D32-003V00OG

Really like the combination of open, vertical spaces and interior shelter that this design provides. There are three levels of interior space that provide shelter or just a place for kitties to hide. This was the main reason for purchase of this design over other designs we looked at. The lowest level of the design is perfect for a litter box although to access it for cleaning you do have to enter the catio through the larger door panel. We thought about modifying an area in the back with another door for ease of cleaning but decided it might impair the overall structural stability. The completed project is designed so that if you are facing it directly (in front of the narrow, open mesh end with large entry door) the windows and small cat door for food/water open toward the left. This was perfect for our space but it would be difficult to modify this arrangement to open on the opposite side for the average person. For you master woodworkers out there it would probably be no problem. Arrived in 3 boxes about a week earlier than projected at purchase (bonus!). One box was damaged at the corner but the packing inside protected the product so no defects on arrival. All product panels, screws, and fasteners were counted prior to assembly and there was exactly the number needed although as other reviewers have said the latches for the doors are flimsy and we will be replacing them. All panels were numbered with a stamp and the instructions were clear enough to follow once we organized the materials. Assembly wasn't too bad with two people. We did drill pilot holes for some of the sections and found that helpful in keeping the panels fitted together well. If one person were doing this some wood clamps would be essential for holding the sections together while screwing them so they don't get out of alignment. Once assembled all the doors are hinged well and swing open without hitting or scraping the surrounding frame. The finished product is sturdy enough that the cats can move around and there is plenty of vertical space that we plan to modify a little bit. I'm 5'10" and can almost stand up in the completed catio. The mesh part of the enclosure is probably not strong enough to add any additional perches to without reinforcement unless your cat weighs less than 5 pounds so plan on additional reinforcement for any extra kitty spaces that aren't freestanding. We haven't attached the ramp yet, it does seem too steep for the designed location and we'll probably wrap it in some sisal rope or leave it hooked to one of the lower levels. Not sure about the weather proofing. We opted for the gray painted option because it had a "water resistant" label in the description. It is painted but the paint job doesn't inspire much confidence for weather proofing and we'll be designing a tarp cover to use in the winter or during really rainy times. We also placed the catio on a cement slab and would not recommend placing it directly on grass/dirt. Besides the obvious risk of damage to the wood at the base, any uneven surface would probably cause stress on the panels and impact the overall longevity of the structure. While the structure can be moved once assembled it probably wouldn't hold up to frequent placement changes. The only negative thing was a single panel on the sliding door that opens near the top of one of the enclosures had some strange kind of mold covering it. Fortunately upon inspection of the remaining panels/doors this was the only imperfection so we opted to just remove the panel. It's currently covered with some cardboard and tape but we'll either cut another sliding piece of wood or possibly plexiglass for that spot. As always make sure there is plenty of fresh water and if hot weather is the norm for your area an outdoor thermometer is an addition we plan to add to make sure kitties aren't getting overheated.

I purchased this pen to temporarily house feral cats before having them fixed. I live in a rural area and we have to make spay/neuter appointments a couple of weeks in advance. We are occasionally 'acquiring' new cats that just seem to appear at my house so this has become a frequent issue for me. Over the summer a mother cat and her two kittens showed up. I eventually got the mom to where I could approach and sometimes pet her. But the kittens are totally wild and you can't get anywhere near them. I ordered this and began putting their food dish inside the pen with the door propped open. They would go inside to eat, but would run out whenever I approached. So I tied a very long string to the base of the door and trapped them inside by quickly pulling it shut from a distance behind the enclosure. It worked great and now I can make the appointment knowing I will be able to get them there. There are a couple of reasons for the less than perfect rating. There was a board mislabeled and my husband spent some time trying to figure out what was amiss, before he figured out what had happened. Also he was short a couple of screws, again no major deal. But the most important thing was the quality of one of the wooden panels. There is a hole in the back of the enclosed box that was obviously already there and was stained over before packaging. It appears it was in the wood when it was processed into a panel. I would say it's the size of a nickel. Also there is also a vertical crack about a foot long, where two of the panels are warped and don't meet flush in the middle but they do on the ends. So I am going to have to use wood filler and plug the hole and crack. I just felt as much as this pen costs we shouldn't have received defective wood. Other than that, everything is great. The cats hide in the box while I am in there scooping litter or feeding them, and sometimes I see one of them peeking through the window or entry hole. I am 5'5" and have no trouble at all crouching a bit through the doorway to work inside. This pen will help me tremendously the next time I need to contain a feral cat before spay/neuter and it takes a lot of the stress away, knowing you have them safely contained before the appointment day rolls around. I forgot to mention in case anyone was wondering, the 'mesh' is basically rabbit wire. It's very sturdy and does a good job with keeping cats in and other critters out.

This is a cute condo . Purchased an aluminum window pet door. Have 3 cats, they love it. Added some faux grass, pet step, kitty bed and toys. Opted for this style because it has both an inside & outside area. It’s somewhat easy to put together, did this myself. I added a piece of plywood to the bottom when build was complete. Also lifted it with onto some cinder blocks. Took the plastic windows out and added some chicken wire to the top one so air would flow better. Put a tarp on the top so I can fold it back when sunny, or cover when rainy so they can still go out to enjoy. Will be painting the outside to match the house & help the durability to last longer.