My cats have a screened porch that functions as their catio. Euro watches squirrels from his elevated perch. Coco stalks bugs through the screen. Libra naps in a patch of sunlight that moves across the floor throughout the day. A catio gives your indoor Maine Coon everything they want from the outdoors — fresh air, sunshine, sounds, smells — without any of the risks.
Types of Catios
| Type | Cost | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window box | $100-$300 | Easy DIY | Apartments, small spaces |
| Screened porch conversion | $200-$1,000 | Moderate | Existing porch or deck |
| Freestanding outdoor enclosure | $500-$3,000 | Moderate to Hard | Yards, custom builds |
| Tunnel system (window to yard) | $300-$1,500 | Hard | Houses with yard access |
| Professional custom build | $2,000-$10,000+ | Hired out | Permanent, large installations |
Catio Essentials for Maine Coons
🌿 What Your Catio Needs
- Size: Bigger than you think — Maine Coons are large cats who need room to move
- Vertical space: Shelves, perches, and climbing structures at multiple heights
- Shade: Cats overheat quickly in direct sun; provide covered areas
- Weather protection: Roof or partial covering for rain
- Secure screening: Heavy-duty pet screen, not standard window screen
- Fresh water: Always available, especially in summer
- Cat grass or catnip plants: Safe plants for enrichment
- Winter option: Heated bed or pad if used year-round in cold climates
DIY Tips
The most common DIY catio is a screened porch conversion. If you have an existing porch or deck, adding pet-grade screening and securing all gaps is a weekend project. Use hardware cloth (welded wire mesh) for the lower sections — regular screen can be clawed through. Make sure there are no gaps larger than 2 inches — cats can squeeze through surprisingly small openings.
For apartment dwellers, a window box catio mounts to the outside of a window and gives your cat a small enclosed space to sit in fresh air. They're available commercially (Catio Spaces, Custom Catios) or can be built from lumber and hardware cloth for under $200.
A catio is the single best investment you can make for an indoor Maine Coon's quality of life. Fresh air, mental stimulation, and sunshine — all without the risks that make me require indoor-only living in my contracts.