“Catios are a great compromise between letting our cats roam freely and keeping them exclusively indoors,” says Mikel Delgado, a cat behavior specialist.Spending time outside can help cats stay active and keep them from getting bored. But outdoor cats are more likely to get hit by cars, fight with other animals, or even be hurt by predators like coyotes.
Because of their natural hunting instincts, free-roaming cats also kill millions of wild birds and small mammals every year. Even a small catio can keep kitties out of trouble while bringing them a lot of joy, says Delgado.