What Not To Do When You Build A Catio

Catios are nice for kitty to have for some outside time but if you don't want your cats to go out in the rain, think it through before you build. 

When the catio framework was first finished, I instantly learned of its considerable faults. We had put down a tarp for a floor over the dirt. And we put an old carpet on top of that. Soon it rained and part of the "floor" had water seepage beneath. It quickly became muddy in that corner. Yes, the carpet got wet. There were other problems I had to fix, too. So, it was clear to me, the catio was not finished as I had thought. I couldn't hold the contractor responsible because I hadn't thought of this and other problems that needed further work.  I hope you will learn from my mistake and not do what I did. Think it through. 

Maine Coon Kitten Nursing on Blanket

This was my beloved Shadow, who was separated from his mama before he was five weeks old. He hadn't reached maturity yet in this video. He was about eleven months of age. My friend called him an "armpit cat", meaning whenever I laid down to sleep, he would snuggle up to me right in my armpit. He never lost his need to suckle and loved his blankets! I loved this cat so much! But, you can tell, I'm sure, by the way I am writing about him in the past tense, you understand that Shadow is no longer with me. He had a gastrointestinal obstruction, a bowel disease. After several visits to the vet over many months, Shadow made no improvement. Surgery was suggested, but at the cost of several thousand dollars almost as much as my yearly income at the time (2011). I couldn't just let him suffer until the end came. Though it broke my heart, I had him peacefully put to sleep.