This step by step woodworking project is about free catio plans. I have designed this catio for you to create a cozy shelter for your favorite pets. Your cats will enjoy the fresh air and they will bath in the sunlight, while being protected from the predators and from cars. You can adjust the size of the catio to suit your needs. See my other DIY projects HERE.
We recommend you to invest in the best materials you could afford. Therefore, you should buy weather-resistant lumber, such as pine or cedar. Always take accurate measurements before adjusting the size of the components at the proper size. Drill pilot holes trough the components before inserting the wood screws, to prevent the wood from splitting. See all my Premium Plans HERE.
Made from this plan
Catio – Free DIY Plans
Materials
- A – 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 72″ long, 2 pieces – 93″ long BASE
- B – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 96″ long, 4 pieces – 85″ long, 6 pieces – 30″ long SIDE WALL
- C – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 69″ long, 4 pieces – 85″ long, 4 pieces – 19 1/2″ long, 1 piece of 2×4 lumber – 24″ long FRONT WALL
- D – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 96″ long, 1 pieces – 91 1/2″ long SIDE WALL
- E – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 69″ long, 3 pieces – 85″ long, 4 pieces – 32 1/4″ long BACK WALL
- F – 7 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 72 1/2″ long RAFTERS
- G – 2 pieces of polycarbonate – 48″x72″ long ROOFING
- H – 2 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 73 1/4″ long, 1 piece – 96″ long TRIMS
- I – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 69″ long, 2 pieces – 24″ long, 1 piece – 21″ long, 8 pieces – 8 3/4″ long DOOR
- 4 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 8′
- 34 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8′
- 3 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 8′
- 2 pieces of polycarbonate – 48″x72″
- latch, hinges
- 200 pieces of 2 1/2″ screws
- 20 pieces of 3 1/2″ screws
- stain, wood filler, wood glue
- harware cloth
Tools
- Safety gloves, glasses
- Miter saw, jigsaw
- Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
- Drill machinery and drill bits
Time
- One Weekend
How to build a 6×8 catio
The first step of the project is to assemble the base for the catio. Use 2×4 pressure treated lumber and assemble the base, as shown in the diagram. Drill pilot holes and insert 3 1/2″ screws to lock them together tightly. Make sure the corners are square and align the edges flush.
Use 2×2 lumber for the wall frames. Cut all the components as shown in the diagram and in the cut list. Drill pilot holes and insert 2 1/2″ screws to assemble everything together tightly. Make sure the corners are square and the edges flush.
Frame the front wall, as shown in the plans. Leave an opening for a door. Use 2×4 lumber for the header.
Frame the side wall, as shown in the diagram. Use the same techniques described above.
Assemble the other side wall frame.
After assembling the 4 wall frames, you need to assemble everything together. Lay the wall frames to the base and align the edges flush. Drill pilot holes through the bottom plates and insert 3 1/2″ screws into the base. In addition, lock the adjacent wall together tightly with screws. Plumb the walls plumb.
Use 2×2 lumber for the rafters. Use a saw to make the cuts, as shown in the plans.
Place the rafters every 16″ on center and align the edges. Drill pilot holes and insert 3 1/2″ screws to lock the rafters into place tightly.
Use polycarbonate sheets for the catio roof. Leave no gaps between the sheets so the roof is waterproof.
Use 2×2 lumber for the door frame. Cut all the components as shown in the diagram. Make 45 degree cuts at both ends of the braces. Drill pilot holes and use 3 1/2″ screws for the joints.
Fit the door to the front of the catio. Align the edges flush and attach the hinges to secure the door to the frame of the catio. Install a latch to keep the door locked. This door is ideal, because you have access to the interior of the catio to clean it.
Use 1×4 lumber for the roof trims. Use a miter saw and make the angle cuts to the trims.
Fit the trims to the top of the catio and align the edges flush. Insert 2 1/2″ screws to secure the trims into place tightly.
Last but not least, you need to take care of the finishing touches. Apply a few coats of paint / stain over the components to protect them from decay and to enhance the look of the catio. Take a look over my window catio plans HERE.
See all my cat plans HERE. If you like my project, don’t forget to SHARE it on Facebook and Pinterest. You can easily add shelves to the interior of the catio, so the pets can climb and have fun.
If you want to download the plans. just click on the GET PDF PLANS button bellow.
Thank you for reading our project about free catio plans and I recommend you to check out the rest of the projects. Don’t forget to LIKE and SHARE our projects with your friends, by using the social media widgets. SUBSCRIBE to be the first that gets our latest projects.
Hi! Wondering what and how much you used to cover the walls? I don’t see that included in the plans. Thanks for this! Hoping to build it this weekend for our cat.
Hardware cloth
Thank you for plans! I was looking through instructions for when and how to apply hardware cloth. How to overlap joins? What type of fasteners (staples?) to attach hardware cloth to framing? How to cover wedge/gap between sidewalks and roof? Also, does this type of build trend to require a building permit?
Hardware cloth is typically sold in rolls either 24″ or 36″ tall. I would edit the plans in this posting so that you have the joists to match one of those two heights, then you don’t need to overlap the hardware cloth. Typically 24″ on center (for the 24″ hardware cloth) or 18″ on center for the 36″ cloth. Use staples or screws (with washers) to secure the cloth to your framework. I was planning to build my framework with 2×2’s but then double it up so the hardware cloth would be secured between the two sets of framing (essentially it would finish up as 2×4 framing with hardware cloth sandwiched in the middle).
Has anyone built this that I can see pictures?
To make this taller (my windows are very high up). Would the only adjustment I need to make be to get longer cuts for the vertical walls?
Yes