized Cage Wire (sale, was $69.99) | $188.97 |
Hardware and fasteners$452.32
| 247 screws | Exterior screws, 3 in, for the framingEverbilt #9 x 3 in. Tan Star Torx Drive Flat Head Wood Deck Screw (900-Pack) | $24.88 |
| 2 | Strap hinges, 3 in, exteriorNational Hardware 3-in Zinc plated Strap Interior/Exterior Door Hinge 2-Pack | $4.78 |
| 2 | Two-step latches (safety gate hook with spring catch)Everbilt 2 in. Zinc-Plated Safety Gate Hook (spring-loaded catch: press the catch, then lift the hook) | $4.94 |
| 6 | Hurricane ties, Simpson H2.5A (ZMAX), every purlin endSimpson Strong-Tie H2.5A 18-Gauge ZMAX Galvanized Hurricane Tie | $5.88 |
| 60 nails | Hot-dip galvanized 8d common nails, 0.131 x 2-1/2 in, for the tiesGrip-Rite 2-1/2 in. x 10-1/4-Gauge 8-penny Exterior Galvanized Smooth Shank Common Nails 1 lb. Box | $8.55 |
| 15 | Concrete screws, 1/4 x 2-3/4 in, for the bottom platesTapcon 1/4 in. x 2-3/4 in. Hex-Washer-Head Concrete Anchors (75-Piece) | $29.97 |
| 15 | Hot-dip galvanized lag screws, 1/2 x 4 inEverbilt 1/2 in. x 4 in. Hex Galvanized Lag Screw (25-Pack) | $59.43 |
| 15 washers | Galvanized flat washers, 1/2 in, for the lag screwsEverbilt 1/2 in. Galvanized Flat Washer (50-Pack) | $22.45 |
| 12 | Shelf brackets, Simpson SBV, 9 x 11 in, galvanizedSimpson Strong-Tie SBV 9 in. X 11 in. 16-Gauge Galvanized Shelf Bracket | $125.76 |
| 48 screws | Simpson SDS connector screws, 1/4 x 2-1/2 in, brackets to the studsSimpson Strong-Tie 1/4 in. x 2-1/2 in. Strong-Drive SDS Heavy-Duty Connector Screw (25-Pack) | $26.48 |
| 44 screws | Stainless steel screws, #8 x 1/2 in, brackets to the shelf boards#8 x 1/2 in. Flat Head Phillips Self-Tapping Screws, 304 Stainless Steel, 100 Pack | $5.99 |
| 450 screws | Stainless steel screws, #10 x 1 in pan head, for the mesh#10 x 1 in. Pan Head Wood Screws, Phillips Drive, Stainless Steel 304 (18-8), 100 Pack | $48.60 |
| 450 washers | Stainless steel fender washers, 1/4 x 1-1/4 inSVLING 1/4 x 1-1/4 in. Fender Washers, 304 Stainless Steel, 50 Pack | $72.63 |
| 32 screws | Exterior deck screws, #8 x 1-5/8 in, door stopsDeck Plus #8 x 1-5/8-in Exterior Deck Screws, 147 per box | $11.98 |
$2,835 at the middle rate of $70 per worker hour times 40.5 worker hours. Our build estimate is 15.5 to 25 hours for a crew of 2, so a hired crew bills 31 to 50 worker hours. The range is the published hourly rates of $50 to $100: 31 worker hours at $50 to 50 at $100 (Fixr, Jan 31, 2025: $70 per hour; HomeAdvisor, Jun 19, 2026: $50 to $100 per hour). A sourced range for building the catio from plans, by a handyperson or carpenter, not a quote, kept apart from the materials. No published guide gives a labor price for building a custom catio from plans, so this is an hourly rate per worker times our build-hours estimate for a crew of two. A hired builder may work faster or slower than our estimate: ask for a written quote.
Prices differ by store and by week: type yours into the catio cost calculator to get your own total.
Free and paid, side by side
Design it free. Build it from the $29 plan.
Free
On this page and in the designer, no account
- This design in 3D, and every change you make to it
- Every planner check, with its rule and source
- Cost estimate
- About $1,054 in materials, line by line, on this page. See the estimate
- Summary PDF
- The design, its checks and its materials list on a few pages. A summary, not the build drawings.
$29 once
The drawings you build from, for the design you finish. About 24 to 30 Letter sheets, 27 for the 8x6 freestanding catio.
- Every wall framed, each stud dimensioned from the end of the plate
- The cut list, every cut assigned to a store board
- The mesh cutting plan, every panel placed on a roll
- The roof, the door, the shelves and the details, drawn to scale
- The shopping list with store prices and the build, step by step
You check out in the designer, with this design loaded. If the plan has an error, we fix it or refund you within 30 days. Guarantee terms.
