Register today for the 13th Annual Catio Tour: September 6, 2025
The Catio Tour is a self-guided tour of catios, hosted by Feral Cat Coalition and Bird Alliance of Oregon. This year will feature stops in Lake Oswego, and SE Portland / Milwaukie. You’ll see a variety of catios, chat with the people who built them, and meet the cats who enjoy them (feline attitude permitting)! "What's a Catio", you say? It's an excellent trend that's catching on, as it allows your indoor kitty access to the sights, sounds and fresh air of the outdoors without the threat of coyotes, loose dogs, traffic, or people who might steal or terrorize your cat. Catios can also prevent fights with other cats, which may injure them or pass along a contagious disease that can cause big vet bills. It also has the excellent benefit of making sure that your cat isn't responsible for killing some of the 2-4 billion birds and 7-20 billion small mammals that are killed by cats in the U.S. alone every year. It certainly is hard to consistently see multiple heartbroken pleas on Next Door to help people find their beloved lost kitties.
Many creative people have built structures, screened in their porches, or created access through the windows to smaller cages or walkways that the cat can use to safely hang out outdoors. Some are simple, some are elaborate, and the Catio Tour is a great way to see a range of clever ideas. This might inspire you to build one yourself, to provide environmental enrichment for your kitties, while avoiding danger. Go check them out!! | 
