STAPELEY GRANGE WILDLIFE CENTRE & CATTERY
The Cattery | The Wildlife Centre | Monthly Reports
Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre & Cattery is the former home of Mrs Cynthia Zur Nedden, a well known local land owner who devoted her life to caring for sick animals and strays. On her death in 1990, Stapeley Grange was bequeathed to the RSPCA to "establish an animal home and refuge with a clinic". Following extensive restoration and development, Stapeley opened in 1994. Since then Stapeley has dealt with thousands of wildlife casualties and has rehomed thousands of stray or unwanted cats.
Visit Google Maps for location and directions.
To find "cats seeking homes", see http://catchat.org/stapeley/cgibin/prtoc.cgi.
The Cattery
The RSPCA Stapeley Grange Cattery is run by the national Society, but works very closely with the local RSPCA Cheshire South West branch. Since opening in 1995 we have rehomed, on average, 700 cats each year. The oldest cat rehomed was aged 16 years! We were also pleased to find caring homes for two blind cats and a diabetic cat. We have four members of cattery staff who are supported by 12 regular volunteers. Their assistance is very much appreciated.
Opening times and contact number
The cattery is open for rehoming to the public 11.30am-3.30pm, Tuesday-Sunday.
Our number for all enquries about the cattery is: 0870 442 7102 (press option 1).
Adopting a cat
The cost of adopting a cat is £45.00. This fee includes:
- 1st vaccination against cat flu and enteritis
- Neutering to prevent unwanted litters
- Identichipping to provide identification
Prior to rehoming a cat from Stapeley Grange we will arrange a home visit. The purpose of the visit is to discuss the implications of responsible pet ownership and check that the home environment is suitable for the cat's needs. This is also an opportunity for prospective owners to ask questions. When visiting the Cattery you will need to provide identification to confirm your address (e.g. driving licence or utility bill).
Some of the cats shown on our web site may have been rehomed but we always have a selection of cats that need caring homes, so we would be delighted to see you.
Donations
Any donations to support the work of the Wildlife Centre or Cattery should be sent to:
Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre & Cattery
London Road
Stapeley
Nantwich
Cheshire CW5 7JW
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The Wildlife Centre
Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre has been caring for wildlife casualties since 1994. In that time we have admitted over 50,000 casualties over more than 250 species. The Centre is open for members of the public to bring wildlife casualties from 8am to 8pm every day of the year (till 9pm in the summer months). Regrettably, we are unable to allow public viewing.
The Centre is open for admissions between 8am-8pm every day of the year. For all enquiries relating to the Wildlife Centre, please telephone 0870 442 7102.
Common admissions are:
- Birds, badgers, hedgehogs and foxes that have been hit by motor vehicles
- Mute swans and other species that have ingested or become tangled in fishing tackle
- Birds that have flown into windows, buildings and overhead power cables
- Orphaned birds and mammals
Veterinary care
At Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, we have:
- Trained and dedicated staff with detailed knowledge and wide experience of wildlife care, rehabilitation and release techniques
- Highly skilled veterinary surgeons with a wide range of treating wildlife
- An X-ray unit and fully-equipped operating theatre – providing the best facilities for diagnosis and emergency treatment
- An extensive range of large pools, pens, waterfowl paddocks, aviaries and a bat flight that provide the right environment so that animals can recover fully before they are released
- A specially designed intensive care unit with cubicles of various sizes that can be individually controlled to provide the correct levels of heat, light and ventilation for each animal
- A separate special unit for cleaning oiled seabirds and waterfowl
- Food storage and preparation facilities to suit the diets of a wide range of wildlife
Specialist help
At Stapeley Grange, specialist help includes:
- Technical support from the RSPCA Wildlife Department, based on over 25 years experience of wildlife treatment and rehabilitation
- Contact with national agencies, such as the British Trust for Ornithology, National Federation of Badger Groups and Bat Groups
- Liaison and collaboration with universities and wildlife organisations world-wide – to keep the centre in touch with the latest developments in wildlife rehabilitation
Rehabilitation success and post-release monitoring
The RSPCA recognises the need to assess the success of its wildlife rehabilitation programme. We are committed to developing a post-release monitoring strategy that will enable us to measure the success of veterinary treatment and rehabilitation techniques. At Stapeley Grange, we are currently conducting the following post-release projects:
- Radio-tracking rehabilitated polecats
- Radio-tracking rehabilitated sparrowhawks
Research
We are currently conducting a number of scientific projects at Stapeley Grange, including:
Effects of fishing tackle on mute swans (Cygnus olor)
Over a three-year period, a total of 1491 mute swans were brought to Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre. Injuries caused by lost or discarded fishing tackle accounted for 17% of admissions. Seventy four percent of swans admitted had abnormal blood lead levels, caused by ingestion of lead fishing weights. Following treatment, 87% of swans affected by fishing tackle and 75% swans with abnormal blood lead levels, were released. Swans with elevated blood lead levels were more likely to have been in collisions with overhead power lines than swans with normal lead levels.
Post-release survival of rehabilitated, orphaned polecats (Mustela putorius): A radio-tracking study
At Stapeley Grange we have received 48 orphaned polecats over the last 5 years, 45 of which were successfully released. However, very little information is available on the post-release survival of polecats (or any other wildlife). In 2005, we radio-tracked a total of seven polecats that were brought to us as orphans. We tracked these animals for between 18 and 59 days. Two animals were recovered dead (the result of being hit by motor vehicles) 68 and 170 days post-release. Our data show that the animals were able to survive independently and were clearly able to hunt successfully.
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Monthly reports
March 2006 (pdf*) |
April 2006 (pdf*) |
(* Requires Acrobat Reader. Download here.)
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