Snowden Cat Care Centre
A transformational new facility has recently opened at our Godmanchester centre.
Cats are coming to Woodgreen with more complex needs, so it’s vital we continue to invest in our facilities, and give every cat the best possible care.
The new Snowden Cat Care Centre transforms the care we can provide for homeless cats, whilst increasing on-site capacity by 50%. It marks a big step towards turning our Godmanchester site into a ‘Centre of Excellence’. Our new cat care centre features:
- Larger, more adaptable units – complete with connecting doors to give more space to cats that need it.
- ‘Catios’ – enabling cats to access the outdoors safely and give them more freedom, which is vital for our long-termers.
- Climate control – giving us the ability to control the temperature of each block according to the cats’ needs and ensure all year-round comfort.
- Solid walls – offering cats extra privacy, peace and quiet, which is especially helpful for nervous felines.
Take a tour of our new Snowden Cat Care Centre
Meet the first residents
Felix
Ten-year-old Felix came into Woodgreen’s care in February after his owner very sadly passed away. Weighing in at 9.7kg, poor Felix was extremely overweight and the fur on his back was matted as he was unable to clean himself properly. We put him straight on a weight management diet and clipped his matted fur, and he also required a dental procedure to remove some rotten teeth.
Despite his size, large units in the Snowden Cat Care Centre allowed Felix to move around comfortably – with plenty of space to exercise and explore. In just a few weeks, Felix was down to 9kg and he is now continuing his weight loss journey in a loving new home.
Jude and Darla
This exuberant brother and sister duo arrived at Woodgreen after the dog in their original home had killed the pet rabbit, and their owner was concerned for the five-month-old kittens’ safety. A veterinary check confirmed they were in good health, and they were neutered to prevent unexpected litters.
Adaptable spaces in the Snowden Cat Care Centre meant that Jude and Darla could stay together in two interlinking units – and their carers said they had “the best time” playing together! The kittens had not been given outdoor access in their original home, so they also enjoyed venturing outside for the first time in one of the secure cat gardens. Jude and Darla have now been rehomed together.
Vinnie
Vinnie was another emergency arrival at Woodgreen in February, after he suffered a serious injury to his third eyelid and his owner was unable to afford treatment. He was taken straight into our veterinary surgery to have his eyelid repaired, where he was also neutered whilst under anaesthetic. Poor Vinnie then needed a course of pain relief and antibiotics following his surgery.
During his recovery period, it made the world of difference to have large spaces for Vinnie to easily navigate whilst wearing a buster collar. A controlled temperature and improved ventilation system in the Snowden Cat Care Centre also meant that the healing process was much more comfortable for Vinnie. He has now fully recovered and is settling into his new home.
Snowden Cat Care Centre FAQs
Why have we replaced our existing cattery?
Why have we replaced our existing cattery?
We want to provide the very best care for cats at Woodgreen. While our teams work tirelessly to make that possible, our old cattery was no longer fit for purpose and lacked the facilities required to help us meet the needs of every cat in the way we’d like to. By investing in a new centre, we can do so much more for our cats – especially those with complex needs.
How is it going to benefit cats?
How is it going to benefit cats?
The new centre will help homeless and vulnerable cats at Woodgreen in many ways – here’s how:
- Larger, more adaptable units – complete with connecting doors to give more space to cats that need it.
- ‘Catios’ – enabling cats to access the outdoors safely and give them more freedom, which is vital for our long-termers.
- Climate control – giving us the ability to control the temperature of each block according to a cats’ needs and ensure all year-round comfort.
- Solid walls – offering cats extra privacy, peace and quiet, which is especially helpful for nervous felines.
- Enhanced vet check room – making us less dependent on our surgery facilities.
- Observation cameras – allowing our team to easily monitor the cats and tend to them quicker if they need us.
- Outdoor views – each cat unit offers peaceful garden views.
How much did the project cost, and where did the money come from?
How much did the project cost, and where did the money come from?
The new centre cost £2.4m, a figure which has been budgeted for since plans for the cattery began several years ago. The project has been 40% funded by an incredibly generous legacy donation of almost £900k from Ms. Sheila Snowden, whose gift will enable us to help tens of thousands more cats. We are extremely grateful to Ms. Snowden, our supporters and our partners at Sure Petcare, who have all contributed and made the project possible.
Can I come and visit?
Can I come and visit?
Visits to the Snowden Cat Care Centre are by appointment only for people using our services, such as rehoming a cat. Find out more about our cat rehoming process, and apply to rehome one of our cats, here.
Adopt a cat from Woodgreen
Learn more about our cat adoption process, and apply to adopt one of our rescue cats.