Two Portland cats got the attention of a reporter with Vice, the media outlet that brags about its investigative journalism. Seems Cordelia and Willow are tempted to pounce when they see birds fly by the window near their heated sleeping cushion.
And that concerned their guardians, Dara Wasserman and Jon Beck.
The humans' solution? Build a catio, a screened cat patio in the backyard that the frisky felines can enter through a tiny door linked to the house. Here, they can exercise and bask in the sun safely. They can't bother birds, and dogs, cars and other outdoor hazards can't harm them.
Cordelia and Willow's enclosed outdoor playground is one of nine catios on the 3rd Annual Catio Tour in the Portland metro area from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 ($10 suggested minimum donation, registration required by Sept. 10 at feralcats.com).
The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon and the Audubon Society of Portland, two groups devoted to protecting felines and wildlife, have organized the self-guided tour to inspire pet owners to build or buy outdoor enclosures.
Pet owners will hear that free-roaming cats can get into a lot of trouble and housebound cats can get bored. In a catio, they can run, play out hunting instincts and snooze.
The screened spaces can be elaborate, freestanding structures outfitted with sunbathing perches, ramps and spiral staircases like Cordelia and Willow's or a series of inexpensive wire cubes.
As one owner says (which we find hard to believe): "Cats aren't too picky, they just like being outside."
If you're thinking of an outdoor haven for your tabby, here are tips on building a catio. A suggestion: Just like you, cats like ventilation and their Cat TV (aka a view of the outdoors). Add toys, a litter box and monitor the weather: You might need a fan in the summer or a heater in the winter.
Tour goers will receive a guidebook with photos and construction information of the nine catios.
In addition to Cordelia and Willow's Garden Home pad, Southwest Portland catios include:
- A freestanding catio built by homeowners in their backyard in the Arnold Creek area.
- A large catio enclosed in black metal fencing on the back patio of a West Slope neighborhood.
- A custom-designed catio on a side yard in the Homestead neighborhood.
North/Northeast catios include:
- Two freestanding, DIY catios in the Piedmont neighborhood of North Portland.
- A classic cat patio occupying half of a large front porch. A cat door leads into the living room.
- A catio set in a garden that is part of the
- A DIY catio on a rental property, showing temporary, portable options.
The Catio Tour is part of Portland Audubon's and the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon's Cats Safe at Home campaign, which addresses cat overpopulation and the need for cats to have a safe home.
--Janet Eastman
jeastman@oregonian.com
503-799-8739
@janeteastman