Fun For Cats! Rywell's Portable Outdoor Catio (A Review)

Sam did such a good job of helping me review the Rywell pet cooling mat, that I had the opportunity to try out and review Rywell's 3-Tier Outdoor Catio!

So what's a Catio? It's an outdoor cat patio, i.e. a screened cat tent. I think this is a fantastic idea for indoor only cats to spend some time outside. I wish we'd had it when we lived in a second-story apartment and could only let our cats out on the balcony (except one kept trying to jump off).

The Catio is portable, so everything came in this sturdy carrying bag. That makes it perfect for family outings, travel stops, picnics, camping trips, visiting friends, or vacation.

I was amazed at how much heft the bag had to it. But everything is metal and stout tent material

No tools are required for assembly! I'm not very mechanical but the design is pretty clever and the instructions to set it up were clear. All I had to do was follow the steps. 

Pull the cords on top and pull out the telescoping legs till they click.

Collapsible rods on the sides add extra support.

And the soft fabric shelves have a pocket for the included floor support boards.

The last things to do were to secure the feet with the metal (not plastic!) tent stakes and add was the sun cover.

Now I'm ready for some cats!

The first to stop by was Sam, who only had time for a quick in and out inspection.

"Hmph. No food."

Katy, however, gave it a good tryout.

Katy loves her hidey places and so really likes it. Even as an outdoor cat it offers a cozy safe place for lounging, watching birds, taking naps, or spying on the other cats. It would make a great indoor cat clubhouse!

I like that it has three zippered mesh doors that offer quick access to the shelves, just in case. 

Once again, here's the link

Rywell 3-Tier Portable Catio

It's cat approved so definitely go check it out.

Fun For Cats! Rywell's Portable Outdoor Catio (A Review) 

© July 2026 by Leigh at https://www.5acresandadream.com

A New Driveway Gate

Five years ago Dan built a pergola for our bedroom window and afterward made a gate for the driveway.

Photo from August 2021

The gate has served us well, both for privacy but especially for keeping wandering dogs out of the yard. We used to have a problem with this, and have lost chickens and ducks to dogs people let roam because we're outside of town limits. And also it helps keep our chickens, turkeys, and ducks from wandering into the front yard and into the street. So it's been a good addition.

Earlier this summer one of the gate posts became very wobbly. When Dan pulled it out it was quite rotted where it had been in the ground. So he took down the gate and we discussed how to replace it. After a lot of ideas for a new wooden gate, we finally decided the quickest and easiest thing to do was to install a farm gate. 

This met the need to keep critters either out or in, but we both missed the sense of aesthetics and privacy the other gate offered. So I cast about for ideas. 

First I found this

These are perforated aluminum panels that came in 2 by 3 foot sheets. I found them at Home Depot. I got five and Dan attached them with zippy ties.

The muscadine vines on the pergola shade the window from the afternoon sun.

A little better but what about something decorative on top?

I found the flowers at Hobby Lobby and the birds on Etsy. Dan figured out how to attach them! I even got a bit of a breeze when I was taking pictures, so I can show you this . . .

The flowers are whirligigs!

We're pretty pleased with it. 

A New Driveway Gate © July 2026 by Leigh

at https://www.5acresandadream.com

A Feast or Famine Garden Year

We didn't plan on a big garden this year, because of Dan's surgery. Of what we did plant, tt seems that we've either gotten nothing or else we've got a surplus!

Birds got all my cherries and mulberries this year. Pears and peaches are taking a break (although I got enough peaches for a pie). Groundhogs ate my snow peas, lettuce, and strawberries, so all of that was a bust. Also, they keep eating the leaves off of my sweet potato plants which is worrisome. We've had a heck of a time with them this year, more so than ever before.  Dan has caught and re-homed 5 or 6 of them so far and more have moved in to the vacated den under the raspberry bushes. And built a new den in the Jerusalem artichoke patch! Unfortunately, our next door neighbor feeds them. And the deer. They're eating his garden too and he's even said feeding them isn't a good idea, but he keeps doing it! Watcha gonna do?

So what's doing well? 

Tomatoes

I have 3 varieties plus the volunteer cherry tomatoes

1st batch of tomato sauce!

Blueberries are going gangbusters. I've frozen 5 gallons so far.

I have cantaloupes in the keyhole garden - 11 at last count.

Breakfast

I've only half-a-dozen okra plants, which is plenty for the two of us.
Some things I plant just to eat fresh but not necessarily to preserve.

The variety is Jing. I think they are very pretty. They are green when cooked.

My sweet potato squash are producing well too. That's welcome because we haven't
gotten many the past year or two. When fist size or smaller, we eat like summer squash.

I think we'll get a fair harvest of apples this year.

And here's a new thing we tried - Indian Snake Cucumbers from Baker Creek.

This one is a little over 12 inches, but the description says they
grow up to 4 feet! I'm going to wait till it's a little bigger to try it.

The description also says they thrive in temps up to 95°F (35°C) which is exactly what we're getting. They are holding up well. I don't know how they'd do for pickles, but I don't need to can pickles this year. Flavor will determine whether they're a keeper. 

What's amazing to me is that everything is either producing nothing, or producing an abundance. It's keeping us plenty busy. Between all the produce and all the milk, every day is busy with food. 

I know it's terribly hot everywhere. How are you all surviving? This hasn't been our hottest summer (so far) but it's definitely hotter than it's been the past several years. But we're doing good on rain, so I can't complain about that. 

A Feast or Famine Garden Year © July 2026

by Leigh at https://www.5acresandadream.com