Hi, I’m Christopher. To find out more about me and my silly Russian Blue cat, Olga, please read my about me.
Some companies allow employees to bring dogs to work, but few allow cats. Most remote workers, including my coworkers, enjoy having cats in their home offices. Although cats jump on keyboards, disrupt video conferences, and attack inanimate objects, we are lucky to have them with us to spend the day.
Benefits of having an office cat
Allergy sufferers aside, most office workers would benefit from the presence of a cat. Cats make the work day more enjoyable because of their unpredictable behavior. Watching a cat harass or attack a coworker you dislike can bring laughs and boost morale.
It’s hard not to chuckle when you see a cat jumping into blinds or climbing up a cubicle wall. With a cat running wild in your office, it’s hard to have a bad day. Sure, it might make some people lose focus, but a few minutes lost is no more detrimental to your business than a workforce of resentful and disgruntled employees.
Cats must be vaccinated, groomed, neutered and dewormed before entering the office, but temperament doesn’t make them unsuitable. Having a few aggressive or active cats makes the office environment more interesting. Keeping the cat litter box clean and deciding who will clean it may seem like a problem, but it’s easy to solve.
The office manager or CEO can decide who will clean the toilets after completing the employee evaluation. The employee with the lowest score can clean the toilets every day and buy extra litter when needed. This will motivate employees to work harder and eventually pass the toilet cleaning privileges to other deserving cleaners.
Finally, having a cat in the office can have a therapeutic effect. If you’re feeling nervous before a big presentation, all it takes is grabbing a friendly cat and petting it. Hearing the sound of a cat purring will relax you and give you the confidence to carry on with your presentation.
Disadvantages of having an office cat
I could write a lengthy article about the downsides of having a cat in the office, but Olga keeps me optimistic at work, so I’m biased. But here’s why it’s not so common: some cats like to attack computer mice. In a modern office, a plethora of mice can lead to numerous injuries and workers’ compensation claims.
Dress codes will also cause problems. Owners who insist on dressing their cats at work may end up resenting the most fashionable feline, leading to more clashes and meetings with the HR manager. Employees may get annoyed when they are repeatedly asked, “What a cute cat you have! What kind of cat is it?” during video chats with clients.
If I brought Olga to the office, I wouldn’t be able to work long. She sleeps well in the morning but gets hungry and irritable by the afternoon. Her Tasmanian devil-like behavior is not going to be funny to anyone.
If she knocked family photos and coffee cups off desks, dug her nails under employees’ toes, and littered the break room, she’d be kicked out and I’d be fired. Luckily, I work from home, so I can put up with Olga’s shenanigans.
This article is part of a series on Christopher and Olga.
