Will a window box work on a second-storey window?

Often, yes. An upper-floor window box needs heavier brackets and a safe way to build it and to clean it later. We'll make sure to check both once on site.

Can I still close the window?

The cat-door insert fills the open part of the window, so that section stays open while the catio is in use. We can make the insert lift out, so you get the whole window back whenever you want it.

What happens in winter?

The cat door has a flap, so on cold days you can lock it and keep the heat in. On sunny ones, a lot of cats still like a few minutes out on the ledge. The box itself is built and roofed to carry rain and snow.

Is a window box okay for a rental?

It can be. We can fasten it so it comes off cleanly with very little patching. Get your landlord's okay first, and we're happy to send them a drawing.

The easiest way into catio life

Window box catios in Winnipeg

A cat-safe lookout built right outside your window. Your cats hop out through their own door whenever they like, and you get your windowsill back.

Call (431) 444-5456 Book a free consult

No yard needed
Often renter-friendly
Built for snow

Tall black window box catio on a brick house, with shelves stepping up past the window

Black-framed catio wrapped around a bay window, with cedar shelves and a climbing vine — Bay window

Their door, their schedule

The smallest catio that changes the most

A window box fixes to the outside wall under your window, and a custom insert in the window frame gives your cats a door of their own. No yard to give up, no deck needed, and it usually only takes about a day to build.

It's where a lot of Winnipeg cats start: a sunny ledge, a view of the birds at the feeder, and fresh air through the mesh. When they've got the hang of it, and want more (they always do) try upgrading to a tunnel feature.

A window box is a good fit if

You're in a bungalow, townhouse or house with no deck to spare
Your cats already spend all day in one window
You rent, and need something that comes down cleanly
You want to start small and add a tunnel or bigger catio later

Built properly

What goes into one

A custom window insert
Built to the size of your window, with a cat door set into it. The rest of the opening stays sealed for protection.
Shelves at every height
Somewhere to sit up high, somewhere to stretch out low, and easy access to their favourite view.
A roof that sheds snow
A sloped top so snow and rain slide off, instead of piling up over the cats' heads.
Fixed to your house properly
Brackets sized for the box, the cats and a winter's snow, anchored into the framing, not just the siding.

Window catio ideas

Low or high, one window or three. We'll bring your vision to life!

Cedar box with a cat-shaped latch
Upstairs window
Shelves round a window
Wrapped round a bay window
Off a basement window
With a door for cleaning

Window box questions

Will a window box work on a second-storey window?
Often, yes. An upper-floor window box needs heavier brackets and a safe way to build it and to clean it later. We'll make sure to check both once on site.
Can I still close the window?
The cat-door insert fills the open part of the window, so that section stays open while the catio is in use. We can make the insert lift out, so you get the whole window back whenever you want it.
What happens in winter?
The cat door has a flap, so on cold days you can lock it and keep the heat in. On sunny ones, a lot of cats still like a few minutes out on the ledge. The box itself is built and roofed to carry rain and snow.
Is a window box okay for a rental?
It can be. We can fasten it so it comes off cleanly with very little patching. Get your landlord's okay first, and we're happy to send them a drawing.