The office cat: how cats quietly took over desks and work-from-home days

Your newest co-worker

You open the laptop. You get your coffee. You sit down to answer one email. And there they are, stretched across the keyboard, purring, a long string of letters filling the reply box.

If you work from home with a cat, you have a co-worker. They do not do much work. They do take a lot of meetings.

Cats at work, a long tradition

Cats have shared workplaces with people for a very long time. Bookshops, corner stores, libraries, pubs, farms and post offices have all had resident cats. Their original job was keeping mice away from paper, stock and grain. Over time, many of them became the face of the place.

Plenty of us remember a shop cat from childhood. The one asleep in the front window of the newsagent, or on a pile of paperbacks at the bookshop. Customers came back partly to say hello.

Some workplace cats even got official titles. In the UK, a cat at 10 Downing Street holds the official title of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. Several railway stations around the world have had station cats, and a few became genuine tourist attractions.

Then the office moved home

The big change came when a lot of people started working from home. Suddenly millions of desks were in spare rooms, kitchens and corners of bedrooms. And cats noticed.

For many cats, having their person home all day was a dream. More laps. More attention. More warm electronics. For many people, a cat at their elbow made long days at home feel less lonely.

The video call cat became its own small genre. A tail drifting across the screen during a budget meeting. A pair of ears popping up behind someone's shoulder. A cat sitting directly in front of the camera, refusing to move, while everyone politely pretends not to notice.

Why cats love your desk

It's warm. Laptops, monitors and desk lamps give off heat. Cats love warmth, so a keyboard is basically a heated mat.

It's where you are. Cats often want to be near their people, even the ones who act aloof. If you spend eight hours at a desk, the desk becomes interesting.

It's where your attention goes. Cats are clever. They notice that you stare at the screen a lot. Sitting on it is a very effective way of getting you to look at them instead.

It's high up. Many cats like a raised spot where they can see the room. A desk ticks that box.

Sharing a workspace without losing your mind

You probably cannot stop a determined cat from visiting. You can make it easier for everyone.

• Give them their own spot nearby. A folded blanket, a small bed or a box on the desk or a nearby shelf can draw them away from the keyboard. Put it somewhere warm, like near a sunny window.
• Close the laptop when you step away. Cats have sent many accidental emails.
• Plan around their schedule. Lots of cats are busiest in the morning and evening. A quick play session before a big meeting can buy you a calm hour.
• Keep cables tidy. Some cats like to chew or bat at cords, so tuck them away where you can.
• Have a laugh. Most colleagues love a surprise cat cameo. It might be the best part of their day.

The quiet benefits

Many people say their cat made working from home better. Short breaks to give a chin scratch. A reason to get up and stretch. Someone soft to say good morning to. It is a small thing, but it adds up over a working week.

The office cat lives on

Spare room, kitchen bench or pet-friendly office, the office cat is still clocking in. They will never fill in a timesheet. They will always find the warmest spot.

If you enjoyed this, you might like our other stories about everyday life with cats.