Pet owners across the UK are paying a local family thousands to transform their homes into safe havens for cats unable to go outside.
Adrian Nicholson, a steel fabricator from Bungay, started creating 'catios' with his wife Clare and son Jamie two years ago.
The metal enclosures are specifically designed for cats and often built on patios, providing an “outdoor” space for felines without the risk of them getting into mischief.
And with pet ownership reaching unprecedented levels during the pandemic - and continuing to rise each year since - Mrs Nicholson said business is booming.
She said: “Adrian installs the catios himself and has travelled all over the UK for customers.
“They’re pre-fabricated here in Bungay and then he drives them to wherever they’re being fitted.
“We can make them any size or as many sides as people need - it's a very bespoke service.”
According to Mrs Nicholson, there’s many reasons people are turning to catios, including living near a busy road, adopting a cat with health issues, or having previous experience of losing a pet.
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And, she said, the sudden boom in people getting pets during the pandemic has created even more demand.
The business, which trades online as Safe Cats UK, has proved lucrative, with people paying between £1,200 and £4,200 for a custom-built catio.
Mrs Nicholson said she’s been blown away by the creativity customers have brought to the design process.
She said: “People have kitted out their catios with play equipment, adding jumping and hiding areas for their pets.
“Some people have even planted mini jungles out there for them to explore.
“It’s all great for the cats, it supports their mental and physical health, and of course helps to keep them safe at the same time.”
A BILLION POUND INDUSTRY
The percentage of Brits with pets had remained fairly stable in the decade before 2020, with just under half of us owning a furry friend.
But when the pandemic hit, that percentage shot up, with around 62pc of people in the UK now a pet owner.
And as the pet population has increased in size, so has consumer spending.
Estimates suggest that as a country we now spend almost £8b annually on pet food and related products and services, an increase of around 175pc since 2005.
Historically, this spending has been dominated by large brands, but experts suggest that in recent years there has been a shift in preference towards smaller businesses as people look for more personalised purchases.
Market leaders are not adapting fast enough to consumers' changing needs – for example price is now only the third most important factor for consumers when buying pet food – leaving a significant market share up for grabs.
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