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By Miriam Raftery
July 14, 2015 (Mt. Helix) – Recently, Mt. Helix residents on the “Next Door” community forum website posted concerns after a distraught resident reported seeing a coyote kill her small Yorkie dog. Fortunately, another East County resident has offered a solution for residents who want to provide a safe outdoor area for small dogs or cats to exercise safely, without harming coyotes, which are native to our region and help control rodent populations.
Ken Benjamin created an outdoor “Catio” or enclosed patio for cats (which could also be a “Doggio” for small dogs.) He and his wife ordered components off www.purrfectfence.com and customized by adding a roofo atop netting along a back wall of their home—protecting against hawks and other birds of prey as well as coyotes or stray dogs. Cats have access through a cat door into the enclosure directly from the house.
“We can’t say enough in praise of Catios,” Benjamin told East County Magazine. “My wife and I love seeing our cats looking blissed out, lounging around in the sun and enjoying nature while safe from predators.”
He adds, “One big benefit of Catios that isn’t often mentioned: we quickly recouped the costs in savings on vet bills alone. When the cats roamed free, they were injured in fights and one ingested something toxic. So our Catio quickly paid for itself.”
But the number one benefit has been peace of mind. “In broad daylight, to our horror, we once spotted a coyote a few feet from the Catio.” Knowing his cherished cats are safe is a “huge relief,” he concludes, adding, “With the right size and a run of grass…I can quite see a toddler playing safely inside.”
Another option is to order coyote rollers to make it harder for coyotes to leap a fence. Loud noises and flashing lights can also help dissuade coyotes from frequenting your property, as can larger dogs.
The New York Times has published additional photos and links on resources for Catio-type enclosures: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/
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