DIY catio or professional build? Costs, skills and common mistakes

Updated 6 November 2026 · By the Cat Enclosures team

Short answer: A DIY catio can save labour costs if you are confident with timber framing and have time, with materials for a small walk-in catio often costing several hundred pounds. A professional build costs more but includes design, base work, escape-proof detailing and usually takes one or two days. DIY suits simple freestanding designs on level ground; professional builds suit house-linked catios, balconies, sloping sites and large enclosures.

DIY catio or professional build? Costs, skills and common mistakes

What a DIY build involves

Building a catio yourself means designing it, buying timber, mesh, roofing and fixings, preparing a level base, cutting and assembling the frame, and fixing the mesh securely. For a small freestanding catio, a competent DIYer might spend two to four days, often across several weekends. Larger enclosures, house-linked designs and balconies take much longer and need more skill.

Mitre or circular saw, drill driver and impact driver
Spirit level, tape and square
Tin snips or bolt croppers for cutting mesh
Staple gun plus battens and screws for fixing mesh
Gloves and eye protection, because cut mesh is sharp
A second person to hold panels and roof sheets

Cost comparison

	DIY build	Professional build
Small walk-in catio	Materials often a few hundred pounds up to around £800	Typically £1,200 to £2,200
Large or house-linked catio	Materials often £800 to £2,000 or more	Typically £2,200 to £4,000 or more
Time	Several days to several weekends	Usually one or two days on site
Tools	Bought or hired if you do not have them	Included
Design and planning check	Your responsibility	Included

These are rough guide figures. Timber and mesh prices change, and quality makes a big difference. Many DIY builds end up costing more than planned once extra timber, better mesh and fixings are added.

Remember to count the hidden costs of DIY: hiring or buying tools, delivery charges on timber and roofing sheets, slabs or gravel for the base, wasted materials from mistakes, and the time spent on several trips to the builders merchant. Against that, a professional quote includes all of these, and an experienced builder usually wastes far less material because the design is worked out before anything is cut. If you value your weekends, or the enclosure is large, the gap between DIY and professional cost is often smaller than it first looks.

Common DIY mistakes

Using chicken wire instead of welded mesh
Fixing mesh with staples only, which cats and foxes can pop out
Building on an unlevel base, so the frame twists and doors will not shut
Leaving gaps where the catio meets the house, fence or ground
Putting shelves next to the roof edge, creating a launch point
No shelter from rain, wind or summer sun
Using untreated timber that rots within a few years
Leaving sharp cut wire ends exposed

Rules still apply to DIY builds

Building it yourself does not change the planning position. In England, a freestanding back-garden catio is usually treated as an outbuilding under permitted development, so it should stay behind the front of the house and be no more than 2.5 metres high if it is within 2 metres of a boundary. Flats, listed buildings and some conservation areas have tighter rules, so check before you buy materials.

If you rent, get written permission from your landlord before building anything fixed, and if you are a leaseholder, check your lease and ask the freeholder. If anything will be fixed to a shared or neighbouring fence, agree it with your neighbour first. Before drilling into a house wall, check for hidden cables and pipes, and keep fixings clear of the damp-proof course and air bricks.

When DIY makes sense

A small, freestanding design on flat, firm ground
You already have the tools and some carpentry experience
Your cats are calm and not known escape artists
You are happy to spend time getting the details right
You are adapting a quality kit rather than designing from scratch

When to use a professional

The catio attaches to the house or needs a cat flap through glass or a wall
The site slopes, has steps or drains in the way
You need a balcony or window enclosure at height
The enclosure is large, multi-level or has a solid roof
You have several cats, or a cat that has escaped before
You want cat-proof fencing round a whole garden, with gates and trees to deal with

A middle route

Some owners buy a quality kit and pay for professional assembly and base work, or have a professional build the frame and roof while they add shelves and decoration later. This keeps costs down while making sure the structural and escape-proof parts are done properly.

Whichever route you choose, test the finished enclosure before your cat uses it unsupervised. Push every panel, check every corner and the base, and watch your cat on its first few visits, because cats are very good at finding the one gap you missed. Treat the first weeks as a trial and fix anything that looks weak straight away.