We are on the hunt for locals willing to show off their catio (that’s a cat patio or cat run), as part of GeoCatch’s first ever catio tour in the Busselton/Dunsborough area.
Catios protect our feline friends from cat fights, cars, disease and poisons; and they keep both cats and wildlife safe.
GeoCatch Project Officer, Nicole Lincoln, is calling on local cat owners to bring the tour to our region.
“This initiative is huge in the United States,” she said.
“We are hoping to bring a mini version of the catio tour craze to the Geographe Bay Catchment to empower cat owners to build safe, practical and inspiring catios.”
Catio hosts will open their backyard to 30 curious guests on a bus tour on Saturday 14th March. They will be encouraged to share their story about what motivated them to install the cat run, how their cats adapted to the new enclosure and any unexpected benefits or learnings.
The Catio Tour aims to provide cat owners with the knowledge and confidence to create inhabitable sanctuaries for cats and owners to enjoy, promoting responsible pet ownership that benefits cats and local wildlife into the future.
Professional cat behaviourists will be on hand throughout the tour to help debunk cat myths, with the tour focus being cat welfare for pets living indoor, transitioning to indoor or living in cat runs.
This initiative is part of the Pets Away, Possums Play campaign, which reminds pet owners that keeping pets (cats and dogs) contained at night, at a minimum, reduces injury and death to pets and the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum. It also has the ripple effect of protecting other urban native wildlife.
To find out more about being a catio host or partner in this event please email Nicole Lincoln at nicole.lincoln@dwer.wa.gov.au or call 9781 0111.
GeoCatch is working to deliver this event in partnership with City of Busselton, Katzone, Kalmpets, SAFE, RSPCA, Busselton Mens Shed and local vets.
This project is supported by the South West Catchments Council, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
