I couldn't agree more. I've never made a video that long. It goes against all KZfaq video sensibilities. Most people will only watch 30 seconds of a video. So you are definitely a cat person! Join the club. My neighbors have dubbed me the "crazy old cat man."

U would like my videos of my cat than.

Same!! Love seeing them happy and healthy

Same here bro! WWG1WGA! :)

Same here. I am an avid cat parent and cat watcher. lol

I agree. She was such a sweet cat. Than you!

@@Gourmetpapermache how long did Riley live to be? 18 years is awesome. My last two babies both passed @ 17 and 21. So 18 years is amazing to me!

@@Hervinbalfour Riley lasted 20 years. We loved her terribly. You certainly know how hard it is to lose such a friend. Thank you for your kind words Hervin!

@@Gourmetpapermache Oh no! I hate that word! "Was" is a terrible word. I hope she is in heaven and she died peacefully.

@@jilldruckman8698 It was. Thank you Jill. I've always said that losing a pet is the real price we pay for having them. It is always terribly hard.

Thank you Bethany. These catios are very nice. But love is what animals really need and want. I'm sure that you give lots of that to your cats.

@@Gourmetpapermache Im going to enclose the deck on the back of the house for ours this summer. They are about 4 and a 1/2 and will love it. Only 2 out of the 5 really want to go out but given the chance Im sure all of them will eventually lounge outside for a bit. I live fairly close to busy roads and I also don't trust people not to swoop up one of them if I let them roam. Never liked the free roam thing anyways but I desperately want them to be able to enjoy sunshine and the breeze and all the perks of outside without the dangers of free roaming. You gave me some good ideas to try with this. I may make a little extension part leading out to the yard like yours. Good job and your cats are lucky to have someone who loves them like you obviously do. They are our furry kids!

@@jedimindtrix2142 You have the right idea about this. I'm sure you will make a wonderful place for your cats. Good luck to you!

You can teach yourself to do it by watching KZfaq videos on how to build one. I’m gonna do the same for my Bengal soon and will be making a video of how I built it 😊

I have the money i just need someone to build for me lol

I agree. Too many cats suffer terrible consequences when left on their own in the city. Thank you for your comment KR!

You are too funny Chelsee! You are very kind. Thank you for the nice remarks. Give your cat a hug for me (or a treat).

Lol😂. Mine too!

Bree! You beat me too it! You said EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING!

Thank you. It was a labor of love.

I would definitely hire him!

Now i want one 😂

GourmetPaperMache id hire you

@@Gourmetpapermache The woodwork and details are great. Congrats.

You are too funny! Perfect! Thanks for the nice comment!

I have a 17 yr old. Love her more than life.

Thank you Sue. I really appreciate the kind words. It's funny, I still get lots of comments about how my cats are "in prison" . I'm pretty sure my cats don't think like that. They seem very happy with their situation. I should mention that despite how it looks from my back yard I live on a very busy arterial in a big city. It is just not safe to let cats wonder in such a place. Catios are a very nice alternative to free roaming I think. Take care

@@Gourmetpapermache It's easy to criticize someone far away from you, without knowing all the factors that go into your decisions. I think you've done your dear cats a lovely favor. They can explore and enjoy and be safe all at once. One of my mother's cats, a tuxedo-smooth-hair, was rescued as a 5-month-old kitten in late December, here in Wyoming, USA, where it gets pretty cold. He had been somebody's kitty, but had gotten lost or turned out and had been fending for himself by hunting and mooching off people whenever he could. But he wasn't feral at all. (He was so small, we thought he was two months old, the vet set his age later. He had a bad case of worms.) Fast forward 8 months, he was beautiful, friendly and healthy... and unhappy being kept inside because of his life experiences. So, against moms preferences, he went out and hunted the neighborhood and still (unfortunately) accepted hand-outs. He's been poisoned twice now. The second time they had carefully cut raw meat and given it to him (he threw it up and it was clear that a person had prepared it for him, or whichever animal they could get). This time he nearly died and the cascade of illnesses that the poisoning triggered was horrifying. Regardless of his preferences for wandering- because someone is so cruel and vicious- he can no longer go out. It is sad and the transition has been very difficult as it has had to occur over the summertime when the weather has been so fine. Your construction is inspiring. And although I don't have the means nor ability to do what you've done, I will endeavor to close in a porch for him, so that he can get fresh air and sunshine on something closer to his terms. Thank you so much for sharing.

