Build story
The Ridgeview window catio
- Location
- Boulder, CO
- Size
- 36 sqft
- Cats
- 1
- Completed
- October 2025
title: "The Ridgeview window catio" location: "Boulder, CO" sizeSqft: 36 catCount: 1 completedDate: "2025-10-03" cover: "/images/examples/ridgeview-townhouse-cover.jpg" photos:
- "/images/examples/ridgeview-townhouse-detail-1.jpg"
- "/images/examples/ridgeview-townhouse-detail-2.jpg" excerpt: "A window-mount catio for a third-floor townhouse. Small footprint, big impact for one bold tabby." featured: true
The brief
The owner lives in a third-floor townhouse with no yard access. Her rescue tabby, Arlo, had started trying to slip out the front door whenever a delivery came. The HOA rules ruled out anything touching the ground or visible from the street.
What we designed
A 36-square-foot window-mount catio that extends off the master bedroom window, completely invisible from the sidewalk. It's cantilevered, not ground-supported, with a matching trim detail so it reads as part of the original window casing from inside.
Details worth noting
- Powder-coated steel armature rated for 3x the weight of the structure, built to match existing window hardware.
- Clear polycarbonate roof so the bedroom doesn't lose any light.
- A removable ramp connecting the window seat to the catio floor. Stores flat when not in use.
The build
Two days on-site. Because of the height we used a scissor lift for exterior access. The owner was at work; the cat was in a carrier in the kitchen. By end of day two Arlo was already out in his catio watching the birds.
A month later
No more door-darting. Arlo's daily routine now includes about three hours of catio time, usually starting at first light. The owner reports that he comes back inside to eat, nap, and then demands to go back out.
