Cat Behaviour Assessor

**Job Title: Cat Behaviour Assessor**

**Department: Animal Welfare and Operations**

**Reports to: Training & Behaviour Manager**

**Grade level: 3**

**Salary: £23000**

Bath Cats and Dogs Home is committed to the welfare of companion animals; to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home pets who are unwanted and far too often neglected or mistreated, and to promote responsible pet ownership through education.

We are committed to delivering a first-class customer care to all visitors and supporters in order for the Home to successfully continue to re-home animals and to have the long-term support of the communities which we operate within.
- **Purpose of the job**

The Cat Behaviour Assessor (Cat BA) is part of the Behaviour Team managed by the Training and Behaviour manager and supported by the Senior Behaviour Assessor. The Cat BA is responsible for managing and monitoring the behaviour of all cats coming into the care of the Home, whether as a handover, stray or because they have been mistreated or neglected.

The Cat BA works alongside the cattery animal carers to provide bespoke care plans to ensure all cats have the very best chance of being quickly rehomed. The Cat BA will identify and control potential risks, establish and monitor re-homing criteria, and assist animal care colleagues with the day-to-day husbandry and socialisation of the cats and kittens in our care.
- **Principle tasks**:

- To meet with the owners of incoming cats and obtain relevant information about the animal’s behaviour and history where available.
- To objectively observe and get to know all incoming cats and working as part of a team to document behaviour and ensure that each animal’s needs are met from the outset.
- To carry out objective behavioural assessments along with the carer’s ensuring all are typed up and uploaded to the internal Anilog system in a timely manner, allocating appropriate risk ratings and working with the Training & Behaviour Manager and Senior Behaviour Assessor to ensure the safe management of cats on site.
- To be responsible for ensuring all kittens are appropriately socialised, and all developmental milestones are met with the support of the animal care team and the use of fosterers.

To identify cats/kittens that would benefit from volunteer foster care and arrange with volunteer fosterers for the appropriate care of the cats/kittens.

To work with the Volunteer Co-ordinator to support successful recruitment of foster carers and to collaborate on engaging and celebrating the impact of foster care volunteers.
- To aim for the successful rehabilitation of all the cats in our care and raise concerns and closely monitor cats which are struggling in the cattery environment.
- To work closely with the veterinary team to ensure any cats with medical complications or those in isolation have adequate enrichment and stimuli to meet their needs.
- To enter and update details of animal assessments on the charity’s animal database within agreed timeframes.
- To drive the rehoming process forward by creating realistic rehoming criteria for cats that have successfully completed their assessments.
- To update the Rehoming team and other key team members on the availability of cats for rehoming and any relevant changes to their assessment or location on site.
- To devise and oversee the implementation of individual care plans for maintaining or improving specific cat’s behaviour of any concern, such as farm/stray cats and kittens.
- To carry out 121’s with new adopters where appropriate to enable cats with ongoing behaviour concerns to settle more quickly into their new home.
- Where necessary offer post home behaviour support for recently adopted cats who may be finding it the transition to a new home more challenging and working with the owner to help them overcome any problems they are having.
- To lead by example and acting as a role model for the animal care team by being approachable, providing advice and guidance on the care of the cats.
- Part of the role will require assisting the animal care team with the day-to-day care and cleaning routine when necessary.
- To support requests by our PR dept for media stories by providing case studies as needed
- To be familiar with and comply with the Home’s policies and procedures.
- To undertake other duties as may reasonably be required.

**While at work all staff are required to**:

- Take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts and omissions.
- Co-operate with Homes policies and procedures for health and safety
- **Knowledge, skill and experience**

**Essential**
- Education qualifications
- GCSE Math’s and English minimum level C
- Professional/Technical Qualifications/Skills:

- Recognised animal care qualifications - Minimum NVQ level 2
- Recognised behavioural qualification (or the willingness to undertake)

**Desirable**
- First Aid at work/EFAW
- Fire Marshall
- Full UK driving license
- Competen