Kennel and Cattery Worker Take-Home Pay in the UK 2026/27

Entry-level kennel and cattery assistants typically earn close to the National Living Wage, often in the region of £21,000-£24,000 a year full-time, with senior kennel staff, supervisors and those with veterinary nursing qualifications earning more.

On £23,000, Income Tax is £2,086 and National Insurance is £834.40, giving take-home pay of £20,079.60/year, or £1,673.30/month, assuming standard PAYE employment with no student loan.

Most kennel and cattery assistants working at boarding facilities, rescue centres or veterinary practices are directly employed under PAYE, though some smaller home-boarding operators work on a self-employed basis.

Formal qualifications aren't always mandatory for entry-level roles, though many employers value or require a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Animal Care, and rescue centre or veterinary kennel roles often prefer candidates with relevant animal care experience or qualifications.

Shifts typically involve feeding, exercising and cleaning for boarded or rescue animals, administering medication where required, monitoring animal welfare and behaviour, and dealing with pet owners at drop-off and collection.

Yes, since boarding kennels and catteries operate every day of the year, most roles involve regular weekend and bank holiday shifts, sometimes with an enhanced rate depending on the employer's pay policy.

Boarding kennel roles focus on short-term care for pets whose owners are away, while rescue kennel roles (for charities such as the RSPCA or Dogs Trust) often involve longer-term animal welfare work, behavioural assessment, and closer involvement in rehoming processes.

Employers must auto-enrol eligible staff into a workplace pension under the standard 8% total minimum contribution (5% employee, 3% employer on qualifying earnings), which reduces take-home pay slightly but builds retirement savings with employer contributions.