‘CATIO’ IDEA up to scratch

Roaming cats could be a thing of the past as Busselton Men’s Shed assists cat owners in transitioning their cats to be kept indoors and in ‘catios’.

The Men’s Shed is collaborating with GeoCatch to inspire and up-skill cat owners to create portable ‘catios’ which are suitable for standard homes and backyards.

The aim is to reduce injury and death to both cats and local wildlife in Busselton.

GeoCatch officer Nicole Lincoln said contained cats reduced pressure on the declining western ringtail possum populations and other native wildlife.

“Catios and cat enclosures could be the answer to successful co-existence between wildlife, humans and domestic cats in our suburbs,” she said.

“Providing resources for cat owners to create their own catios reduces some of the cost barriers and allows them to get creative and build something suited to their individual cat’s needs.”