Work With Cats
Did you know there are more pet cats in the U.S. than there are dogs? As of 2018, there were 94.2 million pet cats and 89.7 million pet dogs in the U.S.1 Given these numbers, pursuing a cat training career now could put you on the cutting edge of this growing animal care profession.
Why You Should Become a Cat Trainer Today
ABC has been in the animal career training industry for decades. We recognize the current trend in the feline industry can represent employment opportunities for people who want to pursue a career in cat training.
The industry data we gathered clearly shows that the money pet owners are spending on their cats continues to increase consistently.The 2013-2014 APPA National Pet Owners Survey states:
- Cat owners using a training method/trainer has trended upwards from 19% in 2008 to 24% in 2014 (25% increase)
- The percentage of cats with health insurance increased from 1% in 2008 to 4% in 2014 (300% increase)
- The percentage of cat owners who use pet services (such as pet sitting services at home, kenneling, pet hotels, etc.) increased from 69% in 2008 to 82% in 2014 (18% increase)
These statistics indicate more and more pet owners are spending their discretionary income on their cats. Given that there are more pet cats than pet dogs in the United States, this is very exciting.
Further evidence of cats and cat training career opportunities is the popularity of the TV show “My Cat From Hell” starring cat trainer Jackson Galaxy, which is the 8th best animal show on TV, according to TVGuide.com.
As of 2016, it’s currently in its 7th season and has been rising in popularity year over year. According to the Nielsen Media Research, Live+7 Blended statistics, during the show’s 2013-2014 season, it garnered 320,000 viewers. This audience grew to 404,000 viewers during its 2015-2016 season, which is an increase of approximately 26%.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for animal training services is projected to increase by 11% from 2014 to 2024.2
Where Cat Trainers Can Work
As a cat trainer, you may have the opportunity to work at a variety of locations, such as:
- Animal shelters
- Established cat training organizations
- Pet retail stores
- Cat sitters
- Veterinary hospitals
- Your own business
Please note that no school can offer any type of guarantee as to whether a graduate will find employment. Animal Behavior College makes no promises or guarantees about employment.
Add Cat Training Services to Your Current Business
If you’re a dog trainer, groomer, pet sitter or dog walker, standing out from the competition could be very beneficial for you. Offering cat training services can help you achieve that goal. Since 42% of all dog owners are also cat owners, you may be able to offer new services to your existing client base.
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