This post is in collaboration with Omlet, who provided their product at a discount in exchange for my honest review and experience using their product.
Surprise! We bought a house. In March, my husband and I moved into this builder-grade home that I'd like to take from beige to British. The Omlet catio is the first project for our new house and it seems only fitting that it's for our cat, Luna.
We used a kit from Omlet and put our own DIY spin on it as well (more on that later). And as a bonus, it's made the perfect outdoor covered patio for all of us too. Here’s my review of the pros and cons of the Omlet catio and why it’s the best thing I’ve ever built for my indoor cat.
Why We Needed a Catio
As a cat guardian, you’re likely familiar with the delicate balance between safety and enrichment. There’s also a constant debate about indoor vs outdoor cats. It’s a very common argument that we are keeping our cats and environment safe by keeping them, but it’s hard not to feel a little guilty when they stare longingly out the window.
Once Luna discovered the backyard at our rental house, she started to love the outdoors. And while we’ve tried other forms of outdoor enrichment—like harness training, strollers, and playpens—as well as indoor activities like puzzle toys and bringing outdoor scents inside, it wasn't the same for Luna as basking in the backyard sun. She would cry constantly at the back door and I couldn’t always supervise her.
Luna is bored easily, even when I’m working from home. So when we moved into our new home, I wanted to give her a safe way to experience nature without having to supervise.
And spoilder alert, building a catio with a cat door was definitely the right answer. It allowed me to create a dedicated sensory sanctuary where she can safely engage her wild instincts, feel the fresh breeze, and enjoy backyard entertainment without harming the wildlife. It turns out, you really can give an indoor cat the best of both worlds.
Customizing our Catio
Omlet’s catios are customizable, starting at a 6’ x 6’ x 3’ 9" catio all the way up to 9’ x 24’ x 6’ 8”. After measuring our existing slab on the back patio, which was roughly 9’x 9’, we chose the same size kit.
Surveying the Area
When examining the spot we wanted the catio to go on the back patio, we realized we have a hose bib on the left that we wanted to keep outside the catio and we also wanted to use the window next to the door for Luna to access the catio anytime, meaning we needed to move it off the existing pad about 2 ft. So before we could even begin to build it, we had to lay the groundwork — literally.
To move it off the existing slab, we needed to cap a sprinkler head and level the ground out to add pavers for a flat surface to build on. Depending on where you want to place the catio, you may not have to do this sort of prep work.
We didn’t necessarily need to put our catio on the concrete. It can also be placed in the grass as it has a metal skirt that prevents digging and can be staked down. Additionally, Omlet has kits to add tunnel access to the catio from a window. However, we wanted it to come off the house and act more like a covered patio.
Unboxing
For a catio of this size, we had 15 different boxes delivered to our door. The packaging was all labeled but it still took some organizing and lots of double checking the manual to make sense of it all.
Tools & Materials Needed
- Mighty A Clips (included)
- C Clips (included)
- E Clips (included)
- Zip ties (included)
- Screws (included)
- #2 Phillips Screwdriver(not included)
Total Build Time: Approx. 6 hours
In all honesty, this build was mostly tool free. It’s really a simple construction, held together by cleverly engineered plastic clips. My husband said it was “the biggest Lego build he’s ever done”.
The Build Process
Once we had everything organized and the additional pavers, we could finally move on to building the catio.
The kit was relatively easy to assemble but definitely a two person job. It took us roughly six hours to complete over the course of the weekend.
Some of the labels were confusing, such as the Mighty Clip A, which wasn’t labeled as such. There was also the fact that there were two different types of roof panels, which was not mentioned in the instructions.
Speaking of instructions, it was unclear which side the poles were supposed to be on at first so we installed them on the wrong side the first time. My recommendation to the Omlet team after building it was that it should be packaged and the instructions written from the ground up, because that’s how you build it.
Even with the slight confusion, once my husband and I understood how it all clipped together, it went relatively smoothly. I was even able to clip on the roof and hang the door by myself.
With the frame built, we secured the roof cover on with the bungie straps. For extra security for our specific build, there was one final step. We needed to screw the exposed frame into the brick with some U-brackets for stability so that the frame would sit flush against the brick.
Speaking of stability, it does have poles that go in the center of the structure that Omlet recommends adding for extra stability, but unless it snows here — which is very rare — we decided not to add them as they would make it harder to move around in the space. And since we had the additional support of the Freestyle Outdoor Cat Tree for vertical support, the structure feels very solid and has weathered several storms this summer already.
Our Custom DIY Tweaks
In addition to taking off a side of the catio and attaching it to the brick, we also zip tied bug netting on all sides to make the catio relatively bug free.
Then we installed a cat door in the window from Omlet so Luna can go out at her leisure. This way it’s more convenient for us and gives her more freedom to choose when and what she is comfortable with. She loves it and is constantly outdoors now, even when it rains.
Furnishing the Catio
The catio was just big enough for us to fit two wicker patio chairs as well as a small table and Luna’s Omlet Outdoor Freestyle Cat Tree. The cat tree makes it easier for her to get in and out of the door flap and a great vantage point for birdwatching. However, she honestly uses the patio chair cushions the most for both lounging and as shade protection as she sleeps the day away on the concrete.
Pros & Cons at a Glance
I personally found that there were more pros than cons. And that many of the cons apply to most catio set-ups.
Pros
- More durable and weather-resistant than wood (long-term savings)
- Mostly tool-free, simple construction
- Modular and expandable
- Provides a secure outdoor environment
- May reduce boredom and behavioral issues
Cons
- High upfront cost
- Labor-intensive two-person assembly
- Instructions confusing at first
- Requires DIY for attaching to house (without tunnels)
- No bug protection
Is the Omlet Catio Worth the Price?
Our 9’ x 9’ x 6’ 8” Omlet Catio kit plus the Omlet Freestyle Outdoor Cat Tree cost us roughly $3,000 at the time of writing this post. The Omlet Catio is definitely an investment, but it is worth the investment for us for several reasons.
Compared to building a catio from scratch out of wood and wire, the Omlet system won't rot or deteriorate over time, saving money in the long run. Plus, because it’s modular and easy to assemble and disassemble, it can easily expand or move with us if we ever sell our house.
I highly recommend the Omlet Catio as an easy to assemble catio for homeowners.
Renters don’t fret however, there's a renter-friendly balcony version as well.
SHOP THE BALCONY CAT ENCLOSURE
Who is This For & Where to Buy
The Omlet Catio is a versatile kit that in my opinion will work for most cat ages and sizes, although I would supervise young kittens due to their size.
If you have a hairless cat or a light colored cat and live in a hot, sunny area like I do, it’s best to monitor their time outdoors to avoid sunburn risk and I highly recommend adding the Heavy Duty Catio Cat Run Cover.
The sizing and construction of the kit makes it great for most weather types, from yards and gardens to, in our case, a concrete slab.
The Omlet Catio is sold worldwide on their website. To build your custom catio kit click the link below:
The Finished Catio
Reconnect Your Cat with Nature
Overall, the Omlet Catio has been a worthwhile addition to our new home. It has significantly improved Luna's quality of life by giving her a safe space to enjoy the outdoors, while providing us with much-needed peace of mind.
Although the initial assembly was a bit of a challenge and the price is an investment, the long-term durability and the incredible enrichment benefits make it easy to recommend. If you’re looking to safely give your cat outdoor enrichment, this catio is a fantastic solution that truly offers the best of both worlds.
