Hiring a catio builder

Who can build your catio?

A custom catio company suits you if you want someone to handle design, material sourcing, and construction. Cat Topia says it installs nationwide in all 50 states from its Denver, Colorado, base. The Catio Company designs and builds custom catios in Portland, Vancouver, and surrounding Pacific Northwest areas.

For a kit installation, Habitat Haven says its products include step-by-step assembly instructions and can be installed by a professional handyman. It also maintains a network of preferred builders specializing in catio installation and design who can help with custom projects. Its directory lists installers in Phoenix, Houston, and Richmond; confirm service availability for your address.

A local carpenter or handyman is another route if you already have an enclosure system to assemble. Habitat Haven’s instructions give that installer a defined starting point, but assembly and custom design are different jobs. If you need someone to develop the layout and access connection, ask about that scope before hiring for installation alone.

What custom builds cost

Prices were checked in October 2026. The Catio Company lists custom catios starting at $5,000, with most projects costing $5,000–$15,000. It says size, finishes, accessories, and construction complexity affect the quote.

Cat Topia says most of its custom catios average $15,000–$25,000, while large or luxury projects can exceed $100,000. Its listed cost drivers include materials, size, access, and complexity. These are company-specific figures, not interchangeable estimates for the same build.

Sunshine Catios lists professionally installed small window catios measuring 4x4 to 6x6 feet at $1,000–$2,500, and medium catios measuring 6x8 to 8x10 feet at $2,500–$7,000. Treat those as that source’s published examples rather than a promised local quote. Ask what the total includes: Cat Topia notes that groundwork, integration with existing structures, and nonlocal transportation can add costs. A high-end custom design is not a good fit if your budget leaves little room for those additions.

What builders say they charge

Prices as published by each builder, read Oct 9, 2026. Your quote depends on size, site and materials.

From measurements to final walkthrough

Before requesting pricing, measure the proposed area and take photos, as Sunshine Catios recommends. Cat Topia starts its quotes with a free Colorado site visit or a nationwide video call. During the consultation, its team measures the space, discusses the cats, and provides a quote.

Design should address the space, your cat’s needs, and access from the home. Cat Topia lists window inserts, cat doors, tunnels, and full-height human doors among its access options. The Catio Company says it tailors perches, ramps, hammocks, bridges, and scratching posts to cats’ ages, personalities, and activity levels.

Ask which part of the schedule your builder is quoting. Cat Topia places custom design in Weeks 1–3 and construction in Weeks 4–10, with most projects complete within 2–3 months of deposit. The Catio Company says most projects take 1–2 weeks, typically combining several days of shop preparation with about a week of on-site installation.

Cat Topia describes service through the final walkthrough, while The Catio Company includes a warranty and long-term support. Before construction, check permit requirements with your city and approval requirements with your association. The Catio Company says it can provide HOA documentation and offers 3D renderings to show the proposed structure.

Questions before you sign

Sunshine Catios recommends contacting 3–5 contractors and requesting itemized estimates, timelines, warranty information, references, and photos of past work. Compare matching scopes rather than assuming the lowest total covers the same work. A kit assembly quote may not include the design services offered by a custom builder.

Sunshine Catios identifies pressure to sign, missing contracts or warranties, unavailable references, and refusal to show previous work as warning signs. It also advises questioning quotes substantially below the others. The Catio Company says it is licensed, bonded, and insured in Oregon and Washington; ask any builder to clarify the coverage and credentials relevant to your project.

• What does the itemized price include, and what work costs extra?
• Which lumber, mesh, roof, and access connection will you use?
• Does the timeline include design, shop preparation, and on-site installation?
• Who handles permits and supplies documents for HOA approval?
• What does the warranty cover, and what support follows installation?
• Can you provide references and photos of previous catio work?