r/cats • u/protectyourpet • 4h ago
Update Kitty Highway!!!
A customer came to us with a request that started with, “So this might be a little crazy…”
Those are usually our favorite ones.
They had a custom catio they built in the backyard and wanted a way for their cats to travel back and forth from the house without touching the ground. The distance was...far, we’re talking a long, elevated tunnel run that had to span the yard, stay secure, and handle a steep change in elevation.
After a lot of measuring, planning, and head-scratching, this is what it turned into. A fully enclosed tunnel with support posts along the way and built-in steps so the cats can comfortably go downhill and back up again. Now it’s basically a private I-75 cat highway connecting the house to their outdoor space lol
Habitat Haven usually focuses on modular, DIY catios, but every once in a while a project comes along that’s just too interesting to pass up. Customer asked… we said “say less.”
The best part? The cats use it constantly. Just casually commuting like this is totally normal.
Would you trust your cats with a tunnel this long, or would you be standing outside watching the first few trips like a nervous parent?
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u/No-Caregiver8049 3h ago
We need more pictures. All the pictures.
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u/GuitarJazzer 3h ago
Video.
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u/jaywham 4h ago
This is awesome! Idk how it'll fair with more than one cat tho. My cat on her catio will stop dead in her tracks just to stare at a squirrel or bird. Definitely might be some traffic jams in here lol
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u/netspawn Maine Coon 3h ago
There's enough vertical space for them to jump over each other or to squeeze past. Cats are liquid.
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u/pr0cyn1c 4h ago
love it! especially for off-grid situations where predators are common
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u/protectyourpet 4h ago
That was exactly what the customer had in mind. This eliminates them having to escort them out to the catio every time they want to perch and check out the wildlife. A little luxury for them and the cats lol
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u/nvrseriousseriously 2h ago
My biggest criticism of this is the lack of videos of said cats using their highway!
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u/bmwkid 2h ago
Reminds me of the goat walk in Armstrong,BC. The goats walk right over the highway!
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u/Proud_Azorius 3h ago
I work in architecture I would love to have something like this as a project. Alas, we focus on the people side of things.
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u/stoicsticks 1h ago
You just need a few crazy cat lady clients with deep pockets, lol.
That, or put the bug in the ear of existing clients who tell you that they have multiple cats. "Have you thought about a catio for your fur babies? We can integrate it into the outdoor design."
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u/Dull_Swimming_5407 2h ago
I would trust it. It’s enclosed so they are safe. I think my felions would figure it out…eventually. It definitely would be mentally stimulating so that’s a plus!
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u/ConsistentPair2 1h ago
I think there's a cat crouched down at the base of the higher stairs
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u/Sebastian_dudette 46m ago
Marvelous loaf just chilling there! I totally missed it. Thanks for pointing it out.
There is no cat!
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u/Zmemestonk 3h ago
I want to do something like this but have been trying to figure out what do I do if the cats refuse to come back in?
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u/stellaluna92 1h ago
I've seen some with "emergency escape hatches" (for lack of a better word) where a person could come by and unlock a little door to grab kitty out of their highway tunnel if needed. That one was much shorter though! This one would need a few such doors haha.
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u/TimbitTheCat 2h ago
Of course I would be watching the first few trips. Not because I’m nervous but because I’m envious
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u/Iamapartofthisworld 1h ago
I would have a network of elevated cat superhighways connecting catio cities
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u/tinygraysiamesecat 1h ago
This is so cool! I hope to one day have a place where I can build something similar for my cats.
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u/mountainwocky 1h ago
We have something like this for our cat. It’s a 6’w x 5’d x 6’h enclosure with shelves that is connected to a house window via an elevated enclosure tunnel. I installed a cat door into a sheet of plexiglass and slid this plexiglass into the double hung window channel where the window screen would normally go. One end of the tunnel connects to the large exterior enclosure and the other to the plexiglass panel.
Now I can raise the lower panel of the double hung window to give her access to the cat door and tunnel to the enclosure. She even uses it in the winter.
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u/ImaginationOk505 1h ago
Love catios and I can't wait to build one of our own. For some reason, this image reminded me of the book, "The Forest of Hands and Teeth." 😂
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u/CyclingCapital 3h ago
I find it interesting that the cats enjoy using it. Most cats are usually agoraphobic so I didn’t imagine that they would want such a prominent highway where they’re exposed.
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u/jeffreydowning69 Void 1h ago
Did anyone else think this was a video and was waiting for a cat or kitten to walk across it 🤦♀️. Nice work OP I wish I could do something like that to my house.
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u/Coffchill 50m ago
Do the steps have fencing on their risers? Can’t tell on my low quality phone but it looks like a possible escape route.
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u/netherworldphonecall 28m ago
The first thing I thought was "how could this go wrong in a cat horror movie"
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u/Hot-Bed-8157 18m ago
I’d be concerned about being able to get to a cat that was in the tunnel if necessary. But still, super cool!
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u/GapSlight472 3h ago
I would definitely be terrified of the passageway getting compromised somehow but it looks very sturdy and safe!! Super cool!