Cat Gate Full-Height v Catio: Which Is Best for Your Cat?

Key Takeaways:

• A catio and Cat-G8 solve different problems: a catio creates a new enclosed outdoor space, while Cat-G8 controls access through an existing doorway or opening.
• A catio is best for outdoor enrichment, giving cats a dedicated space to explore, climb and enjoy the sights and smells of the outdoors.
• Cat-G8 Full Height is best for access control, such as keeping patio or back doors open while helping prevent your cat from entering the garden.
• Cat-G8 requires significantly less space and investment, starting from £99.95 and using existing openings rather than requiring a dedicated outdoor area.
• A catio is a bigger installation commitment, typically requiring more outdoor space, construction time and a higher initial investment.
• Cat-G8 can retract or be completely removed when it is not needed, making it particularly useful for apartments, smaller homes and multi-use spaces.
• There is no universal “best” option: choose a catio if your priority is creating outdoor territory; consider Cat-G8 if your priority is managing where your cat can and cannot go.

Cat Gate Full-Height v Catio: Which Is Best for Your Cat?

If you are looking for a way to keep your cat safe while opening patio or back doors, you may be considering either a cat patio (catio) or a full-height cat gate.

At first glance, the two solutions can appear quite similar. Both can help cat owners enjoy fresh air and open doors while reducing the risk of your cat escaping into the garden.

However, a Catio and a full-height cat gate are actually designed to solve two different problems.

A Catio creates a new, enclosed outdoor space for your cat. A Cat-G8 Full Height controls access through an existing opening in your home.

Neither option is necessarily better than the other. The right choice depends on what you are trying to achieve, the space available and how much you want to invest.

In this guide, we compare a Catio with a Cat-G8 Full Height Cat Gate across five important areas: purpose, price, installation, benefits and drawbacks, and which option may be right for your home and cat.

1. What Is a Catio vs a Full-Height Cat Gate?

A catio, is an enclosed outdoor space designed specifically for cats.

Catios can be constructed from materials such as timber, steel and mesh and can either attach to the outside of a property or be built as a freestanding enclosure.

They effectively create an additional outdoor room where an indoor cat can experience fresh air, sights, smells and the outside environment while remaining contained.

Depending on the size of the catio, owners can also add shelves, climbing areas, beds and other enrichment features.

A Cat-G8 Full Height, on the other hand, is a retractable cat barrier designed to span an existing opening such as a patio door, internal doorway, hallway or archway.

Rather than creating additional space, its purpose is to control access between two existing spaces.

For example, you may want your patio doors open during the summer but don't want your indoor cat walking directly into the garden. A full-height Cat-G8 can be installed across the opening to create a physical barrier while still allowing fresh air into the home.

Cat-G8 Full Height is available in three heights - 120cm, 176cm and 208cm - with multiple widths available to suit different openings.

When the gate isn't required, it can retract to one side or be completely removed from its mounting brackets.

A catio gives your cat somewhere new to go. Cat-G8 helps control where your cat can already go.

2. Price: How Much Does a Catio vs a Cat Gate Cost?

Cost can be one of the biggest differences between the two options.

A Cat-G8 Full Height starts from £99.95, with the price increasing depending on the height and width required going up to £279.95.

Larger configurations naturally cost more because additional metal panels and components are required to span wider and taller openings.

Catios have a much wider price range.

The final cost will depend on factors such as:

• The overall size of the enclosure
• The materials used
• Whether it is wall-mounted or freestanding
• Additional access gates
• Shelves and enrichment accessories
• Whether you install it yourself or use a professional installation service

As an example, at the time of writing, some Catio's start at £300, with the final price varying according to the dimensions and options selected.

For customers considering the two products primarily because they want to open their patio doors, there is therefore a significant difference in initial investment.

If your objective is to give your cat an entirely new outdoor environment, paying more for a catio may provide significantly more value because a full-height gate simply isn't designed to provide the same experience.

If your only objective is to prevent your cat passing through an existing doorway, and allow fresh air flow into the home, constructing an entire outdoor enclosure may be more than you need.

3. Installation, Space and Impact on Your Home

Another major difference is the amount of space required and the level of installation involved.

Installing a Cat-G8 Full-Height

Cat-G8 Full Height uses eight mounting brackets - four fitted to one side of the opening and four to the other.

Depending on the mounting surface, the brackets can either be bonded or screw-fixed.

For suitable smooth surfaces such as uPVC, composite materials, metal and glass, high-grade adhesive tape can be used.

For surfaces such as wood, plasterboard or brick, suitable screw fixings are provided.

Once the brackets have been installed, the gate simply docks into them.

When required, you extend the gate across the opening. When it isn't required, it can fold back to one side or be completely removed.

This means the gate itself does not have to remain permanently across the opening. Only the small mounting brackets remain in position.

Cat-G8 therefore requires very little additional floor space because it uses an opening that already exists within the home.

Installing a Catio

A catio is a considerably larger project.

Some catio companies give an estimated DIY build time of approximately four to six hours and requires household tools including a drill, spirit level, hacksaw, screwdriver and pliers.

Other catio systems may be simpler or considerably more complex depending on their construction and size.

The biggest consideration, however, is space.

A catio requires a dedicated area of your garden, patio, balcony or other outdoor space.

While some modular systems can technically be dismantled or relocated, most catios are intended to remain installed for long periods of time.

That isn't necessarily a disadvantage. If you have the available space and want to create a permanent outdoor environment for your cat, this is precisely what makes a catio attractive.

