> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.catstandard.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to choose a catio: size, access and total cost - URL: https://www.catstandard.co.uk/how-to-choose-catio/ - Published: 2026-09-10T12:11:45.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-17T18:44:59.000Z - Description: Start with the compact full-height Omlet catio, then compare larger gated and wall-side options. Check UK kit prices, usable space, house access and full costs. - Author: Kieran Simpson - Tags: Catios & garden containment, Life at home, #guide, #research-guide, Buying guides, #reviewed-on-2026-10-17 Buying guide · Omlet and ProtectaPet offers rechecked 17 October 2026 ## Best starting pick for a compact garden: Omlet Start with the full-height **Omlet 2 × 2 × 2** for a compact self-assembly catio: £619 with a human door. Its 1.8 × 1.8m interior needs 2.2 × 2.2m including the skirt. House connection and shelter cost extra; plan a secure route indoors. [Configure Omlet: select full-height 2 × 2 × 2](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=76702&awinaffid=2914431&clickref=catstandard&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omlet.co.uk%2Fshop%2Fcat%5Fproducts%2Fcatios-outdoor-cat-enclosures%2F&ref=catstandard.co.uk) **In Omlet’s configurator:** choose height 2.05m, width 1.8m and length 1.8m, with no accessories selected for the kit price. The link opens the range; choose these sizes yourself. Need more floor space? The longer 2 × 3 × 2 kit is £739\. For a tailored wall-side layout, compare ProtectaPet below; for a whole garden, use our [fencing comparison](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/catio-vs-cat-proof-fencing/). On this page [UK catio systems worth comparing](#uk-catio-systems-worth-comparing)[Start with how your cat gets back inside](#start-with-how-your-cat-gets-back-inside)[Measure the footprint, not just the product name](#measure-the-footprint-not-just-the-product-name)[Why these catio picks?](#why-these-catio-picks)[Budget for the finished catio](#budget-for-the-finished-catio)[Check before buying](#before-placing-the-order)[Sources and selection](#sources-and-selection) A catio is an outdoor room for someone who contributes nothing to the mortgage. A fairly persuasive idea, admittedly. Before buying one, though, work out how your cat will get into it, how you will clean it and what the finished setup will actually cost. ## UK catio systems worth comparing Choose for the site and access you actually have. Manufacturer-stated sizes retain their 6 October 2026 basis. Omlet and ProtectaPet offers were rechecked 17 October; the Wingham offer below retains its 6 October observation. These are kit prices before delivery and site-specific work. Scroll across to see the full table. Starting configurations and the job each suits. Omlet links open the configurator; select the stated size. __Starting configurations and the job each suits. Omlet links open the configurator; select the stated size.__ | Need | Our starting choice | Main compromise | Kit price & action | | ------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Compact self-assembly garden enclosure | Omlet full-height 2 × 2 × 2\. Human door included; 1.8 × 1.8m interior, 2.2 × 2.2m including skirt, 2.05m high. | Compact floor space; house connection, cover and any ground work cost extra. | £619.[Configure the full-height Omlet kit](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=76702&awinaffid=2914431&clickref=catstandard&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.omlet.co.uk%2Fshop%2Fcat%5Fproducts%2Fcatios-outdoor-cat-enclosures%2F&ref=catstandard.co.uk) | | Larger square patio or adaptable wall-side layout | ProtectaPet 2.4 × 2.4m Catio with Gate. 2.34 × 2.34 × 2.34m interior; steel frame with poly-mesh. | Higher kit price; wall junction, fixings and shelter need a complete plan. | £1,400, gate included.[Check the gated kit](https://protectapet.com/products/protectapet-catio-steel-framed-cat-enclosure-kit-2-4m-x-2-4m?variant=55331186606462&ref=catstandard.co.uk) | | Timber enclosure beside a suitable solid wall | Wingham three-sided 6ft × 3ft × 7.2ft variant. | The wall must complete the fourth side; it is not a complete freestanding enclosure. | £340 on Amazon; Home and Roost, dispatched in 6–7 days at the check.[Check the selected Wingham size](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FKBF2686?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) | | Access to the whole garden | Have the complete boundary assessed for cat-proof fencing. | Gates, trees and surrounding structures affect suitability and total cost. | [Compare the garden routes](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/catio-vs-cat-proof-fencing/) | ## Start with how your cat gets back inside A catio should give your cat a choice. Cats Protection advises letting cats enter voluntarily and keeping their route back into the house available. It discourages standalone pens that require cats to be carried in and shut inside. Its [catio advice](https://www.cats.org.uk/cats-blog/are-catios-good-for-cats?ref=catstandard.co.uk) also cautions that restricting an established outdoor cat’s territory can cause frustration. Draw the route from the house before choosing the enclosure. Is