Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

Cats at the office will become the next craze and we are here for it

Paige Cerulli
By

With the shift to remote work prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, many employees found themselves working from home, often with their pets by their side. Having a cat supervise your work throughout the day can have many benefits, including stress reduction and companionship. But just because more workers are returning to their offices doesn’t mean this trend of working with a cat alongside has to end. Office cats were already popular before the pandemic, and we think that they’re likely to only gain in popularity. If your workplace doesn’t yet have an office cat, now might be the perfect time to suggest the idea to management. Here’s why.

Cat sleeping on a keyboard
Bogitw / Pixabay

What is an office cat?

There are many versions of office cats, and the right option will really depend on your business model and your cat. Some businesses have open pet policies, allowing employees to bring in their pets. While this model works well with dogs, it’s a bit less common with cats, especially since cats don’t always love car rides or do well in unfamiliar settings.

Recommended Videos

What’s more common is for an office to have an official office cat that lives there most of the time. The cat might go home with an employee on weekends and holidays, but the office largely becomes the cat’s residence. This also works well for stores, where cats move in full-time and provide the perk of mouse control.

What are the benefits of an office cat?

Having an office cat can be beneficial in many ways. According to Business Insider, both cats and dogs can help to reduce stress and increase productivity. When a cat visits your workstation, it can be a reminder to take a break, which supports productivity.

Pets can also encourage office staff to interact with each other, and they’re great conversation-starters. This is ideal when you’re bringing new staff into the office since the pets can act as an icebreaker and help staff get to know each other faster.

An office cat can also be a source of company for workers who may be in their offices alone. The sound of purring can be relaxing, and taking a break to pat or play with a cat can get workers to leave their desks, which can help to relieve stiff muscles and increase worker comfort.

Kitten sitting on an office desk
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Is it okay to have an office cat?

Getting an office cat isn’t a decision that should be made lightly, and it’s important to consider how this arrangement will affect both the cat and the staff. First, make sure that you can provide a cat with a safe and healthy environment. Cats can be very social, and if there are only people in your office from 9 to 5, the cat will be alone most of the night. Would the cat be happy going home with an employee? Can you create an environment where the cat isn’t likely to escape, or are people coming and going throughout the day, and could the cat possibly get out?

If you can create a safe and healthy environment for the cat, then think about how having an office cat might affect your employees. Many people love cats, but that doesn’t mean that all of your employees will enjoy having a cat around all the time. Many people can have allergies to cats, and you don’t want to risk making an employee unsafe or creating a work environment that’s unhealthy for an employee. You’ll also want to think about where the cat will live in the office, where his litter box and food will be located, and how the business will pay for expenses like food and vet bills. You might decide that it’s better to allow employees to bring their cats in periodically, but this will also require careful planning.

If you do decide to bring in an office cat, then plan on having plenty of discussions with employees about the cat in advance. The more details you can identify and problems you can solve ahead of time, the better. Cats can add warmth and plenty of fun to workplaces, but they also need plenty of care and attention. You might need to try out different arrangements and determine which is best for your business, your employees, and the cat, too. With some careful planning, your employees can enjoy the perks of having a cat in the workplace, and the cat can enjoy being the center of attention of an office full of workers.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Paige Cerulli
Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
Why you should feel honored if your cat sleeps at your feet
If you've ever wondered about this cat behavior, this article is for you
Calico cat lying on a white comforter

Have you noticed that when you go to sleep, your cat automatically heads to the foot of the bed and curls up by your feet? It's no mistake, and it's not your cat giving you the cold shoulder, either. This is a deliberate decision on your kitty's part, and there are many reasons why they might choose to sleep there instead of curling up on your stomach or by your shoulder. In fact, if your cat sleeps by your feet, you should take it as a compliment and feel flattered.

So, why do cats sleep at your feet? It's a mix of your cat's affection for you, a feeling of safety, and even the body heat you generate that play into your cat's decision to sleep at the foot of the bed.

Read more
Can cats eat raw chicken? Yes, but there are huge health risks you need to know about
Facts about feeding you cat raw chicken
A bowl of raw chicken plus supplements to feed to a pet

You've probably heard all about raw diets for pets. After all, more pet owners than ever want to give their animals a healthier diet! Given that wild cats eat raw meat all the time, it seems to make sense that your domestic cat would also benefit from these kinds of meals. But feeding uncooked meats, including raw chicken, is complicated, and it carries some risks.

There are definitely benefits of feeding raw chicken to cats, but it's also important to understand the concerns and to talk to your vet about your cat food plans so you can make the dietary choice that's right for your animal. Can cats eat raw chicken? Yes. But whether it's a good idea to feed cats raw chicken is a better question to consider.

Read more
4 reasons why cats wag their tails while lying down
This behavior is almost always never something to worry about
Cat yawns while sitting in a window

We know all about dog tail wagging, and most pet owners can spot the difference between a happy twitch and a cautious one. But did you realize that cats use their tails to express themselves, too? Like with dogs, the cat tail swish could mean a few different things, and it's important to have some sense of feline behavior — and your specific kitty — to decipher their movements. So why do cats wag their tails while lying down? We'll walk you through the most common causes and when you might need to step in.

Why do cats wag their tails while lying down?
If you stumble upon your kitty lying down and only moving their tail, it's probably because of one of these four reasons.
They feel happy or playful
You might see your cat lying lazily in the sun, but suddenly they give a little tail twitch as you approach. It's not your imagination. They're excited to see you and ready to play. Assuming you don't note any signs of aggression (we'll get to those later), you should head on over to pet your cat or grab their favorite toy and start a game.
It's hunting time
We can all picture the lion stalking their prey while slowly moving their tail back and forth — your cat does this, too. Oftentimes, this one will happen when they're lying on a perch or near a window and can spy on birds or small mammals in the yard. It could even be that they've spotted a fly and will pounce at any minute. All you need to do here is reach for your camera and enjoy your silly kitty at their best.
They're stressed
A cat that feels stressed will often floof their tail and start to wag it. Kitties generally puff up their fur to appear larger and more menacing. This action may also combine with an arched back or a hiss. Alternatively, sometimes tail thumping comes from overstimulation. You'll recognize pretty quickly which movements indicate fear and which mean fun.
They're dreaming
Sometimes, you'll observe your mouser twitch their tail while sleeping. It could come from a simple muscle spasm just like you get when you sleep (it also might mean they're hunting down prey in their dreams). Additionally, your sleepy kitty may be, well, faking it. They might look asleep but are actually just resting and waiting for you to come over.

Read more