How to Work From Home with a Cat

tips

As a full-time freelance writer with four cats in my family, I’m all too familiar with the challenges cats add to working from home. After all, my cat Goose once climbed onto my keyboard while my back was turned and posted 42 gibberish comments to Facebook. (Facebook’s spam blocker must have been asleep on the job while she was doing this.)

I’ve had to get very creative with how to keep my cats entertained – and quiet! – while hosting webinars for clients. All four of my cats have an uncanny sense for when I’m getting on a conference call, and they inevitably think it’s the perfect time to start a wild game of indoor tag.

Thankfully, I’ve found solutions to these challenges and more, and I’m happy to share those tips with you to make your work-from-home experience a little bit easier.

Set yourself up right

If you’re going to be working from home with your cat, a little bit of planning can make for a smoother transition. To start, think about where you’re going to make your home office and how your cat will fit into the space. Two of my cats love to follow me around and spend all day right by my side, while two prefer to lounge on my bed. As a result, I’ve made two designated “cat spots” in my office. Some strategically placed cat beds give my cats a place to sleep while keeping them off my computer (most of the time).

It's also important to consider how to periodically keep your cat out of your office space during important calls or webinars. You might be able to put your office in a spare bedroom or den and simply close the door, which is a convenient and simple solution.

If you’re working from a studio apartment, things get a little trickier. You might need to come up with ways to make your bathroom into a temporary cat room so that you can work undisturbed. Some empty cardboard boxes, a cat bed, a water bowl,and a litter box can all make a bathroom homier, at least for an hour or so while you’re on a call.

Keep your cat entertained while you work

My cats tend to cause the most mischief when they have extra energy to burn off, and it’s during those times that they’ll start batting at my feet or seeing how many pens they can knock off my desk. Doodle, who just turned two, has a penchant for pens and carries them off into other areas of the house, where they’re never seen again. Keeping my cats entertained and active has become a part of my daily schedule.

Starting the day with breakfast and playtime can help burn off some of your cat’s excess energy. I break out the high-activity toys like wands and rattlemice and get my cats as active as possible for about 15 minutes before I start work. My goal is to get them tired.

Once your cat is tired and content, get out the “work time cat toys.” These are the toys that your cat loves, but you only bring them out to keep them entertained while you’re working. I’ve found that refillable catnip toys work well since you can refresh the catnip to keep your cat interested. Make sure you put these toys away when you’re not working so your cats don’t get bored of them.

A fluffy, light-colored cat sits on a plush white perch attached to a window. The cat faces outside, its back to the viewer, with a bushy tail curled around its body. Through the window, autumn trees with yellow and green leaves are visible. The scene suggests a peaceful moment of a pet observing nature from the comfort of home.

Treat yourself and your cat to a midday snack

Hungry cats are noisy, active cats. Stay ahead of this by breaking up your cat’s meals during the days you’re working from home. Smalls fresh cat food is easy to digest, promotes a shiny and soft coat and healthy immune function, and is packed with protein to promote healthy muscles and bones. It’s a great way to support your cat’s health, and you can easily break up your cat’s meals into multiple feedings throughout the day.

My cats and I enjoy breakfast in the morning, but I feed them slightly smaller portions. When it’s time for my lunch break, they get a small lunch, too.

Breaking up mealtimes this way not only helps to keep your cat’s belly full, it also serves as a form of entertainment. Plus, I find my cats tend to take a bath and then enjoy a nap after they eat. This leaves me free to focus on my afternoon work while they snooze.

Take breaks with your cat

Don’t forget to take periodic work breaks and give your cat some attention. These breaks ensure that your cat still gets the attention he needs, and may encourage him to leave you to focus on work for at least part of the day.

I also use these breaks to destress a bit from work. I’ll take a break after completing a big assignment or once I’ve finished an important phone call. There’s nothing better than a purring cat to help you relax and leave you refreshed so you’re ready to return to work.

The image shows a cat nestled comfortably in a round, plush bed. The bed is a soft gray color and appears to be made of a fuzzy material. The cat has distinctive coloring - it's predominantly black and white with patches of orange, making it a calico or tortoiseshell breed. The cat's face is clearly visible, showing striking blue eyes and a white patch on its chin contrasting with its darker face. The cat bed is placed in a corner, with what looks like part of a scratching post visible to one side and wooden flooring underneath. The cat appears relaxed and at home in its cozy spot.

Plan ahead for special work-from-home events

I’ve found that one of the biggest challenges to working from home with cats occurs when I have a special event, like an important phone interview when I absolutely don’t want my cats distracting me or being heard meowing in the background. But of course, they always somehow end up in my office during these important events.

If you know you have something important scheduled for the day, you can try the trick that I’ve come to rely on. About an hour before the event, I stop working and play with my cats. I try to get them really running and chasing after toys so they’re tired. Then, I give them a snack or a small meal. After that, they almost always take a nap that lasts at least an hour. I make sure that the door to my office is closed, so they head to other areas of the house to sleep.

If another human family member is home, you might also enlist them to help keep your cats occupied while you’re in your office.

Top tips for working from home with cats

Set up your home office so that your cat has a designated space, but also think about ways to keep your cat out of the office when necessary.
Keep your cat entertained with play sessions throughout the day.
Break up mealtimes to keep your cat full and to provide entertainment during the day.
Give your cat extra attention during work breaks.
Plan ahead if you have a big work event coming up and will need to keep your cat quiet and occupied.

Frequently asked questions

1. My cat is climbing on my computer while I work from home. What can I do?
Try placing a cat bed or a box on your desk. Add catnip and a soft blanket to attract your cat to this designated spot, encouraging him to stay off your computer.

2. I’ve been working from home but now I have to return to the office. Will my cat miss me and be lonely?
Just like how you have to adjust to returning to the office, your cat will have to adjust to not having you at home. You can help break up their boredom when they’re alone by leaving special toys, using a pet camera that lets you check in with him throughout the day, or even bringing homeanother cat companion.

3. How can I stop my cat from meowing whenever I close my office door?
Try feeding your cat just before you close the door to get on a call, or give him some special toys you know he likes. You may need to temporarily close your cat into another room, farther from your office, if the meowing will disturb an important call or meeting.

The image shows two cats peacefully sleeping close to each other on a soft blanket. One cat is orange with long fur, and the other is mostly white with black markings on its face and body. Both cats are curled up, resting comfortably. The scene exudes warmth and relaxation.

Working from home has many benefits, but perhaps the biggest perk is that you’re able to spend time with your cats throughout the day.

I’ve been working from home full-time for about five years now, and things haven’t always gone smoothly. My four cats can make my work days most interesting, but I’ve also found ways to keep my cats content and occupied while still being able to focus on my work. These tips worked for me, and I think they’ll work for you and your cats, too.