Cat Care and Enrichment
GOAL for this position:
As a Cat Care and Enrichment Volunteer, your role will provide hands-on feline support to our busy animal centre.
This role directly works with the cats and kittens in our care, through your contribution, you will have a significant impact on their physical wellbeing, and their mental health. The ripple effect of ensuring these tasks are achieved extends far beyond the immediate results of your efforts, to also have a lasting impact on creating a healthy environment, for our furry friends, volunteers staff and our community supporters.
Volunteer role:
- Cleaning and disinfecting cat premises and equipment, handle cats
- Follow cat care plans for feeding requirements when required.
- Provide cats with appropriate mental stimulation and positive physical contact
- Provide relief from emotional stress, through approved animal enrichment practices and activities.
- Document individual cat behaviours and reactions after each enrichment interaction.
Skills requirement:
- Bending, lifting, or reaching will be required when cleaning cat cages, along with occasional heavy lifting.
- Ability to follow specific care plan directions and cleaning protocols.
- Desire to learn cat care and enrichment best practices.
Personal benefits:
- Directly impact the lives of cats and kittens in our care.
- Learn about best practices in animal sheltering environments.
- Make liked-minded friends, non-furry and furry!
- Behind the scenes access to our animal centres.
- Access to our knowledgeable staff & wellness resources.
- Ability to customize your schedule, choose your assignments & update your profile, through our online community.
Time commitment:
We recognize your time contribution to being a volunteer. Therefore, we support a customized approach to your schedule to best suit your availability. During our onboarding process, we will capture your time preferences and availability. We are always looking for individuals who are dependable and responsible. This particular role is offered every day, for 2-4 hours shifts.
Orientation and Training
Before you start your journey with us, our organization will provide you with the following training:
- Infection control & cleaning protocols
- How to Speak Cat
- How to access our online community
- Fear Free
- WHISM
- AODA
We will indicate which training will be required prior to your commencement, and which training we encourage you to participate in at your earliest convenience.
Supervision and support
As a volunteer, you will be supported by animal centre staff. This staff partner will provide you with training for your specific role, your schedule, and any required feedback or updates. The Volunteer Development Team will always be available to offer support and guidance. You will also have direct access to our online community, where you can find organizational updates, posted information and contact information for your staff partners.