For customers with smaller gardens, rented properties or apartments, however, the physical footprint may make a full outdoor enclosure less practical.

4. Benefits and Drawbacks

Although we design and manufacture Cat-G8, the purpose of this guide isn't to suggest that a full-height cat gate is better than a catio.

They serve different purposes, and there are circumstances where we would recommend considering a catio instead.

Benefits of Cat-G8 Full-Height

One of the biggest advantages of Cat-G8 is its flexibility.

It can be used across:

• Patio and back doors
• Internal doorways
• Hallways
• Archways
• Larger openings within the home

It takes up relatively little space and can be retracted or removed when it isn't required.

For someone who simply wants to open their patio doors for ventilation, restrict access to a particular room or separate areas of their home, this can make it a much simpler solution than building an outdoor enclosure.

The initial investment is also considerably lower than many professionally manufactured catios.

Drawbacks of Cat-G8 Full Height

Cat-G8 does not create additional living space for your cat.

Your cat cannot walk outside, explore an enclosure, climb shelves or spend extended periods enjoying a dedicated outdoor environment.

It is primarily an access-control product.

Every cat is also different in terms of size, behaviour, jumping ability and determination, so owners should always consider their individual cat and the proposed installation location before deciding whether any barrier is suitable.

Benefits of a Catio

The biggest advantage of a catio is something a gate simply cannot provide: genuine enclosed outdoor space.

For indoor cats in particular, a catio can offer additional environmental enrichment while allowing them to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the outdoors.

Depending on the design, catios can incorporate:

• Climbing shelves
• Platforms
• Beds
• Scratching areas
• Access gates
• Multiple levels

A well-designed catio can therefore become an extension of your cat's living environment rather than simply a method of containment.

Drawbacks of a Catio

The main considerations are cost, space and installation commitment.

A catio generally requires substantially more space than a gate and will become a noticeable feature of your garden, patio or property.

Installation can also take several hours and larger or more complex systems may benefit from professional installation.

The initial investment is typically higher as well.

For owners who have the space and specifically want to create an outdoor environment, these points may be relatively unimportant.

For someone whose only objective is to open a set of patio doors without their cat walking outside, however, a catio could be a much larger solution than is actually required.

5. Which is Right for You: A Cat-G8 Full-Height or a Catio?

The easiest way to decide is to start with one question:

What problem are you actually trying to solve?

A catio may be a better option if;

• You want your indoor cat to experience the outdoors safely.
• You want your cat to spend extended periods in an enclosed outdoor environment.
• You have suitable garden or patio space available.
• You want to add climbing areas, shelves and other enrichment features.
• You are comfortable making a larger and more permanent change to your outdoor space.
• Outdoor enrichment is your main objective rather than simply restricting access.

If your thought is:

“I want my indoor cat to have its own safe outdoor environment where it can explore and relax.”

A catio is probably the more appropriate solution.

Cat-G8 Full Height may be a better option if

• You want to open patio or back doors while controlling your cat's access to the garden.
• You want to separate different areas of your home.
• You don't have enough outdoor space for a catio.
• You live in a flat or apartment.
• You want something that can retract or be removed when it isn't required.
• You want to use an existing doorway rather than construct a new outdoor enclosure.

If your thought is:

“I simply want my doors open without giving my cat unrestricted access outside.”

Cat-G8 Full Height may be the more suitable solution.

6. Can you use a Catio and a Cat-G8 Full Height together?

It doesn't necessarily have to be one or the other.

A cat owner could use a catio to provide a dedicated outdoor environment while using Cat-G8 elsewhere in the home to manage access between rooms, hallways or other doors.

The two products can therefore complement each other because they perform different jobs.

7. Catio v Cat-G8 Full Height - The Verdict

There isn't a universal winner between a catio and a full-height cat gate.

Choose a catio if your priority is creating a new, enclosed outdoor environment for your cat.

Consider Cat-G8 Full Height if your priority is controlling access through an existing doorway or opening without creating an additional outdoor structure.

A catio offers more in terms of outdoor enrichment, but requires more space, a larger investment and a greater installation commitment.

Cat-G8 Full Height is more compact, removable and considerably simpler, but it does not provide the new outdoor territory that a catio can.

Understanding that distinction will help you choose the solution that best suits your home, your lifestyle and, most importantly, your individual cat.

8. Frequently Asked Questions. 

Is a full-height cat gate an alternative to a catio?

It can be an alternative if your main objective is to control access through a doorway or allow fresh air into your home without giving your cat unrestricted access outside. However, a cat gate does not provide the dedicated outdoor space and enrichment that a catio offers.

Which is cheaper: a catio or a full-height cat gate?

A full-height cat gate will generally have a lower initial cost. Cat-G8 Full Height starts from £99.95, whereas professionally manufactured catio systems can cost several thousand pounds or more depending on their size and configuration.

Can I use a full-height cat gate across patio doors?

Yes. Cat-G8 Full Height is designed for areas including patio doors, internal doorways, hallways and larger openings, provided there is a suitable surface and sufficient space for the brackets to be mounted correctly.

Is a catio better for an indoor cat?

If your main objective is to provide an indoor cat with additional enclosed outdoor territory and environmental enrichment, a catio will generally provide more opportunities than a cat gate.

Which option is better for a flat or apartment?

A full-height cat gate may be more practical where outdoor space is limited because it uses an existing doorway or opening rather than requiring a dedicated outdoor enclosure. The suitability will ultimately depend on the property and the individual cat.