Today we’d like to introduce you to Alan “Catio Guy” Breslauer.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Catio Guy. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I launched Custom Catios in 2017, about ten years after constructing my first outdoor cat enclosure on an eighth floor Westwood balcony. Essentially, the idea for the company had been percolating for a decade. While I have always strongly believed in the concept (enclosures protect cats from the perilous outdoors while giving indoor cats the stimulation necessary to lead happy healthy lives), catios had not yet crossed over into the mainstream.
That changed with Animal Planet, celebrity cat experts like Jackson Galaxy, and the feline-obsessed Internet. Those channels, among others, helped educate the masses and today most cat owners know what catios are (literally “cat patios”) and the benefits they provide our furry feline friends. With all that momentum, I finally felt the atmosphere was right to start the company.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting a new business is hard! There were so many issues to consider including but not limited to business formation, banking, licenses, contracts, design, materials, construction, pricing, marketing, intellectual property, and taxes.
Luckily, I had the cat stuff down. While I only adopted my first cat as an adult while attending law and business school, I quickly became an expert with a cat book library that has grown to rival Amazon’s.
Because of my knack for dealing with finicky felines, my friends would occasionally refer to me as a cat whisperer. With this background and a bit of trial and error, I quickly developed a set of catio building best practices which guide the business today.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Custom Catios – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As far as I know, there is no other company on the planet like Custom Catios. One can buy prefab and modular cat enclosures online. In some cities, a good carpenter may have branched out into cat enclosures. But no one is building high-end catios that provide cats with amazing stimulating environments AND blend in with million dollar L.A. homes. We aim to please both cats and their humans!
The best part of the business is the happiness enclosures bring our clients. I have seen clients cry with joy watching their cats frolic outside for the first time. And the appreciative hugs at the end of a project are special too.
I am also proud of the job we did working with Jackson Galaxy on his Animal Planet show, “Cat vs. Dog.” It was exciting to learn from the best in the business. And, in the end, we delivered a spectacular catio for the television series.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
Like Randy Newman, I love L.A.! I love the weather, mountains, ocean, desert, restaurants, and music scene. I also love that Angelenos are diverse, environmentally conscious, animal-friendly, and open-minded.
I do not love the traffic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.customcatios.com/
- Phone: 323-905-4695
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catioguy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catioguy
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/catioguy
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/custom-catios-los-angeles-2
Image Credit:
maxx&me photography, Ashley Pease, Caroline Bossi, Diane Lotzer, Catio Guy
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