A ‘Catio’ is simply another term for an outdoor enclosure for cats. It was coined in a New York Times article about Habitat Haven enclosures in 2003. That is why Habitat Haven is known as the "original catio!"
A Catio can be an enclosure around your patio, on the patio or away from the house as long as it is a safe place for your cats to roam outside. It can come in many different sizes and shapes. The term applies to an enclosure but also includes tunnels, stairs and bridges that can add interest to a Catio. Cat’s enjoy being up high, so Catios placed in a tree or along a fence are ideal for them.