Real sheets from the 27-sheet sample plan for the 8x6 freestanding catio
The sample was printed on an earlier date, so its prices can differ from the estimate above. Your plan prints the same prices as the estimate.
Wall framing
Cutting plan
Mesh plan
Build steps
Build phases
From the first wall to the last shelf in 6 stages.
About 15.5 to 25 hours for two people with basic power tools, by our estimate (shopping, ground prep and painting not included). Each picture is this design at the end of its phase, drawn by the designer, with that phase's parts in full color.
Walls
Build each wall flat from the cut list, stand it up, lag the end studs into the house framing and check both diagonals.
Roof framing
Lag the roof ledger to the house and set the purlins on it and the side walls, a tie at both ends of every purlin; the roof falls to the front.
Mesh on the walls
Screw the mesh to every stud, plate and rail with stainless washers every 6 in, lapped onto the frame.
Roof
Lay the polycarbonate panels, pre-drill and screw on the ribs at every purlin.
Door
Build the door square with its brace to the hinge side, hang it on two hinges, fit two latches and the stops, then push-test it.
Shelves and comfort
Hang the cedar shelves on a bracket at every stud.
This is the summary. The $29 builder's plan breaks these phases into a build order with the new parts highlighted, a how-to detail and a check at each step.
The guide to building a catio walks through each stage in general terms.
Questions
Anything else? Write to us or read how the planner checks a design.
Questions about the 8x5 plan
40 sq ft fits 1 cat at the 21.5 sq ft per cat we use as our green line (Animal Welfare Victoria asks for 2 square meters, about 21.5 sq ft, per cat). More cats at once turns the space check amber.
Yes, when the house wall can take it: the roof ledger and the end studs are lag-screwed into the wall framing, never into vinyl or brick veneer alone, with flashing over the ledger. The model code's permit exemption for small structures covers detached buildings only, so ask your building department before you build one against the house, and keep it off any bedroom's emergency escape window.
A pressure-treated 2x8 ledger lag-screwed into the studs or the rim joist behind the siding carries the roof, flashed over the top like a deck ledger; the two side walls' end studs are lag-screwed to the wall as well. The plan marks every lag. A catio is not a deck: have a builder or your building department confirm the fastening for your wall.
1 x 2 in welded wire, 16 gauge, galvanized, screwed to the frame with washers every 6 in. Hardware cloth (1/2 in) is the stronger choice with kittens or where small predators roam. Chicken wire is red in our checks: it can hold a cat in but does not keep predators out.
This design's materials list comes to about $1,054, shelf prices read at Home Depot, Hamilton Mill store, Oct 8, 2026; Home Depot, Hamilton Mill store, Oct 13, 2026; Lowe's, Atlanta-Edgewood store, Oct 8, 2026; Tractor Supply, Augusta, Kansas store, Oct 8, 2026; Home Depot, Bronx Terminal store, Sep 30, 2026; Amazon.com, shipped, Oct 10, 2026; Amazon.com, shipped, Oct 13, 2026, before tax and delivery. Hiring the build out adds $1,550 to $5,000 in labor by our estimate of 15.5 to 25 hours for two people. Every line and its price is in the materials list on this page.
Kits we found listed on Google Shopping on Oct 14, 2026 ran from $124.99 to $1,699.00 before tax and shipping, and most of the cheap ones are steel or fabric on a smaller footprint. Building this design costs about $1,054 in materials, in 2x4 framing and welded wire you can resize to your wall and your cats.
Where it snows, a solid roof: this design has polycarbonate panels over the whole catio, on purlins checked for 30 psf. A mesh roof under snow is something we do not verify, so the designer marks it amber. With no snow, half panels and half mesh gives the cats sun and shade.
Ask your building department first. The model code's exemption for small structures covers detached buildings only, so a catio fastened to the house is their call; HOA rules and setbacks can apply too, and it must never cover a bedroom's emergency escape window.
Sizes to compare
One size up12' x 6' lean-to catio
Lean-to catio, 72 sq ft for up to 3 cats
- Footprint
- 12x6 ft
- Height
- 80"
- Door
- 30" walk-in
Materials about $1,276
One size down6' x 4' lean-to catio
Lean-to catio, 24 sq ft for up to 1 cat
- Footprint
- 6x4 ft
- Height
- 80"
- Door
- 30" walk-in
Materials about $904
Freestanding instead6' x 6' freestanding catio
Freestanding catio, 36 sq ft for up to 1 cat
- Footprint
- 6x6 ft
- Height
- 80"
- Door
- 30" walk-in
Materials about $996
Your catio, your cats
Make the 8x5 yours.
Change the size, the roof, the door, the shelves and the number of cats. The space check, the mesh, the snow check and the materials list follow every change. Free, no account.
Customize this design, free- Designing
- Free
- Builder's plan
- $29 once
- Account
- Not needed
