Are you a cat person or a dog person? Around the office, I’m known as a crazy cat lady (I dressed up as one for Halloween a few years ago, and the title stuck). I only have two cats. I don’t think that constitutes as being “crazy,” and to be honest, I like llamas more than I like cats, but I digress.… If someone paid you to cuddle cats all day, would you take the job?
A veterinary clinic in Dublin, Ireland, recently posted a job ad seeking a “cat cuddler,” and if they paid to relocate, I’d be on the next flight out of here! The website asked the following of its potential candidates:
- Are you a crazy cat person and love cats?
- Does cattitude come naturally to you?
- Have you counted kittens before you go to sleep?
- Do you feed the stray cats in your locality?
- Does petting cats make you feel warm and fuzzy?
If you’ve answered yes, HR may not be your true calling! What does being a cut cuddler entail? According to the veterinary clinic’s website:
- The ideal candidate must have gentle hands capable of petting and stroking cats for long periods of time.
- They need to be softly spoken and capable of cat whispering to calm the nerves of some of our inpatients.
- An ability to understand different types of purring is a distinct added advantage in helping you secure this position with us.
The veterinary clinic claims to be an equal opportunity employer. However, if you prefer dogs, they will discriminate against you. After all, the clinic is for cats only. The official job title is still to be determined, as the clinic title for the position will be based off of the employee’s skills.
A veterinarian for the clinic, interviewing with Huffington Post says, “We are considering a veterinary intern, a nurse position or a nurse’s assistant and their title will be appropriate to their role … However, the essence of the job is having a staff member that is responsible for ensuring that our patients and guests have a pleasant experience while receiving their healthcare.”
Crazy cat ladies rejoice; we may have found our calling, and the job even pays, too! What’s the pay range you ask? The salary range varies from 20,000 euros to 25,000 euros (about $22,000 to $28,000 USD). Again, the pay varies based on the applicant’s skills. The clinic says they’ve received thousands of résumés from all across the world but have yet to hire for the cat cuddler position.
Fear not. If you applied and were turned down, your local animal shelter would be more than happy to accommodate your desire to take care of our feline friends. Unfortunately, volunteering doesn’t pay, but at least you can get the cat cuddling out of your system!
 Melissa Blazejak is a Senior Web Content Editor at BLR. She has written articles for HR.BLR.com and the HR Daily Advisor websites and is responsible for the day-to-day management of HR.BLR.com and HRLaws.com. She has been at BLR since 2014. She graduated with a BA of Science, specializing in Communication, from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2008. Most recently, she graduated in 2014 with a MS of Educational Technology. |