Work at Boarding Kennels & Catteries

Boarding kennels and catteries exist to provide a service for pet owners who are away from home. They should provide a safe, hygienic and friendly environment for pets ‘on holiday’.

There are lots of kennels and catteries to choose from so it is important to research them carefully before making any decisions about working in one-or leaving a pet there.

Work as a Kennel & Cattery Hand

A love of dogs and cats is essential as much of this work is repetitive, hard and often noisy and smelly! It is an advantage for kennel hands to have experience of all types of dogs and to be confident in their knowledge of dog behaviour-this is especially important if dealing with aggressive or unpredictable dogs. Some basic dog training and grooming skills are an advantage.

Holiday periods are the busiest times and weekend work sometimes requested.Work includes various duties like dog-walking, cleaning out runs, feeding and washing up, playing with the animals and washing bedding. Being fit to perform these physical tasks is a necessity.

A friendly but efficient attitude is helpful when dealing with clients on the telephone and in person. Good kennel and cattery hands know that they represent the business they work for and take pride in showing people round.

Some bookings and paperwork is done by kennel and cattery hands so basic computer skills are usually required.

How Kennels & Catteries Work

There may be a number of buildings designed to house cats and dogs within a secure enclosure, often with a field or other open area for exercise. Each animal has its own sleeping area, with a run attached, that needs to be kept clean and comfortable. They can hear, smell, and often see, the other animals but will not be allowed to play or exercise together. It is important that good hygiene and secure physical boundaries are applied-for the health and safety of all resident animals-as well as the people working there.

Pet owners will be asked to provide up-to-date pet vaccination records and contact details of the vet they use. These details, along with the pet’s name, dietary requirements, medications (where appropriate) duration of stay and other relevant details may be written on a board outside each kennel for easy reference as well as on the office computer, where accurate and up-to-date records of each animal will be kept.

Kennels & Catteries Daily Routine

This often involves early starts so that all dogs are walked, fed and cleaned out before other duties are tackled. Apart from similar basic care, cats will also need someone to stroke them and play with them, too, as they have less freedom in the cattery.For both dogs and cats, fresh drinking water must be available at all times.

Some dogs and cats may pine when away from their owners and need extra encouragement to eat. Kennels and catteries can be noisy places so animals that are used to being the only pet may show signs of distress. People who work in kennels learn how to recognise these symptoms. More often, though, the cats and dogs settle into the change of routine and establish bonds with their carers.

Finding Kennels & Catteries

Kennels and catteries rely on their reputations to get business. Personal recommendations about establishments and their staff give a good indication of which kennels are the best to work in. Ask around! Check that the kennel and cattery owner is licensed and insured.

Independent transport is preferable because most kennels and catteries are, necessarily, remote. This type of work involves being part of a team so it is not uncommon for friends to seek work together and share transport.

Career Prospects in Kennel and Cattery Work

Once basic training has been successfully achieved and experience gained, it is possible to take exams in the different aspects of dog care. For some employees, the dream is to own a boarding kennels and cattery themselves. With hard work this can be done!