At the Hill Country's edge, Jacob Smigel's cats pad across a cedar plank suspended 6 feet above ground, safely enclosed in a "catio," or cat patio — an increasingly popular addition for some homeowners.

The big picture: Smigel's backyard build is one of seven stops on this year's Travis Audubon catio tour, a self-guided event on March 21 that showcases enclosed outdoor cat spaces across Austin.

• Organizers say it's become easier to find hosts for the biennial tour in recent years as more homeowners build their own versions — from simple window boxes to elaborate, stand-alone structures.

What's happening: Smigel built the catio in one month using roughly 5,000 staples, rough-sawn cedar and a special-order roll of heavy-gauge mesh wire from McCoy's. The goal was to give his cats 24-hour outdoor access without exposing them to coyotes, traffic and other dangers common in Southwest Austin.

• "We live at the gates of the Hill Country," he said. "If a cat got out at night, it could be bad, especially if they try to roam."

What they're saying: But cat safety is only part of the equation, according to Travis Audubon's Caley Zuzula.

• Domestic cats that roam outdoors are the No. 1 immediate threat to birds in the U.S., Zuzula says, killing billions each year. Even well-fed pets retain their hunting instincts.
• "Cats can enjoy fresh air while being safe and secure — and it protects birds and other wildlife too," Zuzula tells Axios.
• She calls catios a "compromise" — a way to balance a pet's desire for stimulation with the need to protect wildlife.

Zoom in: Travis Audubon's mission is to inspire other homeowners to build their own catios and keep their cats from roaming, according to Zuzula.

• "Cats can live perfectly happy lives indoors, but if you feel like your cat has a desire to be outside, catios are a very good compromise," Zuzula says.

📍 If you go: The tour, 10am-3pm, is free, though registration is required to receive a map of participating homes.

• A suggested $10 donation enters attendees into a drawing sponsored by Austin Cat Sitters.

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We spotted construction workers clanging away at a bus stop on Manor Road yesterday.

Why it matters: The work is for CapMetro's newest rapid bus lines.

Zoom in: One line will run from downtown to the Expo Center on Decker Lane, with stops at the University of Texas and the Mueller neighborhood.

• Another runs from the Easton Park and Goodnight Ranch neighborhoods in Southeast Austin up Pleasant Valley Road all the way to Mueller.
• On weekdays, the buses will run every 20 minutes, 5am-10pm, with slightly more limited service on weekends.

What they're saying: "This service was introduced last spring and our crews have been working to install these shelters at all our stops over the last year," CapMetro spokesperson Blythe Nebeker tells Axios. "We expect to be at full frequency this summer."

👩‍🍳 Austin's Les Dames d'Escoffier awarded $52,000 in scholarships to women pursuing culinary careers. (CBS Austin)

🚗 Waymo has begun testing its driverless cars on Austin freeways. (Austin American-Statesman 🔒)

🍽️ The League Kitchen & Tavern has closed its Lakeway location. (Community Impact)

The tooth fairy is brushing off two years of declines, paying an average of $5.84 per tooth, up 17% from last year, according to Delta Dental's 2026 Original Tooth Fairy Poll.

Why it matters: For nearly three decades, tooth fairy payouts have doubled as a tiny economic indicator, and this year's 17% jump mirrors the broader market's gains, signaling renewed spending power under the pillow.

The big picture: The average payout was $5.01 in 2025.

• That ends a two-year slide after a record $6.23 peak in 2023.

Zoom out: Since the poll began in 1998, the average payout has soared 349% — from $1.30 to $5.84 — reflecting both inflation and evolving parent spending habits.

💭 Asher's thought bubble: My oldest kid, now 8, has sussed out that the tooth fairy is as real as Santa Claus — but she still appreciates the golden dollar coin we give her for each of her lost gnashers.

Tell us the right answers to these three questions — drawn from our newsletters this week — and you could win a very important shoutout in our Monday edition.

📬 Just reply to this message.

1. Statistically speaking, are you more likely to get buried or cremated after you die?
2. Austin-based longevity doctor Peter Attia resigned as a contributor to which TV network following the publication of his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein?
3. Officials are eyeing about a dozen cities as international nonstop destinations from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Name one of them.