@@suet.r.4815 People who help animals in need are saints to me. And the person who decides to poison innocent animals are monsters. I should mention that I have a couple of much smaller enclosures. I put a wire dog kennel on a simple wooden pedestal outside of a couple of window. I cut holes in the side of the kennel and attached them to the house with clamps so that when I open the window they can go out. They love those spaces as much as the more elaborate catio. It's a place they can go out and watch what's going outside. So just enclosing a small area will go a long way. Good luck to you! Dan

@@Gourmetpapermache Thanks Dan. :)

@@Gourmetpapermache It's an awesome construction; definitely a labour of love! Where I live native birds get wiped out by stouts, rats, possums, feral this and that, and domestic cats, yet cats and dogs are awesome. We wouldn't be human without them. Life is about compromise. Love it.

You are too funny! Tell your Kitty she would be welcome! Thank you

my thoughts exactly :)

AMAZING!!!! Where is this cat paradise?? Superbly done!

Thank you Lisa! We live in Seattle on Queen Anne Hill. Nice, peaceful back yard, but busy arterial in the front. Hence the catio. Take care

Nobenstein: not sure where you live but my cat would be dead by now if I didn't keep her inside all the time. Too many wild animals that would live to eat her as food. This guy is keeping the cats safe which I am all for. What is better ? 1) cat that lives outside but dead in a few years 2) cat being loved and treated like gold for 18 years? I think the cat would prefer to be loved and stay alive.

You are very sweet. I think cat owners are very kind people. All cats really need is lots of love and a lap to sleep on.

Thank you Davad. That is why the Humane Society endorses the idea of catios. For all those reasons. Take care

Excellent! That's a wonderful thing to do for your cats! Take care

Thank you for your kind remarks Terri. This was a labor of love. Cat people know why I did it. For what it's worth, they didn't need something this elaborate. I put another, very simple structure outside the window in my studio. Like I did outside my bathroom in this video, I bought a wire dog cage and put it on a simple wooden pedestal. Then I cut a hole in the side with wire cutters and put it up against the window. So I can just open the window (and close it in the winter) and they can just sit outside. Eddie in particular just loves that spot, more than the more complex set up in the back of the house (the Max really loves). So consider something simple like that. Just being outside a little goes a long way. Take care to you and your kitties. Dan

Hey, this project is just SO amazing. I have a young bengal right now and something like this would be so perfect for him. He just loves looking outside and even going outside on his lead. One day, when I have my own house to work on, I'm 100% doing this :) just curious, how long did it take you? And around how much did you spend to complete it? Thanks so much! You've got two REALLY lucky kitties ;)

Thank you Miko. This took a couple months to build. It is pretty elaborate. I didn't keep track of how much it cost total. I have an information sheet that shows the materials I used along with the prices of the materials if you are interested. I just need an email address to send them to you. You can contact me at dan@gourmetpapermache.com.

Hey- Im still in so much awe that you built this for your cats. I wish all cat owners cared this much. Anyways, I sent you an email and would love to see an estimate of how much material you used. Im serious about building my own one day :D

Just sent the information. Thanks for the kind words. Good luck to you and your cat!

You are very sweet Liz. Thanks for the note. Little Riley passed away two weeks ago. She was 19 years old and had a great life. She spent much of her day outside last summer. It was worth all the effort and money just for that. Thank you. Dan

GourmetPaperMache Awe I'm really late in seeing this, but RIP Riley, you were a beautiful baby :)

GourmetPaperMache so sorry! I believe she did have a wonderful long life with you!!

GOURMETPAPERMACHE~~~~~Sorry to hear about Riley's passing...so glad he got to have all that Amazing Intrigue Outside and napping in Nature!!! ✨✨✨✨✨TAKE CARE!✨✨✨✨✨✨

Me, too.

Thank you for the nice remarks! Glad you like the video!

Thank you Rita! So glad you enjoyed the video!

