Careers with animals

chixyb

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Or more like careers with cats. I am still in search of a career, I do like nutrition and fitness, but I would really love to have a career with cats. Career meaning for profit, because without money I can't live in a house, have cats, and feed and take care of them. So it can't be something like working at a shelter or having a non-profit rescue group. Although in the future I would love to have my own group, that obviously can't be done right now. What types of jobs are there when it comes to cats? I highly doubt I could be a vet/vet tech, I would break down every time I saw a hurt cat, and I can barely watch my cats get their shots.

I figure someone in this group might know of some others, I am still searching on the net. I just need to figure out what I want to do so I can save up for the schooling.

Thanks.
 

rugbykid

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Well I work as a vet assistant, I get to do all the things that a vet tech does but I'm just not licensed. I get to help in the lab, hold the animals, treat them, assist in surgery, help the doctors, ect. All in all I love my job, the worst part is dealing with the clients, esspecially when euthanizing, I can deal with euthanizing the cat, because I am helping it, but when the owner is there talking to the cat and crying it makes it harder. My favorite part is helping in surgery. I was offered this job so I could "test the waters" before I go to school to persue my DVM. As for you, if you can't stand seeing animals in pain or dealing with death than you are probably right about not being able to be a vet/tech. I justify it because when you make the cat feel better it makes you feel so good. We had a cat come in almost two months ago, she got stuck in a garbage truck and was in there for 5 days before a good samaratin spent 5 hours getting her out. Ms. Madonna had 3 broken legs and a degloving wound, you could tell the cat was in pain, but she never complained a bit (unless you forgot to give her babyfood!). We put splints on both of her right legs but her left leg (the one that was degloved) had to have daily bandage changes. Anyway, she is the sweetest cat and got her splints off two weeks ago, she loves to run and play and you can just tell she is so grateful, so even though she was in pain, I felt good because I was able to help make her better.
As far as other carrers involving animals, there are paying jobs at a handful of shelters.
You could also work at a kennel, though that would mostly involve dogs, more people board dogs than cats. You could even start your own kennel.
You could be a groomer or start your own grooming business. Then again, thats mostly dogs, though there is a lady here that runs a sucessful cats only grooming business.
There are also jobs available at zoo's and places like that, thats more big animals but I've heard that seaworld has a small program dealing with training and exhibiting housecats.
You could be an animal trainer, people don't take their cats to kitty bootcamp but there is a market for animals in hollywood, also, friskies has about 8 cats that they train and they take around to cat shows to promote their products, they have a nice little stage show.
Since you like nutrition maybe you could develop cat foods? There is a growing market out there for all natural foods.
There are a lot of careers involving animals, if you are still in high school you can go to your counseler, they have books that will list all sorts of careers involving animals, if your not in high school there are college financial planning groups that might be able to help you. Hope I helped a little bit, the possibilities are endless.
 

gratefulbear629

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Originally Posted by Rockcat

I don't know how profitable it could be, but how about pet sitting?
I also work at an animal hospital and we have a client who does pet sitting -- only cats -- and she has a pretty good business going. Of course, you could have to be trained in the care of cat incase, heaven forbid, something did go wrong. And you would have to be insured and all that. But she makes pretty good money.. she actually has to turn people away.
 

mom of franz

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How about a career in photography...then you can specialize in pet photography. There is a huge listing for pet photographers in NYC in the phone book. New Yorkers tend to be obsessed with their pets and take em everywhere...even Barnes and Noble allows pets in their stores. I keep waiting to see a dog "lift his leg" in Barnes and Noble but have yet to see it...how they know not to always amazes me!
 

obi

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There are also lots of people willing to pay for the services of a specialist in animal behavior issues. You could help people train their cats out of bad habits. There are also folks who call themselves "pet therapists", which essentially do the same thing.
 

rockcat

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Originally Posted by GratefulBear629

I also work at an animal hospital and we have a client who does pet sitting -- only cats -- and she has a pretty good business going. Of course, you could have to be trained in the care of cat incase, heaven forbid, something did go wrong. And you would have to be insured and all that. But she makes pretty good money.. she actually has to turn people away.
AAARRRRRRGH! I wish I was pet-sitting a cat right NOW rather than the job I'm doing. It's ok - I'm just having "a day." Thanks for letting me vent.
 
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chixyb

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I've also been looking into becoming a teacher, mainly for elementary school. I just don't know if I could pass some of the classes, I am not good with math or science, I can only do the beginnings of Algebra. I am also interested in becoming a dietitian and personal trainer. So I still can't decide. I am fine with the pay teachers recieve because where I live has a low cost of living and I know I could afford a house with the local pay.
 

cirque

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You could make signatures or other items based on animals but I wouldn't recommend it as an income you can count on with any regular basis
 
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