What did people learn from their Cattery Work Experience?!

Hey,

I did a week's work exp at a cattery/ birman breeding home, and although I loved it, I don't really know what I can say that I learnt from it in my personal statement?! I know I can put about general handling and care of the cats and kittens but that's kind of about it?! HELP...

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Reply 1

RainbowGurl

ive learned about how much they should normally drink/ eat, common ailments, different breeds and what a normal, healthy cat should look and act like.

x

Reply 2

rc04

Yeh, i guess I just seem like I'm totally pointing out the obvious! But hey I guess its better than nothing. Thanks a lot.

Reply 3

RainbowGurl

=]

i work at a kennels and cattery and spmetimes the animals come in with medication and i write down the type and what its for there too?

x

Reply 4

rc04

woah you're on the ball! It's too late for that for me now though, oh well. Will just have to make do with what I've got. arg

Reply 5

RainbowGurl

lol =]

u done much other work experience? i would make sure you get references and write down stuff that you've done etc.

x

Reply 6

rc04

Well this is the thing, I've done 6 weeks so far but got 5 more arranged, but I'm only applying to Nottingham (it's complicated!) and they say that they will ''consider references'', but dont mention anything about them being really important. But will get them from the ones I do from now on, I didnt get any from the others. Are you in vet school now or just applying?

Reply 7

tiny_tiger

ive got a friend whos just applying to notts...she does arty subjects and cos her parents are well off and uni educated Notts 6 year is the only course that would even look at her!

Get a reference if you can, even a brief one will show your dedication. with only one uni application, you need to do everything you possibly can and notts do look at references! I sent mine off with the questionnaire you have to fill in and I got asked about a couple of them at interview (one made a comment about a research project I helped with at London zoo).

Reply 8

rc04

yeh it's the 6 course which I'm applying for, which is sooo competitive. Thanks for your help. My personal statement is about a page too long at the mo too. arg. well done with all your offers!

Reply 9

Toby T

Ashlee1991

ive learned about how much they should normally drink/ eat, common ailments, different breeds and what a normal, healthy cat should look and act like.

x

This is exactly the sort of thing that looks good in a PS. It shows the sort of things you should get from any EMS placement let alone work experience. You're definitely on the right track.

Get references, they are very important. I'm sure your placement providers won't mind giving you one if you contact them.

Good Luck.

Reply 10

doolie_xx

In relation to my kennel and cattery work I said that I was in a position of responsibility (in looking after peoples' animals) and I was therefore trusted to take on things like working at reception which involved working closely with the general public and money keeping. Anything like that is worth putting in.

Definitely get some references from your placements too. The unis all give different options for how to send them in but they do accept them and they DO take them into account; believe me. I'm sure my references had some role in getting me my interviews. Don't overlook it. Also, even if you didn't get a reference at the time, there's nothing stopping you getting in touch with the placements after you leave and asking them to send you one or sending a stamped-self addressed envelope to them if they're really lazy. I did that with all my work experience and they were all very helpful; wrote me lovely references too!

Reply 11

nina_100

rc04

yeh it's the 6 course which I'm applying for, which is sooo competitive. Thanks for your help. My personal statement is about a page too long at the mo too. arg. well done with all your offers!

If you want me to have a glance over your personal statement I'd be happy to give you my opinion? Obviously its not proffessional, far from it, but an extra pair of eyes can help sometimes!

Reply 12

rc04

aw thanks so much. i think ill take you up on that offer! I should have a draft done pretty soon, but it may well be a few lines over. arg. thanks so much for your help everyone!

Reply 13

Annaconda

Do you think a week at a boarding kennels/ cattery would be a useful one to get or would the time beeter be spent doing something else?

Reply 14

)(--becca--)(

Depends what you can get instead lol! I'd say veterinary would probably be more helpful, but if you can't get it do kennels. It also depends on what else you have - if you're down on small animal work I would do it. However, if you have less equine or farm, your probably better off doing that.

Reply 15

messy

i learnt how not to do anything right, why a cattery should be closed down and how to work as a slave!!!
As you can probably tell my cattery ems wasnt one of my better ones!

Reply 16

RainbowGurl

i'm only i year 11 lol so ive got a few years yet before i apply. what year are you in?

x

Reply 17

Annaconda

ashlee how much work exp you done already?

Reply 18

RainbowGurl

erm quite a bit:

lifetime of dog breeding
2 years kennels and cattery
2 weeks stables
1 week pigs
1 week dairy farm
6 months friday nights and sat mornings small animal vets + 1 week last year

u?

x

Reply 19

Annaconda

2 years saturdays stables years ago
1 week diff stables
2 weeks sa vets
6 months saturdays city farm
1 week dog grooming
2/3 day lambing course

i wish i got to breed dogs or something, or even just hamsters