Hello Gary. I somehow missed this comment. Sorry about that. Thanks for your kind remarks. I also don't understand the cruelty displayed toward animals. It says a lot about a person that could dump a kitten at a construction site. You are the real hero here. Thank you for rescuing that little soul. Dan

+garyjames2465 ***Almost*** an artist??? This guy is the Da Vinci of outdoor cat enclosures lmao

garyjames2465 Just an FYI, I am a court employee who has sat in on many, many cruelty cases. They are in the process of creating an interstate cruelty database (not sure if it's up and running yet) so people who abuse animals are unable to continue adopting and victi izing animals. Which is why it's important to report any neglect or abuse suspected. Also, if you find a cat you believe has been dumped, take it to a vet's office and they can scan it to see if it has a chip. This way, if it was adopted and that person dumped it they can be reported! Otherwise they can go and adopt again and again without anything or anyone to stop them. That is the purpose of the cruelty database. And of course you can support all legislation calling for stiffer penalties for animal abusers. As it is now alnost anything somebody does to an animal is just a misdemeanor, meaning if someone abandons a cat in a locked apartment and the cat starves to death, it's just a fine. People need to throe support behind laws which make killing or hurting animals felonies. If they will harm an animal, the natural progression is to harm humans. Every serial killer started with animals! #Fact

Yes, Gary! That's the world we're living in. People are not only dumb, they are also cruel and mindless!

garyjames2465 I

That is very nice of you to say. It was a labor of love. thank you

Thank you very much! Yes, in Seattle it is necessary to have a cover on things. But it is clear so they can see through it.

Yes, I think he would approve. Thank you!

You are very kind. Yes, you "get" why I used that base. No fleas, no mowing, safe. And the cats love it. The cats are all rejects from one place or another. So odd to me that they weren't wanted. Thank you

Do the cats pee in that? Not saying you’d want them to. If not, do they come inside to use the litter box every time they have to go?

Thanks Cindy. Yes, this was a game changer for these cats. Good luck to you! Dan

u can lett them out, theyll come back thats how cats work lol

Unless you live in a big city. Then they get hit by cars, fight with other cats, and pick up deadly diseases. That's why these catios are so popular.

GourmetPaperMache I live in S. Florida and something many people don't think about is Hawks. They get hungry, too! And a small adult cat is just the perfect meal. So yes, your cat might come back, but nobody I know could live with the thought that they put their pet into mortal danger. In fact, outdoor cats are illegal in my county...unless they are catch and release, ear-tipped, fixed ferals. We have volunteers who trap our strays and if they are found to be socialized, they get re-homed. If they are unsocial they get shots, heartworm preventative (mosquitoes cause heartworm) and they get fixed and returned to their neighborhood. Volunteers go around once per week and put out food and the other days the cats hunt for lizards and rats to survive.

All very good information. You do good work! Thanks on behalf of all cat lovers. Dan

Thank you for the nice comment! Yes, sweet, timid little Max. He was adorable. I really appreciate the kind words.

She loved that spot. She was out there almost every day. Thank you for the nice comment!

Thank you Janet! It was a labor of love. "Cat" people understand. Take care Dan

FREEDOM

trust me, you gonna be regret to be born as a cat

@@adidarmsvideos9822 - Why? Were you a cat in a previous life?

@@keepingitreel...8037 not really, if you taking that awesome cage of cat as your decision to be a cat, that a stupiditi 😅. but please don take it serious

For real!! 😸😸😻😻

Thank you very much! I do have a "fact sheet" showing the basic process and materials if you are interested. Just email me at dan@gourmetpapermache.com if you are interested. Good luck!

You are very welcome! I do love building. I built my own house (the one in the video) inside and out.

Thank you Terry. I have a number of people who argue that these are elaborate cages. A sillly notion if you watch the cats. They love running on the ramps and they enjoy the security afforded by the screens. We have raccoons and many squirrels and birds. The cats love watching them safely. And I have one cat who just prefers to be indoors. Bottom line is, the cats don't analyze their situation. I can tell that they are very happy and I know they are safe in this very busy city. Sounds like your cats had a great life. Take care

You kept them safe, not prisoners.

@@Gourmetpapermache yea the lifespan of a cat that spends most time outside is dramatically less than one who is an indoor or controlled outdoor environment kitty. There are all kinds of horrible thinga that happen to cats when they are aloud to roam free 24/7. When my girlfriend lived in Indiana she had a neighbor who had a "cat trap" if you can believe such a thing. He killed her cats....just cant prove it. Makes me think about doing something to him that is pretty out of character for me ro even think about doing. People who harm animals are the lowest kind of scum who deserve a dose of what they give out.

@@jedimindtrix2142 I couldn't agree more about your assessment of that neighbor and people who hurt animals. If I had a neighbor who killed my cat....well, he would understand the meaning of karma. It would become my life's work to make that happen. Thanks for the remarks.

@@gregberry1812 Of course. Thank you Greg!

Thank you. I appreciate the kind remarks.

Approximate cost

That's funny! Thanks Bob!

Maybe they are from people who think it’s inhumane to keep cats locked inside or in cages their whole lives. This guy could have saved himself a ton of work by just opening his front door. These cats do not live in the “big city”.

@@sleeknub Yeah, you are kind of right. But you have to take into consideration protection of wild life and the health of the pets and the family. Purrfect solution here I´d say.

@@Whiteiris999 It´s an absurd comparison. This is a pet, not a wild animal. I live in a condominium and my cats have the freedom to wander, they never really go much further 2 houses away from mine and stay in the back yard for most of the time. So, what´s the point in letting cats go out and hunt birds? (I only let mine go under supervision and never overnight, and again only because I know they won´t go hunting or bother the neighbors. )

Haters gotta hate

Thank you Cheryl. I really appreciate the kind remarks. Take care PS. This video is a few years old. These cats are no longer here. And I miss them terribly. I understand your pain. I have new cats that I love too, but I will always miss these little ones, especially Eddie.

+Nora Dennis Thank you Nora. It doesn't have to be this elaborate. I have another window just outside my studio with just the wire dog carrier idea outside of it on a pedestal (with a hole cut in the side where the window is). They love just going outside that far and watching the birds. Good luck! Dan

GourmetPaperMache I didn't even think of this, but that's perfect too!

Thank you very much Jess! You are sweet, like Riley. They all really love going outside. I spend lots of time out there with them. Sometimes I have to carry Riley back to the house. It's a long way from the house to the "cat house" in the back yard so she gets tired if she walks that far. But I don't mind. Eddie on the other hand just runs and runs and runs. Take care Dan

GourmetPaperMache Daw, that is too cute. :3 I forgot to mention Max! He is a beautiful cat. All of your cats are very gorgeously patterned and have adorable personalities. I find myself coming back to this video several times a day. I'm ridiculous. Lol.

Jess That makes me very happy Jess. They are pretty cats. They were all "rejects" from the cat show world. Max was marbled when people like the spotted Bengals. Riley had an extra toe. And Eddie has something wrong too, but I can't remember what. We just think they have really great personalities. That's all that matters. Thank you so much for your nice comments. Truly. Dan

GourmetPaperMache No, thank you for sharing them and their cuteness, Dan! :)

Thank you for your kind message Linda! I get lots of people who think that my cats should not be in "cages". I understand that. I had outdoor cats for years. But I lost a few cats that way. I'd never do it again. Too much danger nowadays. I live in a big city on a main arterial. Lots of cars. Despite that we have coyotes running around. And then there is disease. And of course the issue of outdoor cats killing wild birds. Very bad. So the people who don't like the catio idea just don't understand those dangers I guess. But I do. Take care Dan

So glad you like the video! Thank you for your nice remarks. I'm very flattered.

Paganini67 Thank you! Good luck with your new place. I would definitely worry about all of those things. Dan

Paganini67 We also had an existing fence. We checked a lot of options, but the most affordable option was Affordable Cat Fence, site is here: www.catfence.com/ I started with a smaller area, but the cats enjoyed it so much that we expanded it to most of our back yard. We designed our own tree block for one tree. My youngest cat tested it to its limit, but was not able to get out. It's important to leave a little slack in the netting because even though cats are great climbers, they don't like getting on things that feel unstable. KZfaq has DIY versions made from PVC pipe that work on the same principle. To the uploader: Great video! Humans don't understand how much being outdoors means to the well-being of our cat friends!

