The Mystery Structure on Hillhurst Has a Name, and It's Kind of Amazing
Every single school-run parent on Hillhurst has clocked it. Turns out it's a full-blown business, run by two of our neighbors, and it exists entirely for cats.
For years now, I've driven past the back of this property nearly every single day, dropping my son off at the high school and picking him back up. And every single time, I looked at that wood-and-wire structure tucked into the yard and thought: what is that? A chicken coop with commitment issues? An elaborate she-shed? I had theories. None of them were right. Then my best friend flew in from Colorado for graduation season, we drove past it together, and she practically launched herself out of the passenger seat. "Wait, is that a catio?! I follow them on Instagram! I LOVE their catios!" Reader, she does not yet have a catio of her own. Judy, if you're reading this: this is your sign.
Once she said it out loud, it was obvious. That mystery structure wasn't random. It was a full catio build, done by a company most of us drive past without ever knowing existed: The Catio Company. So I did what any nosy, delighted local blogger would do. I emailed them.
Meet the Humans Behind the Mystery
The Catio Company is Rivers and Daniela, a husband-and-wife team based just over the river in Washougal, who spend a lot of their time building in Ridgefield and the surrounding area. Rivers handles the framing, structural work, and construction on every project. Daniela designs the interior layouts and all the accessories, custom-built around each set of cats' ages, personalities, and activity levels. Rivers builds it, Daniela furnishes it, and somewhere in the middle, a lot of very lucky cats get an upgrade.
They're also cat parents themselves, to two rescued littermates, Misty and Spooky, who were pulled out from under a deck during one of their catio builds. The rest of the litter found homes with friends and family. Misty and Spooky got a catio of their own, and, according to Rivers and Daniela, Misty has unofficially appointed herself head inspector, testing every new accessory before it goes out the door.
How a Pandemic Layoff Turned Into a Full-Time Catio Business
The origin story starts in 2021, when Rivers and Daniela both lost their jobs during COVID. They'd always wanted to work with animals, and once they discovered the concept of catios, that was that. Their first build was for themselves, and they never looked back. What started as a pandemic pivot is now a full-time business with over 100 custom catios built across the Pacific Northwest.
Okay, But What Exactly Is a Catio?
A catio is essentially a secure outdoor enclosure that lets indoor cats experience fresh air, sunshine, and outdoor enrichment without the risks that come with roaming free, think traffic, predators, and getting into it with the neighborhood's outdoor cats. It's also a nice bit of peace of mind for local wildlife, since a cat that's safely enclosed isn't out hunting birds in the greenway behind your house.
Rivers and Daniela build just about every version you can imagine: small window catios, large freestanding structures, tunnel systems connecting different parts of a yard, converted patios, and fully enclosed outdoor spaces built from scratch. Every design is customized to the specific cats using it, and a lot of clients want a space they can enjoy right alongside their pets, not just something tacked onto the side of the house.
And look, I'm well aware there's an ongoing, extremely spirited debate on our local NextDoor about indoor cats versus outdoor cats that shows zero signs of slowing down. I'm not wading into that one, and yes I have a cat. But if you've got an indoor cat who's desperate to be an outdoor cat, and you'd rather not become part of the discourse, this is genuinely your answer.
Their Process, From First Email to Cat-Approved
Most clients find them through their website and fill out the contact form, or reach out directly by email. From there, Rivers and Daniela review the project details and put together a free estimate. If it's a fit, they schedule an in-person consultation to meet the cats, walk the space, bring material samples, and talk through design ideas. After that, they build a custom design, lock in the contract, and get the project on the schedule, prefabricating as much as they can in their shop ahead of the installation date so the actual build day goes smoothly.
The Basics
A Few Favorites From Their Portfolio
Custom shelving, sun perches, and enough vertical space for a cat to properly supervise the yard.
Daniela's design work shows up in the little things here, layered levels, shaded spots, and sightlines that keep two cats from feeling like they're on top of each other.
A Couple of Things You're Probably Wondering
Nope. That one's a client project, but they build throughout Ridgefield and the surrounding area regularly. It's just the one most of us happen to drive past.
Not necessarily. They build everything from small window catios up to large freestanding structures, so the design scales to whatever space you've actually got.
Fill out the contact form on their site or email them directly. They'll review your project and put together a free estimate before anything else happens.
More From Meanwhile in Ridgefield
So next time you're driving down Hillhurst and you spot that setup, you'll know exactly what you're looking at, and you'll probably start side-eyeing your own cat's very ordinary indoor life. If you've been thinking about a catio of your own, or you just want to see more of Rivers and Daniela's work, give The Catio Company a follow. And Judy, I mean it. This is your sign.
