Cat Care Associate

About Whiskers Lodge

Whiskers Lodge is a boutique, cat-only boarding retreat in Seattle built around enrichment-based care, animal welfare, and thoughtful hospitality. We're reimagining what cat boarding can look like, with individualized attention, engaging enrichment, and a level of care that goes well beyond traditional boarding.

We're also an exciting young business with big ambitions. Just six months after opening, we've seen an incredible response to our high-touch approach to feline care. As demand grows, we're expanding our team and building toward more full-time positions, specialized responsibilities, and leadership opportunities.

This is a chance to get in early with a growing brand and help shape what exceptional feline care looks like as we scale. We're looking for people who want to bring their experience, ideas, and passion for animal welfare to a small team where their contributions truly matter.

We're especially interested in former zookeepers, animal husbandry specialists, veterinary technicians, shelter professionals, and others with hands-on experience in animal behavior, enrichment, and professional animal care.

What You'll Do

• Provide individualized daily care, including feeding, water, litter maintenance, and enrichment.
• Observe feline behavior, body language, appetite, and activity, recognizing subtle changes or signs of stress.
• Facilitate enrichment activities that encourage natural behaviors, exploration, and play.
• Practice calm, low-stress handling with cats of varying personalities and comfort levels.
• Follow individualized care instructions, sanitation procedures, and safety protocols.
• Maintain exceptionally clean guest suites, enrichment spaces, and shared environments.
• Accurately document daily care, behavioral observations, and potential concerns.
• Assist with laundry, dishes, meal preparation, stocking, and general Lodge operations.
• Contribute ideas as we continue developing our enrichment programs and care practices.

What We're Looking For

Professional animal care experience is strongly preferred, particularly in:

• Zoos or aquariums: Zookeeping, animal husbandry, behavioral observation, or enrichment.
• Veterinary medicine: Veterinary technicians, assistants, or animal care attendants.
• Shelters and rescues: Animal care, feline behavior, or enrichment programs.
• Professional pet care: Cat boarding, animal sanctuaries, or similar settings.

Professional animal-care experience is helpful, but not required for the right candidate. We’re also interested in people whose experience demonstrates exceptional reliability, observation, cleanliness, and attention to detail.

Relevant backgrounds may include veterinary care, animal rescue or fostering, professional pet sitting, boarding, childcare, hospitality, housekeeping, or other environments where following detailed routines and noticing small changes matter.

You May Be a Great Fit If You...

• Have strong observational skills and a solid understanding of animal behavior and welfare.
• Are exceptionally detail-oriented and take pride in following care instructions accurately.
• Understand that cleaning, sanitation, and daily husbandry are essential parts of exceptional animal care.
• Are patient, calm, and respectful of each animal's individual needs and boundaries.
• Communicate clearly, document observations thoughtfully, and speak up when something doesn't seem right.
• Are dependable, punctual, and comfortable working independently.
• Enjoy hands-on, physically active work that involves standing, bending, lifting, and cleaning throughout your shift.
• Are excited to join a growing business, contribute your ideas, and take on greater responsibility as we expand.

To Apply

Please send your resume and a brief introduction to [email protected].

Tell us a little about your animal care background and share an example of how you've used observation, enrichment, or attention to detail to improve an animal's care or well-being.

Curious what we're building? Take a peek at life at the Lodge on Instagram.

Pay: $22.00 - $23.00 per hour

Expected hours: 12.0 – 20.0 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Food provided
• On-the-job training
• Opportunities for advancement

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person