Hello Nicola. Thank you so much for the wonderful comment! I'm very flattered. Good luck with your enclosure. It doesn't have to be as obsessive as this. I know many people who have just put a nice dog kennel type enclosure outside a window. Just to be outside is heaven to them. Dan PS. I'm sorry to report that old Riley passed away a week ago. While it was very sad, I'm so happy that she spent her last summer outdoors. Every day she rested in the sun in her favorite spot just outside the window. Take care

GourmetPaperMache Hello Dan, I am really sorry to read your message regarding Riley and to be so close to the holidays as well must be so hard. We lost one of our Sausage Dogs on xmas eve 3 years ago and I still find it hard to cope without her and now both her boys that we still have are now really old and are having trouble. My Mum says its wrong to keep them as they are because of the pain they get in at times but I still see them as babies, so I have that to contend with. I am very sorry once again about your beautiful girl and I will be thinking of you all and hope that you are doing well. Have a very merry christmas, I send all my love and best wishes with this message. Nicola.xxxx

Nicola Mckeen Thank you Nicola. Merry Christmas to you too! Thanks for the thoughts.

I hope you're girls get their Catio. It broke my heart too. So now mine have their Catio. They love it

You are very kind. The catio has grown and there are new cats (the ones in this video have since passed on) who enjoy it. Thank you!

Thank you so much! Yes, I like that part too. Take care

3:58

Ezzie E. Glad you like this Ezzie. We have cat doors in the windows. They work well. Good luck with your plan! Take care Dan

Thank you for the nice note alene! You are obviously a cat (animal) lover. Because you are you understand that I get much more from my little friends than they get from me. Take care Dan

Thank you very much! A cat annex sounds wonderful, as does a tiny house! Good luck with both!

Thank you for the very nice comment! You are very nice to take the time to write! Yes, I think for cats in the big city, this is a very good way to go. Take care

Everyone matters and everyone counts 😻

Thank you Donna! Actually we got all of our cats free. They were "rejects". Riley had an extra toe and Eddie wasn't the right color in places. Max was marbled (they prefer the spotted variety). We just loved them because of their personalities and wonderful natures.

Thank you Vanessa! All cat lovers are special. Cats are special. It's always nice to meet people who "get" cats!

You are a very nice person. It's always nice to connect with "cat people". Truth is, I enjoy watching cats have fun as much as they do. Thank you for the comment! Made my day. Dan

Well, ty so very much. So nice of you to reply to my post, its nice to know that there are people out there that love cats who will respond back and i hope that you and your kitties are doing well. Happy New Year and God bless you and your amazingly beautiful kitties! Can't wait to see more of them they are simply beautiful.

You have a great 2018!

Hello again. Now you have met all of my helpers. I tell them every day how lucky they are! Thank you for your nice comment. Dan

Hello Deborah. What a nice note! You are my hero for taking in those cats and then keeping them safe before it was fashionable! I'm sure it was hard when the last one died. This video was made a few years ago and all three of the precious cats in this video are also gone. I miss them terribly. But that's the real price you pay with pets. It's not the cost of the food or the vet bills or the hassles with various things. We pay when we have to let them go. And it's excruciating. But they are always with me. We have two other cats now and they both love the catio too. Thank you for the wonderful words. You made my night. Take care Dan

That is so very nice of you to say Thaddeus! I am just happy to have a safe place for my little "kids". Despite how it looks from my back yard I live on a very busy arterial in a big city. It is not safe for cats to roam free in my neighborhood. Take care

Thank you Alicia! I find it hard to believe such people as that guy with the kittens. He has a rock where his heart should be. You on the other hand, you are a saint for taking them! I have to say that you certainly don't need such an extravagant enclosure for the cats to be happy. I have a second very small enclosure outside the window of my studio, just a wire cage they make for dogs attached to the house outside the window. I put it on a simple wood pedestal then cut a hole in the side so that when the window is open they can go out. They love that smaller space. Good luck with all of your wonderful animals.

+miri_craft Thank you. I appreciate the nice comment!

Thank you for the nice remarks. I had outdoor cats for a long time. Lost cats used to find me and I always thought they needed to still roam free. But then one stuck in my house that fed. Turns out he had feline leukemia. He was a carrier but not affected. But he gave it to three of my cats and they all died. It was terrible. Like you that changed my mind forever. These ratios are a good compromise I think. Take care Dan

Thank you Scott! I'm very flattered. That was a labor of love. I'm sad to report that the oldest cat in the video, Riley, died two weeks ago. I'm so happy that she had the summer to enjoy the outdoors. She had a spot right outside the bathroom window where she was stay all day long. She ended up living 19 years, a good run. She and Eddie are Abyssinian. Smart and really friendly. I've read that they are actually to most prevalent house cat in the world (although they aren't that plentiful in the US). The other one, Max, is a Bengal. He's a really sweet cat. We got all three for nothing because they were rejects from the cat show circuit. They had some kind of flaw that we never quite figured out. Well, and we didn't really care about showing. We just liked their personalities. Thanks again for the nice note. Happy holidays! Dan

I thought I saw abyssinians! Used to have a few myself. Like yours, they were smart and friendly (though so were almost all of my rescued shorthairs). My first aby, a male, had a trait I have seldom seen in a cat: He recognized a poster on the wall as being a cat and reacted to it as if it might be alive. He had an even stronger reaction to one of those cat wall clocks with rolling eyes and a tail that moves in rhythm to the ticks. Most of my cats have simply ignored even large photos on the wall and none of my other three cats at the time gave more than a glance at said clock. The aby in question also seemed to think that a 10" doll on the sofa beside me was alive, and when I raised its arm from behind as if to wave to him, he jumped backward in fright as if it had been about to throw something at him. I love, love, love the catio. It is the best one I've ever seen. I'm going to be watching the video over and over.

Scott Turrall Mm, I have lost 2 cats to food poisoning from neighbours and 4 to cars.

Thank you very much for the nice remarks! Despite how it looks in my back yard I live on a busy arterial in a big city, very dangerous for outdoor cats. I think a catio is a good compromise. But mostly cats just need love and a treat once in a while. As a cat lover I know you understand that. Riley was never unhappy despite not going outdoors for all that time. You and you kitties take care! Dan

Thank you! I am very happy I made this for them. Dan

Thank you so much! Yes, our Bengal, Max, is a different cat. He just wasn't getting enough stimulation. He would wait all day for me to play with him with the one toy he liked. Now he goes in and out all day long (and many times at night...I have led lights in the tunnels, but he's a cat and doesn't mind the darkness). He and Eddie watch bugs and squirrels and birds. It is a constant source of interest for them. Dan

I noticed the lights running along the track. That's a great idea. I'm totally inspired. The only enclosure I've seen doesn't connect to the house- The owners have to take the cats out and put them in. It's not the same. This totally frees them up~

VronVirtuoso Yes, I strung little led christmas lights along the tunnels and around the rim of the "cat house" in the back yard. It gives just the right amount of light. It is really nice watching them go in and out of the house. They go out one window and in another, and love to go watch the birds and bees at the fountain. It's great fun. Dan

Thank you very much Johnny! I couldn't agree with you more. That is one of the biggest reasons to have a catio for a cat! I love the creatures that share my yard. I make sure they have food and water when it snows in the winter or gets too hot in the summer. I never put any chemicals in my fountain and flush it with fresh water every day so that the birds can drink and take baths (which is a great show for the cats!). The squirrels are very friendly with my cats and know them. And we have a little band of three raccoons that wanders through every so often. Even though they are cute, they can really hurt a cat or dog if cornered. One of my cats loves to watch them, but once again, it is safe for both. Domestic cats kill many wild birds each year. It is a tragedy. It's nice that you appreciate that part of this. Take care Dan

Thank you very much Tess!

What a nice thing to say! Thank you very much! Of course it was a labor of love. thank you!

Thank you for the condolences Bob. She had a good life. Take care

Absolutely. I will be doing this for my Bengal soon too 😊

Susie Whitney Hahahahahaha telling a guy who just built this amazing, and as natural as possible enclosure for his kids, on what cats need! There's always one lol

@@animallovefest143 a couple mice babies?

Wow, nine cats! You must be busy! Good luck!

