Did you know that your love for cats could also translate into a rewarding and fulfilling career? From fields directly involving cats to more indirect roles, there are numerous jobs working with cats that allow you to make a career out of your passion for these feline friends. In this blog post, we’ll delve into some career paths for cat lovers:
1. Cat Sitter
If you’re looking for a career with cats that offers the flexibility to work part time, cat sitting might be good option for you. Cat sitters are individuals who provide care and attention to cats when their owners are not available or away from home. Their primary responsibility is to ensure the wellbeing and comfort of the cats under their care, including feeding, playing with the cats, cleaning their litter boxes and monitoring their health. As a cat sitter you may visit your clients home once or twice per day during feeding time, or you could offer a round-the-clock service and stay in the owner’s home.
2. Cattery Worker
Cattery workers care for cats in catteries or animal rescue centres. Cattery workers play a crucial role in ensuring that cats are well-cared for and comfortable during their stay at the cattery. You must have a genuine love for cats, be attentive to their needs, provide a safe and nurturing environment and be able to cope with the physical demands of the job, such as cleaning out cat pens and exercising cats. As part of the role you would be preparing food and feeding cats, grooming, exercising and playing with cats, answering telephone calls and record keeping.
Cattery workers can work with cats in establishments such as cattery boarding establishments and cat rehoming and animal rescue organisations (for example at charities like Cats Protection). As you gain more experience and qualifications, you could pursue supervisory and management positions within this setting, for example by becoming a Cattery Manager or even starting your own boarding cattery. Undertaking an advanced animal care qualification such as the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management, or achieving a leadership and management qualification, could help you pave the way to taking on more responsibility at work, which could boost your earning potential and open up other opportunities and jobs working with cats in the future.
Animal care apprenticeships such as the Level 2 Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Apprenticeship can help you gain practical skills and hands-on experience working with cats in a kennel setting.
Read the Cattery Worker job profile
3. Veterinary Nurse
Veterinary nurses are key members of the veterinary team, and is a fantastic career option for cat lovers. They work alongside vets to provide care and treatment to a variety of animals including cats, and spend a lot of their time working with cats and cat owners. As a veterinary nurse you would be involved with nursing sick animals and administering medication, monitoring anaesthetised animals, taking x-rays and diagnostic tests, advising pet owners on the health and welfare of their pets and much more. In order to qualify as a veterinary nurse, you must complete a veterinary nursing qualification approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). You can qualify as a veterinary nurse via a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, Level 3 Veterinary Nursing Apprenticeship or veterinary nursing degree programme.
4. Veterinary Surgeon
If you have a strong interest in feline health, becoming a veterinary surgeon might be the perfect path for you. As a veterinary surgeon, you’ll diagnose and treat health issues in cats and other companion animals.
Veterinary surgeons in general practice carry out a wide range of tasks from promoting and maintaining the health of animals through to diagnosing and treating sick and injured animals. As a veterinary surgeon you must be good with both animals and people. You must be empathetic and be able to talk sensitively to owners about the care and treatment of their animals. Once you have completed formal training, you can undertake further learning and professional learning in feline health and behaviour.
Read the Veterinary Surgeon job profile
Unsure how to get your career with cats started? Find out how at Careers With Animals Day
For those interested in careers working with cats but not sure how to get started, our annual Careers With Animals Day would be a great place to start. Whether you’re at school and looking at your options, employed in a different field and looking for a career change or unemployed and looking at how you can get back into work, this event will give you the chance to listen to relevant people and organisations within the animal care and veterinary industry, gain advice, ask questions and receive guidance on training. Read more about Careers With Animals Day