Classic
Typically
$6,000–$8,500
Premium craftsmanship in a simpler overall design.
Straightforward construction
Standard cat-feature package
Timeless finish selections
Home› Porch Catios
Most requested build
Turn your covered porch into a custom catio
Your porch already did the hard part.
A porch catio starts with a structure you already own. Roof, floor, one wall — done. CatManDo converts covered porches across Austin and Greater Austin into secure daily outdoor spaces for cats with cedar framing, durable black screening, doors, climbing routes and finish, without the porch stopping being a porch for you. Because the bones exist, it is usually faster and costs less than building a freestanding Signature catio from the ground up.
01 · Roof already there
02 · Wall we screen in
03 · Floor you already walk on
What makes it a catio
What separates a porch catio from a screened-in porch
Screening that holds
This is the part that makes it a catio and not a screened porch. We use heavy pet-grade black screening and fasten it with thousands of staples, several per inch, so a cat can throw its full weight at the screen and nothing gives. Every seam, joint and transition gets detailed, because cats find the one gap you did not.
Doors that make sense
We build our screen doors by hand: solid cedar, two horizontal supports, and a real doorknob rather than a flimsy latch. Pet doors and window connections are planned so cats come and go on their own while the enclosure stays secure.
Places to be a cat
Height, choice and a good view of the yard. Shelves, perches and routes are placed around how your cats actually move and rest.
Still a porch
A porch catio people still sit in
A good porch catio works for everyone in the house. Seating stays usable. The screening almost disappears unless you look for it: it does not darken the porch and it does not take away the view out. Mosquitoes, wasps and debris stay on the other side of it. The finished space reads as part of the house, not a cage bolted onto it.
Seating and traffic paths stay where they were
Screen disappears, view and light stay
Bugs out for the cats and for you
Want a high-quality screen room but don’t have cats? CatManDo Catios and Austin Screen Rooms are operated by the same team. Austin Screen Rooms builds those →
Before and after
Real transformations from Greater Austin homes
The porch we started with, the choices we made, and where the cats nap now.
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A covered patio doing nothing in particular.
The same porch, framed in cedar and screened to keep cats in and bugs out.
1 / 3
Covered patio to screened cedar room
Process
How a porch conversion works
01
Look at the structure
Roof, floor and access points, and how the openings frame in.
02
Plan around what is there
Cedar framing, screening, doors and cat features, sized to the porch you have.
03
Written scope
Materials and work in writing before anything is scheduled.
04
Build on site
Owners on the build. Typically 3 to 5 days for a porch conversion.
05
Walkthrough
We show you how everything works, latches included.
Investment
What does a custom catio cost?
Every CatManDo catio is designed and built for the home, the space, and the cats who will enjoy it. Because no two projects are quite alike, pricing is not based on size alone.
Typical Project Investment
Elevated
Typically
$9,000–$12,000
More space, more features, or greater design complexity.
Expanded shelves, perches or ramps
Upgraded finishes or added doors
More involved installation
Premium
Typically
$12,500+
Our most distinctive and highly customized projects.
Extensive custom catification
Specialty doors and finishes
Complex architectural conditions
Your catio’s size is only one part of its price. Features, finishes, doors, installation conditions, and construction complexity all help determine the final investment.
These ranges are a helpful starting point, not fixed packages or guaranteed prices. A large, straightforward enclosure may cost less than a smaller catio with specialty features and custom finishes. Some simple porch enclosures fall below these typical ranges. Most porch conversions are built on site in three to five days.
What shapes the final investment?
Three things move the number most
Size
The overall footprint, and the amount of framing, screening, roofing and structural work it takes.
Construction complexity
Site access, unusual dimensions, existing structures, difficult installation conditions and other architectural challenges.
Cat features
The number and type of shelves, perches, ramps, walkways, sisal climbers, cat trees and other specialty features.
Doors, stain and trim selections, pet-door installations and other finish details also affect the final investment. Every project gets the same CatManDo commitment to safety, durability, thoughtful design and exceptional craftsmanship. Once we learn about your space and what you want to create, we provide a personalized proposal.
Get a personalized proposal
Not sure where your project fits? Tell us about your space and your cats, and we will help you understand the possibilities.
Porch catio questions
The five we get every week
If a porch is not a good candidate, we tell you why after seeing photos.
Can any covered porch become a catio?
Most structurally sound covered porches can. We check the roof, floor and how the openings frame in. If a porch is not a good candidate, we will tell you why after seeing photos, and anything that looks structural should be evaluated by a qualified professional.
Do we lose the porch for ourselves?
No. That is the point of a porch catio over a cage. Seating stays, doors work like doors, and the screening helps keep mosquitoes and wasps out for everyone. The goal is a porch the whole household uses more, not less.
How do the cats get in and out?
Usually a pet door through the existing house door or a window connection, planned so cats can come and go on their own while the enclosure stays secure.
What about cleaning and litter?
Finish choices are planned for easy care: sealed surfaces, no carpet and nothing that traps mess. Where the litter box goes, in or out, is a design conversation, not an afterthought.
Can a determined cat get out?
Escape prevention is the entire job. We use durable pet screening and detail every seam, joint and transition carefully. To date, we have not had a customer report a cat escaping through or tearing the screening we installed.
Also worth a look
Window Catios →Request a porch catio
Send a wide shot of the porch and we will take it from there
A few fields and a photo or two to start. We review each request for location, scope and schedule, then follow up directly. Want to send photos and tell us about the cats? Use the full request form →
Austin & Central TexasCustom construction only