A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry
Second career - TexasGal
Posted: Nov 06, 2013
I was just wondering if anyone had found another work-from-home career to go to after leaving the MT "world?" The way this industry is going, I'm just tired of it all and would like to find something else I can do from home and make good $$ at itI
I have started on something of a new career but it will take some time to get up, get going and start making $$ at it. I am designing cat "trees" or furniture that is more attractive and way more easy to clean than what is on the market out there now. I have had to put that on "hold" for awhile until we find out if my husband will be taking a new job in another state or not. We're doing some repairs and updating to our home in case we DO move.
Any ideas or information is greatly appreciated.
It Sounds Nifty - Meh
[ In Reply To ..]FYI, I happen to have a cat. My plan is to make some extra dough on EBay so I can move to another apartment. I will probably sell my current cat tree rather than move it to the new place. I will be getting a new cat tree after I move. My goal is to move to another place sometime between 03/2015 and 05/2015 (that is, if I don't get run over by a truck before then, since one never knows when it's time to leave physical earth). I will be purchasing a new cat tree for my furry son after the move. Perhaps this will motivate you to further get with it with that new career of yours.
Sounds nifty - TexasGal
[ In Reply To ..]Perhaps so. For certain, I will have my hubby cut up a bunch of posts and things that I can be working on while he's away, if need be.
Sounds fun - see msg
[ In Reply To ..]That sounds great if you have ready money to get it up and running. I personally am not putting out money to make money at this point, but if you're young, have the cash now, and can be patient until you're turning a profit, I say go for it.
You have to figure in your materials, marketing, labor, etc., then decide from there how long it might take to get that back, plus profit. Some people don't factor in labor at the start---that's fine to work for free for a while, but at some point, you'll want to make money for your hard work.
With the Internet these days, it doesn't have to cost much in the way of "rent" to sell your product. You can do it all on the Internet.
Good luck. I haven't found quite the right "work-from-home" thing yet, but I did quit MT and am doing elderly companion work until I get a brainstorm.
Sounds Fun - TexasGal
[ In Reply To ..]Well, I've been very lucky in that I've gotten several supplies for free by odd chance of fate. Perhaps God telling me this is what I need to be doing. You're right about the internet being "cheap." Plus, we have loads of veterinary clinics, shelters, doggy day care and groomers here where I can display my wares or at least brochures.
use upholstery fabric. My cats would right right past their post made of carpet - and proceed to destroy the couch.
[ In Reply To ..]wasted my money on that damn tree.
Question about the upholstery vs carpet - see question pls
[ In Reply To ..]Is it for sure the upholstery they like best, or is it because it's the couch--or worse, that they gravitate to things they aren't supposed to? Lol. We had the same problem. We had the exact same carpeting on our home-made cat scratching post as the rug, and they liked the rug on the floor better.
Go figure.
Putting a cat nip toy on the post sometimes helps.
Upholstery versus carpet - TexasGal
[ In Reply To ..]They like surfaces that are sort of rough feeling under their paws. We had a couch made of a textured upholstery and they absolutely loved tearing that to pieces. But I'm using the duck and twill/denim for the clean-ability of it. I did find some carpet "strips" made just for stair treads. I'll be using some of that and some outdoor carpet for some of the posts. It's going to be somewhat custom-made in that you can choose colors and textures. I found some really nice woven baskets that will be easy to clean at Hobby Lobby and also a plastic terra-cotta-look planter bowl at Lowe's. All sorts of things will work.
I think it depends on how you introduce them to the - new scratcher and how you train them SM
[ In Reply To ..]I have a rug on the floor that one cat just loves, it's "His Rug" and he prefers that over the cat condo.
I have a female who loves a standing condo with short-nap carpet, she stretches up on it to scratch.
The male loves the top of the big condo with medium-nap carpeting, he stands up there and scratches - similar to his rug.
We put dried catnip on the rug, both sniff and roll in it. We've sprayed liquid catnip essence on toys, condos, rug and that attracts them as well.
Cats - you don't ever know what they'll accept. Mostly it's all in the presentation.
Make sure the condos you build for scratching are sturdy, carpet not stapled (which comes loose and staple points hurt the cat) but carpet glued/screwed to the wood, and components screwed together (screw heads sunk) instead of nailed.
Cats will go to carpeted scratchers. I think they go to a couch because it's comfortable for them rather than a scratcher that is not comfortable. My cats prefer to stand up usually, but sometimes will lie on the floor and scratch the base of the condo that's carpeted. It's not really a preference of upholestery material over carpet.
Do a lot of research. I almost bought a condo many years ago that was described wonderfully; the guy delivered it and was little more than a 5-gallon bucket nailed to the wood and some carpet or rope. Yuck.
cat firniture - TexasGal
[ In Reply To ..]Believe me, i've researched this and have lots based on personal experience. All furniture will be sturdy, will screw together for easy set up and break down (by humans, not cats) and made of very tough stuff. For examplu, the sisal rope is grom Brazil and does not have the usual oil applied to it to make it coil easily thst thr sisal you buy at the home imptovement store. When i get the forst one finished, i will post photo for ya'll's feedback. Thanks for all the great suggestions!
Sounds nifty - TexasGal
[ In Reply To ..]I plan to mainly use sisal rope, jute, canvas duck and twill with eco-friendly water repellent coating. Materials that will not be hard to clean like the fuzzy carpets and fleece that they use now. The whole idea is to be easy to clean and look more like furniture and not a cat toy. Cats will love it though with the sisal and the "high-up" places they can get to. As Jackson Galaxy says, there are vertical cats and horizontal cats. I plan to cater to both types.
Check out ahiddenhollow.com- sm - catwoman
[ In Reply To ..]I love their furniture!!!
cat furniture - TexasGal
[ In Reply To ..]Oh yes, I saw those! They are soooo creative. And those doors in the back of the trees so you can go in and clean things out! Mine won't be anything like that. Wonder how many people pay the big bucks for those?
I look at those things all the time and - Alicia
[ In Reply To ..]then decide against spending the money. I thought about going to Home Depot and getting cement molds and carpet and making one myself but don't have the time to even figure out how to do it right. I think it's a great business idea. Keep us posted. I'll buy one from you.
Cat furniture - TexasGal
[ In Reply To ..]I'll just do that! Thanks for all the encouragement, ladies! Now just need to get the lead out and get going on it! We bought some cement molds to use too and will be the second design we do. I will definitely post a link or some pictures or something so ya'll can see them.
Boy - I wasn't very clear! - Alicia
[ In Reply To ..]The reason I decide against the ones in stores is because they're hard to clean and that shaggy beige carpet they all use is ugly. Most of them are too small for my cat, too. I'll keep an eye out for yours.
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