Are your catios "predator proof"?Updated 2 months ago

The steel wire mesh panels used on all Habitat Haven enclosures are very heavy-duty and predator proof. In the 20+ years that we have been providing catios, we have not once been made aware of a situation where a coyote (or any other predator animal) was able to break into an enclosure.

The wire strands that create the mesh panels are about 3.5mm in diameter which equates to about 8 gauge on the AWG scale. The wire panels are held together with steel three-pronged clips, so the panels themselves cannot be pulled apart.

The strands are welded together to create square openings that are 2" x 2" so a cat (coyote, or other wild animal) is not able to bend the wires or squeeze through the openings. For added protection against digging, a fully-enclosed catio with a wire mesh floor is recommended. This helps ensure that

(1) no gaps exist within the catio structure, and
(2) no animal is able to dig under and gain access from underneath.