How to Get Your Cat Used to Their New Catio
You've set up the catio, stood back to admire it, carried your cat outside - and watched them refuse to go anywhere near it. Sound familiar?
This is completely normal. Cats are territorial and cautious by nature, and a new structure in their environment - particularly one that involves going outside, possibly for the first time - takes some getting used to. The good news is that with a bit of patience and the right approach, most cats are using their catio happily within a week or two.
Why Some Cats Take Time to Adjust
Indoor-only cats, or cats who haven't spent much time outdoors, often find the outside world initially overwhelming. There's more noise, more smell, more movement than they're used to. A catio introduces all of that at once, and for a cautious cat, that can be a lot to process.
Even cats who previously free roamed may be uncertain about a new enclosed structure - it looks different, smells of new materials, and isn't yet associated with anything pleasant in their experience. Give them time and don't force anything.
The Gradual Introduction Method
The most reliable approach is a slow, positive introduction over one to two weeks. Here's how it typically works:
1. Leave the catio door open so your cat can investigate it in their own time. Don't carry them in - let them approach voluntarily
2. Place something familiar just inside the entrance: a piece of bedding with their scent on it, or a favourite toy
3. Sit near the catio yourself. Your presence signals to your cat that the space is safe
4. When they start sniffing around the entrance, offer a treat or a small amount of their favourite food just inside the door
5. Gradually move treats and food further into the catio over several sessions
6. Once they're moving in and out freely, you can begin closing the door for short periods while you're present
7. Build up the time they spend in the catio gradually before leaving them unsupervised
What to Put in the Catio to Make It Inviting
A bare catio is less appealing to a cat than one that feels like a proper space. Adding a few key things makes a significant difference:
• A raised shelf or platform - cats feel more secure when they can observe from height
• A piece of familiar bedding or an item that smells of home
• A scratch post or pad
• A water bowl
• Some form of shelter from direct sun or rain if the catio doesn't have a solid roof section
Safe Plants for Catios
Adding plants to or around your catio can make the space much more stimulating. Cat-safe plants include catnip (an obvious winner), cat grass, valerian, silver vine, and lavender - though responses vary by individual cat.
Plants to avoid include foxglove, lily of any variety, daffodil, azalea, and anything in the allium family (onion, garlic, chives). If you're unsure about a specific plant, the Cats Protection website has a useful guide.
Signs Your Cat Is Happy in Their Catio
• They approach and enter voluntarily
• They sit or lie down rather than pacing
• They groom themselves inside the catio
• They show interest in the outside environment - watching birds, sniffing the air
• They return to the catio on subsequent days without being coaxed
Signs to Slow Down
If your cat is consistently hiding, refusing food they'd normally eat enthusiastically, vocalising in distress, or showing signs of stress (ears flattened, tail low, excessive grooming), slow the process right down. Go back to leaving the door open and letting them approach in their own time.
Most cats come around with patience. The ones who take longest are usually the most rewarding once they do - often becoming the cats who spend the most time happily in their catio.