According to Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado, an expert in feline behavior and care, a catio ensures the safety of your pet cat by shielding them from potential dangers such as car accidents, environmental poisons, diseases, etc. It also offers a balance between indoor and outdoor living, benefiting the overall well-being of your cat. They also provide mental enrichment through exposure to the variety of sights, sounds, and smells of nature, keeping them mentally stimulated and content. Here are a few of our top catio picks for your pet cat.

Treat your feline friend like royalty with this spacious catio. Designed like a castle, it provides your cat with a luxurious and secure outdoor experience. It features three levels, allowing your cat to explore and find the perfect spot to relax or soak up the sun. This regal catio is built with sturdy materials and is easy to move around, thanks to its caster wheels.

Consider this catio for a lighter-weight option that doesn’t compromise on space. Made from durable nylon mesh, it provides ample room for your cat to play, climb, and lounge. The versatile modular design allows you to rearrange the cubbies to keep your cat entertained with endless possibilities. The zip door offers easy access for you while keeping your cat secure.

For indoor cats or those without access to outdoor space, this mounting catio offers a fantastic alternative. This innovative perch attaches easily to a window using strong suction cups, creating a cozy elevated spot for your cat. With a weight capacity of up to 50 lbs, it can accommodate even larger cats comfortably.

If you’re always on the go or have limited outdoor space, this one is the perfect solution. This portable catio offers a safe and enclosed area for your cat to enjoy outdoor adventures. It is lightweight and quickly folds into a travel pouch, making it convenient to transport. Despite its compact size, the playpen provides enough room for your cat to stretch, play, and explore.

Couldn’t hold yourself back from trying that new skincare product? Did a skincare trend go wrong and end with rashes on your face? Don’t worry! We’ve all been there. The redness that might feel like a normal rash could be your damaged skin barrier. Let’s see what Dana Stern, Dhaval Bhanusali, and Chris Tomassian, board-certified dermatologists, have to say.

What Is the Skin Barrier?

An outermost layer on our skin that acts as a shield to protect our face from heat, inflammation, and any other external factor that would be harmful to our face. In technical terms, it’s known as the stratum corneum, a superficial layer of the epidermis. According to Dr. Stern, the cells are like bricks, whereas cholesterol and ceramides are the liquid that binds those bricks, and everything together forms a wall that serves as a barrier.

What Damages the Skin Barrier?

Even though it’s a shield that protects our skin, extreme environmental factors can cause damage to it. Pollution, heat, over-exploitation of skin, and genetics are a few of the reasons that could harm the superficial layer. Dr. Sten says that with age, ceramide levels in our body decrease, which reduces the ability of the layer to hold moisturizer. While we can’t control factors like age and genetics, we can definitely avoid using products that are harsh on our skin.

Signs and Precautions

If you feel that your skin is dry, itchy, flaky, overly sensitive, or burning, then that means your skin barrier has been damaged, and the risk of getting a skin infection increases. Usually, the barrier damage can be repaired within two weeks. But, if you continue to follow the routine that led to damage, the situation can get out of hand. According to Dr. Tomassian, you should avoid using exfoliators and use gentle, mild products on your skin. Once the inflammation has reduced, you should wait for at least a week before applying any exfoliant to the skin.

Curing the Damage

The best way to cure skin damage is to let it breathe. Use fewer chemicals and keep your skin hydrated. You should go for gentle products and follow these few steps to repair the damage. Use a face wash to clean your face, once in the morning and again before going to bed. Use a face serum and a rich, nutrient-filled repair cream. Don’t worry, damaging the barrier permanently is a highly unlikely outcome and happens only in rare cases. But, if the damage isn’t healing, you should consult a professional.