What is an Animal Caretaker?

Animal caretakers love animals and taking care of them. They feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, and show some love to pets and other non-farm animals. The job responsibilities can vary, depending on an individual's position and place of work.


What does an Animal Caretaker do?

Animal caretakers train, feed, groom, and exercise animals. They also clean, disinfect, and repair the kennels and cages. They play with the animals, provide companionship, and observe behavioural changes that could indicate illness or injury.

Boarding kennels, pet stores, animal shelters, veterinary hospitals, clinics, stables, laboratories, aquariums, and zoological parks all house animals and employ animal caretakers.

An animal caretaker cleaning a cat litter box.

Animal caretakers typically do the following:

  • Feed and give water to animals
  • Clean equipment and the living spaces of animals
  • Examine animals for signs of illness or injury
  • Exercise animals
  • Train animals to obey and listen to commands

Non-farm animal caretakers typically work with cats and dogs in animal shelters. All caretakers look after the basic needs of animals, but more experienced ones may have more responsibilities, such as helping to vaccinate or euthanize animals under the direction of a veterinarian. Workers also may have administrative duties, such as keeping records on the animals, answering questions from the public, educating visitors about pet health, or screening people who want to adopt an animal.


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What is the workplace of an Animal Caretaker like?


Mobile groomers and pet sitters typically travel to customers’ homes. Caretakers of show and sports animals travel to competitions. The work of animal caretakers may, at times, be unpleasant and emotionally distressing. For example, those who work in shelters may see abused, injured, or sick animals.


Animal Caretakers are also known as:
Animal Care Giver Animal Caregiver Animal Care Technician Nonfarm Animal Caretaker Animal Care Taker