there a suitable cat flap, door or window? Would you need a tunnel? Can the connection stay secure while the house opening is in use? An enclosure in a convenient corner of the garden is less convenient if the journey there requires a daily hostage negotiation. [![Omlet window enclosure connected by a raised mesh tunnel to a garden catio](https://www.awin1.com/cshow.php?s=3899634&v=76702&q=515740&r=2914431)](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?s=3899634&v=76702&q=515740&r=2914431&ref=catstandard.co.uk) A window enclosure and raised tunnel create a route between house and catio. Omlet’s example includes separately priced connections and accessories; it is not the £619 kit on its own. Image: Omlet. For a cat with mobility limitations, ask your vet about an appropriate layout. A tall climbing route is not automatically an accessible route. For the wider garden, start with our [cat-friendly garden guide](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/cat-friendly-garden/). ## Measure the footprint, not just the product name Mark the proposed outline on the ground and walk around it. Include the door swing, room to assemble the structure and access to drains, taps and anything you will eventually need to repair. Discovering the outdoor tap is behind a climbing wall feels avoidable. Separate three measurements in your notes: the usable interior, the external structure and any skirt or projecting fixings. Then sketch where shelves, hiding places and the human access route would go. Height can add useful climbing opportunities, but shelves do not make a cramped floor disappear. If several cats will use it, think about passing space and separate places to settle. A single attractive perch at the end of a narrow route may become a queue with opinions. ![Omlet compact catio: 1.8 by 1.8m inside, 2.2 by 2.2m including skirt, with a door included and other site requirements separate.](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/assets/images/guides/catio-footprint-access.svg) The squares compare Omlet’s stated interior and full footprint for the compact full-height kit. Plan the route indoors and human access using the exact assembly instructions; this does not specify fixing positions or safe clearances. Sources: [Omlet compact full-height configuration](https://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/cat%5Fproducts/catios-outdoor-cat-enclosures/?ref=catstandard.co.uk).Original diagram: [The Cat Standard](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/how-to-choose-catio/). Please credit us and link to this guide if you share it. [Download this diagram (SVG)](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/assets/images/guides/catio-footprint-access.svg) ## Why these catio picks? ### Omlet: our starting pick for a modular garden enclosure Omlet is our starting pick for a straightforward modular garden enclosure. The £619 full-height 2 × 2 × 2 kit includes its stable-style human door. If you can fit a longer enclosure, the £739 2 × 3 × 2 kit increases the listed interior to 1.8 × 2.7m (4.86m²), with a 2.2 × 3.1m footprint including the skirt. Both are 2.05m high; choose the space your layout needs rather than automatically buying the smallest. Omlet’s [support guidance](https://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/cat%5Fproducts/catios-outdoor-cat-enclosures/support/?ref=catstandard.co.uk) distinguishes the compatible tunnel system from direct house attachment, for which it advises specialist help. Price the house connection, cover and required fixings separately. Kittens and very small cats may need additional mesh protection: confirm suitability with Omlet before buying. ### ProtectaPet: consider it for a layout that needs adapting ProtectaPet lists wall-mounted and freestanding configurations. It says the steel posts can be trimmed, with cut ends treated with primer. That flexibility may suit an awkward space, but it brings measuring and construction decisions that a basket total cannot make for you. Use the £1,400 Catio with Gate as the walk-in comparison. Its £800 base option excludes that gate and is a different basket. The selected gated kit is 2.4 × 2.4 × 2.4m externally and 2.34 × 2.34 × 2.34m inside. Confirm the wall or freestanding arrangement and fixing details; steel-framed means a steel frame with poly-mesh here. ### Wingham: an Amazon option for a suitable wall-side setup The Wingham three-sided catio is available from Home and Roost through Amazon. The selected listing is the 6ft × 3ft × 7.2ft version. It needs a suitable solid surface to form its fourth side; confirm the building connection, exact dimensions and supplied components before ordering. ### Wingham three-sided catio A timber option to investigate where a suitable wall can complete the enclosure. Plan the return route indoors and check installation requirements. [Check the selected size on Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FKBF2686?