9 cats?! Wowwww. Maybe I will sub to you hehe

Oh you only have 2 videos. Subbed anyway 🙊

@@billybumbumthebengalcat2197 thank u! Ill be making more videos lol

Thank you very much for the nice remarks. Yes, all three of these cats are gone. I miss them terribly. But we still have two other cats and they love the catio (which has expanded since the video was made). Riley was very pretty as was Eddie and Max. I feel like adding that we got all three for free. They were "rejects" from the cat-show world which we were never involved with. They each had defects from a show world perspective. But we didn't care about any of that. They had wonderful personalities which is the only thing that mattered to us. Take care. Dan

@@GourmetPaperMache_ Ah, sorry to hear Eddie and Max have gone too. They break your heart don't they. I've lost a cat every year for the last three years. Even when cats leave us after a very long life, they're never with us long enough. Their lives fly by in an instant it seems. One of my cats, Ruby, comes to me in my dreams, but her mother, Grace, has managed to almost fully materialise. We see the top half of her with her tail upright and she is no longer crippled with arthritis and suffering the effects of stroke. She appears as a young cat. Our remaining cat sees her too. Our beloved pets never truly leave us. I'm sure Riley, Eddie and Max are around you too. Maybe you will glimpse them one day, if you haven't already. You take care too. Andy, UK.

@@kernow9324 What a very nice reply Andy! It is very much appreciated! I couldn't have described how I feel about my cats leaving me any better than you did. I have had many cats over my lifetime. I still love them all. Eddie (in this video) was the most aligned with me. He was my constant companion. He slept curled up on my chest every night. While every cat is special, some are just a little more so. Surely Grace is one of those. Yes, there are times when they do seem to be there again. How wonderful to see your sweet kitty even if for just a moment.! Take care of yourself and your furry friends! Dan

Thank you for the nice remarks. And the wild birds are safe. It's all so necessary in a big city. Take care

@@Gourmetpapermache that's awesome the cats can still go outside and their safe

@@louisecooper3584 Thank you Louise! Yes, it is very nice to let them out without worrying about all the dangers in this big city. Take care

You are very sweet Paula. Thank you. I can see by your profile photo that you are also a cat lover, so you understand what went into the making of this project. Thank you for the comment. Dan

Thank you for the nice remarks Erica!

Very well put about Riley. I have always said that the true price of having a pet is having to lose it. I really miss them all. Good for you making something for your kids! You don't need something really big and elaborate. I have two smaller enclosures as well and my cats love them! Good luck!

Thank you. That's nice of you to say.

Thank you Kelly! I do think that these catios are a great way to protect cats. Despite how it looks from my back yard I live in a big city on a busy arterial. It's a dangerous place for cats for lots of reasons. But my cats love going out and enjoying the outdoors day and night. I'd be happy to send you my "fact sheet" if you think it might help in your design. Just send me an email at dan@gourmetpapermache.com if you are interested. (Please note that I am not endorsing any particular brands or products. Just sharing what I used.) In any case good luck to you! Dan

Thanks Dan! Yes I’d love that thank you-I’ll send u an email:)

Dan, I sent you an email. I would like a copy of those plans for the cat enclosure if you don't mind. Thank you kindly for your time.

Thanks for the nice remarks Lorna. I should mention that I have a couple much smaller enclosures, just small dog kennels on pedestals outside of windows, and the cats love those. You don't need large elaborate enclosures. Just a thought. Take care

Great enclosure! I don't put out any food around the catio. I've never had any problems with squirrels coming in. If there is no food there is no reason. Thank you for sharing! Lucky cats!

Thank you Dorian!

You are always really supportive. I really appreciate it. This was a labor of love. I enjoy watching them go outside as much as they do. Hope all is well. Dan

Cali and Wiggles putting some carpet down in places for them to scratch and knead can be a good idea. I put down a cheap rug in my lounge near the couch to have them use their claws on instead of my couch.

