In an effort to provide their rescue cats with a safe outdoor space, the Randolph Regional Animal Shelter enlisted the help of a local Eagle Scout. He converted one of the shelter's large dog runs into a secure, escape-proof "catio" — a sturdy cat patio with a secure roof, walls and a door to the inside — outfitted with special accessories and climbing structures.
Sunny Nowell, the shelter's manager, hoped it would help reduce stress and offer enrichment with new sights, sounds and smells. And now two years after it was built, she can see the impact it has made.
"When I come in the mornings, I can see the cats relaxing or laying out in the sun," she said. "They have access to let themselves out 24/7, and we've seen the stress level come down because there's no more pacing or unwanted behaviors. It just gives them a new space to relax and have some stimulation."
Catios, which are essentially real estate additions for pets, can be anything from small, simple structures to extravagant builds with tunnels and jumping platforms. They aren't anything new: functional outdoor cat enclosures have been built since the 1980s, and the term "catio" was first coined in a 2003 New York Times article referencing custom enclosures by Habitat Haven.
But they have drastically surged in popularity over the last several years. The industry was worth an estimated $325 million in 2024, and is expected to double by 2033.
This is due to rising awareness among pet owners and rescuers that allowing cats safe access to the outdoors provides them with several health benefits, including less stress and more mental enrichment, while protecting them from outside dangers.
Plus, more people are choosing to invest in pampering their pets. The American Pet Products Association found that pet owners spent a record $158 billion on their pets in 2025, and that number is projected to reach $165 billion in 2026.
John Spatafora, owner of 2 Brothers Catios alongside his brother Sal, is one of the few dedicated catio builders in the nation. Based in Orange County, New York, John started the business to help support his non-profit charity, Save-A-Dog Animal Protection Service, that helps rescue animals and recover missing pets.
He said after years of getting calls about cats who wandered away after their owners let them outside, he decided he would help do something about it.
"At the time, I was a handyman. And an older woman called me and said, 'I have a catio. Can you come over and fix it?' I'd never seen one in person, so I went over and saw what it was. She told me a contractor charged her $5,000 to build it, and it was horrible. So I told her I would knock it down and build a new one free of charge," he said. "I built it and posted it online, and it exploded. I got order after order, and I realized I could do this for every single pet. So we don't just build catios; we build chicken coops, snake pits and for pretty much any animal that you have or rescued."
When he started about seven years ago, he found that catios were mostly built by carpenters for their own cats. They were simple structures mounted to the house with wire or mesh stapled to the outside.
Today, Spatafora's catios are a bit more customizable. He offers pre-selected or custom sizing, exteriors that match the outside of your home and pet grass to mimic the feeling of real grass. Their catios are also standalone, either built on-site or built off-site and delivered, so they can easily be moved if needed.
He said he'll always work within someone's budget, regardless of what it is, because it's more about helping the animal than the money. He believes every cat owner, shelter and boarding kennel should have one.
In addition to custom-made catios from builders like Spatafora, you can buy pre-built catios online from places like Home Depot, Tractor Supply and more. Or you can DIY it, either via your own imagination or by purchasing a pre-designed blueprint.
"You will see a whole different side of your cat. When your cat knows they have a little bit of freedom, and there's trust both ways, you'll see a whole new personality from your cats," he said.
Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Real estate for pets? Catios give your cat a safe space outdoors