Who We Are
At Portland Catios, we believe that every cat deserves to feel the wind in their fur without the risk of never coming home. We are a father son ran business rooted in Happy Valley, driven by the same deep love for animals that you have for your own pets. We know that the outdoors offers incredible mental stimulation, from watching birds to soaking in sunbeams, but in the Portland Metro area, it also brings the serious threats of speeding cars and aggressive coyotes.
We founded this company to provide the ultimate solution: custom cat enclosures that bridge the gap between indoor safety and outdoor freedom. Whether you are looking for a compact window box catio or a sprawling outdoor cat run, we utilize Richard’s decades of professional engineering experience to ensure every structure is predator-proof and built to last. We do not just build these backyard sanctuaries for clients; we build them because we demand the absolute best for our own three cats, Milo, Margo, and Major. We understand that a custom catio is more than just wood and wire. It is a way to give your family member a richer, happier life while giving you total peace of mind.
Learn About The Owners
Richard Snyder
I spent years manufacturing medical implants where 'precision' was non-negotiable. I bring that same standard to your home installation."
Before co-founding Portland Catios, I worked as a Manufacturing Engineer in the medical device industry, focusing on the production of orthopedic prosthetics. In that field, a fraction of a millimeter is the difference between success and failure. We operated with a 'Zero-Defect' mentality because the products we built had to perform perfectly for a lifetime.
I don't guess. I engineer. I have taken the rigorous discipline of medical manufacturing and applied it directly to catio installation in Portland:
I may not be building medical devices anymore, but I am still building critical structures designed to keep living things safe, healthy, and happy."
Max Snyder
I’ll be real with you: I didn’t spend four years at Portland State University planning to become a construction contractor.
I graduated with a double major in Finance and Supply Chain Management, ready to jump into the corporate world. But as I looked around the Portland Metro area, I realized something: Finding a reliable person to build high-quality things for your home is incredibly hard.
The industry felt stuck in the past. People were dealing with contractors who were disorganized, hard to reach, or just didn't care about the details.
I realized I had a unique opportunity. I could take the skills I learned at PSU—organization, budgeting, and efficiency—and apply them to something I actually care about: keeping cats safe.
We don't just build for clients. We build to impress these three.
Milo: Chief Climbing Officer
Milo believes that the floor is lava. His happy place is at least 6 feet off the ground. We use Milo to test our vertical catio designs and multi-level climbing platforms.
If a shelf wobbles even a millimeter when he lands on it, we reinforce it. He is the reason we focus so heavily on sturdy outdoor cat furniture.
Because he needs a structure that can handle the zoomies.
Margo: Head of Comfort
Margo doesn't care about engineering; she cares about vibes. She is responsible for finding the perfect sun trap. We watch where Margo chooses to nap to determine the best placement for covered cat runs and weatherproof shelters.
She taught us that a year-round catio needs to be warm in the winter and breezy in the summer.
If Margo isn't asleep in it within 10 minutes, the design failed
Major: Director of Security
Major is the reason we offer a Lifetime Safety Guarantee. He is high energy, curious, and convinced that he can fit through any gap.
He tests every inch of our predator proof fencing and checks every corner of our backyard cat enclosures. If there is a way out, Major will find it.
Thanks to him, our designs are buttoned-up tight enough to keep the smartest cats in and the boldest wildlife out.