@jus wuzz: does that actually work for you? lol --I now have two very strong boys whose nails are like talons and I'm often punctured. When THEY scratch their bodies seem to elongate so they're 3 times their normal height! I've tried just about everything - but still, the back of one of my dining room chairs (now covered with several layers of whatever I could come up with) is their 'choice'! They have a tall, carpet covered cat tree they love and will use, along with a fairly new 48" tall round and very sturdy thick, rope covered scratch post with a solid base the smallest cat will climb as a 'perch' they love to scratch on --and THEN go back to the chair. ??? They even use the wood frame of the bathroom door when that enters their heads. I've thought of trying to come up with a real tree branch to somehow install by the Bay window -but hubby's not overly fond of the idea. I'm the 'cat lady', he's the long-suffering cat-tolerant person. ;)

ElizabethGS it did work but now..alas, they've buggered the back of the couch. I still recommend offering different places/textures, it limits the wanton destruction!

Thank you Patricia. We cat lovers think alike. I maintain that my cats do more for me than I could ever do for them. Despite how it looks from my back yard I live very close to the downtown core of a big city on a busy arterial. It is not safe for cats to wander freely where I live. I think cats benefit greatly from getting outdoors, even if it is just a small part. Catio like places are a very good compromise I think between keeping a cat indoors and letting them wander. Take care. Give your kitty (kitties) a pat on the head for me! (although they'd probably prefer a treat) Dan

You must be a special person. All "cat people " are! Thanks!

Same to you Laura! You must love cats too. That's what it's all about. Take care

Thank you very much for the nice note! You are very kind.

Thank you for the nice remarks. Every time I get a comment that complains about me keeping my cats "in a cage" I wish they could see a comment like yours. It is indeed a minefield out there particularly in the big city. I hope I never see someone mistreating an animal like that. My less kind self would come out! I hope you can get another furry friend. Take care

You are very sweet. Thank you for the nice note Phoebe! Glad you enjoyed the video!

HI IF YOU LIKE CATS YOU MIGHT LIKE MY CHANNEL

Any cat named Winky is well loved! That is all that a cat really needs. Well, and treats and toys too. Thank you! Take care Dan

Thank you very much Jane! My backyard is deceiving. I actually live on a very busy arterial. Lots of cars. That's mostly why I need the catio.

Thank you Mickey! I really appreciate the nice comment. Dan

Thank you Kim! Yes they are Abyssinian. They were both "rejects" from their litters. Don't know why. Doesn't matter. Did you know that Abyssinian cats are the most prevalent house cat on the planet? Just not so much in the US. That's what I read anyway. Dan

GourmetPaperMache I

GourmetPaperMache 50

GourmetPaperMache wow! Had no idea! Such beautiful fur babies💕💕💕

GourmetPaperMache I guess it's because they both have too much pale fur on their faces and throats to be show standard. Doesn't make them less lovely as cats though. Everyone who sees pix of my Birman loves him but I ( jokingly) call him my factory reject because his white markings are wrong for a show cat. It also meant I got him at nine months old as 'reduced to clear'. His breeders were sorry to see him go, but had to reduce numbers.

Thank you very much Rhonda!

You are very kind to say. Thank you!

Thank you so much!

If you are interested I have a "fact sheet" that describes in a general way how I made this along with a list of what I bought and where I got them. If this is something you would like just send me a note at dan@gourmetpapermache.com. (I am not endorsing any particular store. This is not an ad. Just trying to help spread the word about catios.) Take care

Just let your cats go outside

@@Gourmetpapermache I love this…I would love to do such project.. how long did it take you?

@@trevorgibson9525 Why are you watching these videos? I don't like to fish, so I don't watch fishing videos. You obviously don't live in a big city. You can't even adopt a cat from a shelter here without signing a contract that says you won't let the cat roam free. That is to prevent death by cars and illness like feline leukemia, and even coyotes that have been seen in my area.

@@charkk1228 This took a couple of months. But much of my catio is up in the air against the house requiring ladders. It all depends upon your circumstances and how elaborate you get. I should mention that I have a couple of much smaller catios, just dog kennels connected to the house outside windows. No ramps or tunnels. The cats love those just as much. They get to sit outside.

As I mentioned in another comment abou this, the video at night just doesn't work well. Hard to see what's going on. And actually, I think the cats prefer the lights off. I use the lights when I want to find them after dark. But they can see just fine in the dark. Thank you for your nice remarks!