Neonatal Kitten Veterinary Assistant

CommonSpirit Health • Austin, TX

2d • Onsite

About The Position

APA!’s Neonatal Kitten Nursery is one of the first of its kind, providing round-the-clock care and support for the most vulnerable of kitten populations. With over 2500 cats and kittens cared for every year, it is a key lifesaving program at APA! and an important piece of the equation that keeps Austin a No-Kill city. The Neonatal Kitten Medical Technician provides feeding and medical treatment to the cats and kittens in APA!’s Neonatal Program. 

The Neonatal Kitten Veterinary Assistant plays a key role in advancing the goals of APA!’s neonatal program. This position contributes directly to APA!’s mission to increase the live release rate across Texas by supporting a sustainable, inclusive, and high-impact model for shelter operations.

The Neonatal Kitten Veterinary Assistant is responsible for managing their daily responsibilities, maintaining clear priorities, and delivering consistent, high-quality work that aligns with APA!’s values and goals. This includes staying organized, using data or feedback to inform decisions, and following through on key tasks and responsibilities with minimal oversight. This is a hands-on, mission-driven role focused on results, reliability, and teamwork.

APA! is a volunteer-powered organization, so every staff member is expected to work alongside and support volunteers. The Neonatal Kitten Veterinary Assistant collaborates closely with volunteers to complete day-to-day tasks, helps create a positive and inclusive environment, and actively contributes to a culture of shared effort and mutual respect.

This position may involve shift flexibility, weekend hours, and responsiveness during times of high need. 

Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited, trained, and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day-to-day workflow.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Basic math skills required
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with staff, volunteers, and fosters

Nice To Haves

• Basic knowledge of common cat illnesses, injuries, conditions, and restraint techniques preferred
• Experience volunteering with cats or working with cats in a medical setting preferred

Responsibilities

• Perform intake exams on kittens and nursing/pregnant cats that come into the nursery, including blood draws for 
• Administer oral, topical, and subcutaneous medications and vaccines, as well as nebulizer treatments
• Recognize symptoms of illness and prescribe proper medications according to established medical protocols, fill medications, and complete corresponding medical charts and paperwork
• Elevate non-protocoled medication conditions and illnesses to the Medical Clinic.
• Communicate clearly via email and in person with fosters, volunteers, and other staff members
• Triage and prioritize workload according to training and develop an understanding of critical tasks vs non-critical tasks.
• React with urgency to meet kitten and foster parent needs.
• Work efficiently and manage your time effectively according to training and manager/director guidance.
• Work independently and self motivate to complete the tasks at hand as well as plan for future and incoming requests and needs. 
• Track nursery kittens' weights daily to ensure they are gaining weight and thriving
• Administer and communicate Fading Kitten Protocol
• Spot treat nursery kittens with ringworm using lime dip
• Restock medical supplies
• Decontaminate rooms, crates, carriers, and other supplies
• Assist in feeding nursery kittens, including tube feeding when needed
• Help keep the nursery clean and running efficiently, which includes, but is not limited to, doing laundry, washing dishes, and taking trash and recycling out
• Set up crates for incoming cats
• Complete and submit daily and weekly checklists and reports, including EOD report, COVID sanitation checklist, and team handoff checklist
• Train and learn basic kitten placement SOPs
• Actively contribute to a volunteer-powered culture by partnering with volunteers during every shift and helping create an inclusive, welcoming environment
• Work alongside volunteers to complete daily tasks, ensuring the work is shared and collaborative—not siloed
• Support the recruitment and onboarding process by welcoming new volunteers and helping them get oriented to the program
• Help retain volunteers by offering encouragement, guidance, and feedback during shared work
• Recommend strong volunteers for deeper involvement or specialized roles to your supervisor or volunteer manager
• Contribute to a positive culture by recognizing volunteer contributions through appreciation, gratitude, and shoutouts
• Help set volunteers up for success by clearly explaining tasks, providing hands-on guidance, and offering in-the-moment support
• Job duties may include some or all of the above, and other duties as assigned by manager

Benefits

• Austin Pets Alive! is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including subsidized employer-sponsored medical coverage, subsidized and voluntary life insurance, voluntary dental, vision and short-term disability options, all effective the first day of employment.
• We also offer voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans, up to 2% match on 401(K) retirement plan, supplemental benefits, flexible spending accounts and additional life coverage.
• Full-time employees receive 10 paid holidays and accrue 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment, with an additional 5 days of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment. 
• Employees will also receive professional development opportunities through APA!’s ongoing mission to advance our animal welfare professionals in our life-saving work.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED