Boarding Kennel or Cattery Operator
What the work is
Organises and controls the operations of an establishment which offers temporary boarding for dogs and cats.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Manages the day-to-day operations of a boarding kennel or cattery
- Ensures the facility is clean, safe and well-maintained
- Receives and checks-in animals, ensuring all necessary documentation is completed
- Provides food, water and exercise for animals according to their specific needs
- Administers medications and treatments as required
- Monitors the health and behaviour of animals and seeks veterinary care when necessary
- Provides care and attention to animals to ensure their wellbeing
- Maintains records of animals' stays, including feeding schedules, medications and special instructions
- Handles customer enquiries, bookings and payments
- Oversees the hiring, training and supervision of staff
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a fictional retirement village with independent units, a community centre and a small care team. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- The community centre is full for the weekly quiz morning and the laughter carries through the grounds
- A new resident settles in and is soon helping others find their way around
- A garden project you suggested brings neighbours together who never spoke before
Hard days
- Two residents in a long-running disagreement, and each wants you on their side
- A resident whose health is changing and a family who disagree on what should happen
- Maintenance requests that all feel urgent to the person making them
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 172931, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.