We’ve all been there—your company Zoom starts up and all of a sudden your cat is on your, butt to the camera, playing with your laptop charger, and begging for pets.
Sure, it’s cute the first dozen times, but not every boss loves to be interrupted by your kitty when trying to discuss the team’s budget.
Are constant cat interruptions unavoidable when you work from home?
It can seem that way, but the answer is actually no! You can easily catify your home office so that your kitty is entertained, you can get some work done, and your boss is happy.
It’s a win-win-win.
Why You Need to Catify Your Home Office
There are two major reasons why you need to make your home office a cat-friendly space:
- To Make Your Cat Happy: Let’s be honest, your life is better if your cat is happy. Giving your cat a space she is comfortable and enriched in will help her to have a more fulfilling life with you—even if all you’re doing for eight hours of the day is staring at a computer screen in the same vicinity as her.
- To Help You Focus: I know firsthand how distracting it can be to have a cat constantly wanting attention while I’m trying to work. While, yes, frequent play breaks are a necessity, sometimes you need your cat to stay distracted long enough for you to get that report done or to lead an important presentation.
Creative Ways to Make Your Home Office Cat Friendly
You don’t have to set up an entire cat jungle gym in order to catify your home office. Making your work area pet-friendly is surprisingly easy and can be done in a matter of minutes.
Check it out:
Have a Bed by Your Desk
Move your cat’s favorite bed so that it sits on, under, or beside your desk. Your cat will naturally gravitate toward it, which should entice her to take a nap and relax while you’re busy working.
Set Up Cat TV
Need your cat to focus on something other than you for an hour? Turn on cat tv for her! This can be as simple as raising your blinds so your kitty can see the birds outside. You can also turn on a YouTube video specifically made to entertain cats—if you don’t mind a little extra ambient noise.
Make Your Workspace Minimal
There’s nothing more annoying than your cat trying to tip over your water glass or steal your favorite pen while you’re on an important call. Try to keep your space as tidy as possible so she isn’t tempted in the first place. Oh, and always keep your water in a container with a lid. Your electronics will thank you.
Keep Toys Nearby
Having a stash of your cat’s favorite toys in your desk drawer can be the perfect solution for when she needs to get out some of her extra energy. Take five minutes to play with her and her favorite wand, or throw her a ball to chase across the room. When you’re all done, give her a treat as a reward and point her to that bed you moved to be nearby so that she can take a well-earned nap right next to you, her best friend!
Cats Make the Best Coworkers
My cats are the best co-workers I could ask for. Sure, sometimes they get in the way or spend a little too much time begging for pets while I’m in the middle of a video call, but it’s all worth it.
I’m so lucky to be able to spend my days with my cats while I work from home—even when they decide to scratch in their litter box while I’m talking to a teammate!
Pawsitive Purrpose 