NYC Cat Catcher Left the Law After a Decade in Legal Dog Fights

By Andrew Chow, Esq. on February 27, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Introducing our ex-lawyer of the week: Jodana Serebrenik

Serebrenik once thrived in the dog-eat-dog world of litigation. She's now gaining fame in a new career, as New York City's only for-hire cat catcher.

"I just got to a point where I didn't enjoy the work," Serebrenik told The Wall Street Journal about her former legal career. "I had turned 40, and I was like, 'I paid off my student loans. I had a good run, but I'm not happy with it anymore.'"

A six-week trip to Africa, and volunteer work with animal-rescue groups, convinced Serebrenik to pursue a new calling after 10 years as a lawyer. In 2006, she started catching cats as her full-time job.

Attorney Jordana Serebrenik, through her business called Catch Your Cat, Etc., generally charges about $80 for her cat-catching skills, The New York Times reports. Cat owners who can't get their felines into carriers -- for vet appointments, for example -- are among her most loyal customers.

Though Serebrenik's cat-owner clients are much different than her former law-firm clients, Serebrenik says catching cats gives her a similar feeling to being in court.

"It's a huge adrenaline rush," Serebrenik told The Times in a video interview. "When you're chasing the cat around, and you're trying to outwit it, and it's trying to outwit you, my body's just surging with adrenaline."

The Times' video shows some of Serebrenik's cat-catching secrets, such as her adroit use of a nylon bag as a trap. You can watch The Times' video here:

So far, Jordana Serebrenik touts a perfect record as a cat catcher. With cat-catching, as with lawyering, you can't just give up, Serebrenik told the Journal. "The more persistent you are, and the more you stay calm, the more likely you'll actually be able to succeed," the attorney cat-catcher said.

Curious about other ways to use your JD, or how ex-lawyers have found success in other fields? Check back here for more ex-lawyer profiles and success stories in FindLaw's ongoing Ex-Lawyer of the Week series. And if you have suggestions for our Ex-Lawyer of the Week series, let us know by posting your tip on our FindLaw for Legal Professionals Facebook page.

Related Resources:

Have an Unruly Cat? For a Fee, She Will Wrangle It (The New York Times)
The Weekly Non-Practice: Cat Catching (The Wall Street Journal)
Catch Your Cat, Etc. (Official Facebook page)
Alternatives to Practicing Law (FindLaw)