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) The [matching Wingham shelf five-pack](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FLYN491T?tag=catstandard-21&ref=catstandard.co.uk) is another option for this system; confirm supports and load limits before fitting. See the [placement guide](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/where-to-put-catio/#example) for the wall-side layout considerations and manufacturer references. ### When cat-proof fencing belongs on the shortlist If your aim is to contain a whole garden, ask about a boundary system as well. That is a different project from enclosing a smaller area with a mesh ceiling. Existing fences, gates, trees and nearby structures all become part of the assessment. Compare the actual proposed work, not the cheapest starting price from each category. Our [catio vs cat-proof fencing guide](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/catio-vs-cat-proof-fencing/) explains which garden layouts suit each approach. ## Budget for the finished catio Compare the enclosure, a usable route back indoors and the work needed to fit it to your site. Then add shelter, furnishings, delivery and labour. Check which items are already included before buying them twice. The compact Omlet kit plus the matching £60 heavy-duty 2 × 2 cover has a known product subtotal of £679\. That leaves the house connection, anchoring, delivery, site work and furnishings to price. Use our [worked catio budgets and worksheet](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/catio-cost-uk/) to carry those lines through to a complete quote. For sustainability, I would prioritise a setup that fits properly, can be repaired and will stay useful. An expandable frame is worth considering if it avoids replacing the whole enclosure later. Neither a green finish nor an expensive price establishes an environmental benefit on its own. Before ordering, use our [free catio site, budget and supplier-quote pack](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/catio-cost-uk/#budget). Mark included doors and parts once, record every unresolved site cost, and compare written quotes for the same finished setup. ## Check before buying - **Get the current assembly instructions.** Check tools, access, surface requirements and fixing details for the exact configuration. - **Ask about suitability for your cat.** Check mesh openings and the manufacturer’s restrictions, especially for kittens or unusually small cats. - **Plan human entry.** Decide how you will open the door without giving your cat an unintended exit route, and whether a compatible porch or airlock is needed. - **Check weather exposure.** Look at the location at different times of day, including the hottest part. A mesh ceiling is not a rain roof. - **Confirm permissions before building.** Resolve any landlord, property or local planning requirements for your particular project before committing to structural work. - **Read delivery and return terms.** Establish the cost and conditions of returning a bulky kit, particularly if you intend to customise it. - **Keep inspecting it.** Check doors, connections, mesh and fixings for wear or damage. Low-maintenance materials still need attention. The useful purchase is the one that works for your cat and your actual house. The photograph with eight platforms and a beautifully behaved cat is allowed to remain somebody else’s photograph. ### Our starting choice: compact full-height Omlet Choose it for a modular self-assembly garden enclosure with a human door included. Allow 2.2 × 2.2m including the skirt; the 1.8 × 1.8m interior may be too compact for your planned layout. Price the secure house connection and shelter before committing. Before settling on a layout, use our [guide to where to put a catio](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/where-to-put-catio/) to check access, shade and maintenance space. For the interior, use our [catio enrichment guide](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/what-to-put-in-catio/) to plan perches, hiding places, scratching and compatible shelves or ramps. Planning the whole setup? Explore our [catio and garden containment guides](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/topics/catios-and-garden-containment/) for choosing, positioning and furnishing your outdoor space. Shortlisting the two modular systems? Our [Omlet vs ProtectaPet catio comparison](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/omlet-vs-protectapet-catios/) matches walk-in configurations by usable space, includes the gate cost and separates the remaining project expenses. ## Sources and selection Original manufacturer, Wingham/Amazon and Cats Protection research was checked 6 October 2026\. On 17 October we rechecked the two full-height Omlet kits, matching compact cover, ProtectaPet base and gated kit offers, Omlet’s current dimensions and support guidance, and ProtectaPet’s delivery terms. Their prices and the configuration advice were unchanged. Wingham’s offer retains its 6 October observation. Recommendations compare documented layout, access and cost; dimensions are manufacturer-stated. The Omlet purchase route opens the range: select the dimensions stated beside the opening action. See [our editorial standards](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/our-standards/). Continue with our [cat-friendly garden guide](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/cat-friendly-garden/), browse [Life at Home](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/topics/life-at-home/) or read [our editorial standards](https://www.catstandard.co.uk/our-standards/).