To work from home with your cat, set up a resting spot beside your desk that’s more comfortable than your keyboard. Get ahead of requests with short play breaks and regular mealtimes. Respond calmly to interruptions, without using food to make your cat stop.
Why your cat seeks you out while you’re working
You’re at home, but for many hours you’re not very available: your cat can see you without getting the usual attention. Your laptop and moving hands can attract their interest.
If meowing during a call immediately gets your cat food or attention, they’re more likely to repeat the request. The helpful approach is to anticipate opportunities for play and interaction rather than offering them only when your cat asks for them.
A resting spot beside your desk
Place a cat bed, or a box with a blanket, on a stable chair, a secure shelf, or a corner of the desk. Choose a height that’s level with or slightly above the desk, and a spot where your cat can see you.
Let your cat explore the spot without forcing them, and give them attention when they settle there. Clear the rest of the desk of things they like to push off: an open laptop isn’t a cat bed. Set up a second quiet spot in another room, too, for when your cat prefers to be alone.
Scheduled breaks before your cat asks for them
You can start with this block-based schedule and adapt it to your commitments and your cat’s preferences: the durations aren’t fixed rules.
- Before you start: A few minutes of active play with you, for example with a feather wand, followed by the planned meal.
- Mid-morning: A very short play break, ending with a small part of the daily food allowance.
- During your longest focus block: A familiar food-foraging activity with some food for your cat to find.
- In the afternoon: One or two very short breaks at times you choose in advance, ending with a small portion.
- At the end of work: A longer break to spend with your cat, without making them interact.
Food used for play and foraging should be taken from the daily food allowance, not added to it. Don’t wait for your cat to jump on the keyboard before offering each break.
To avoid skipping breaks on busy days, you can set them up as a recurring activity with a reminder in the PawsPet owner app.
In “Activities,” tap the yellow “+,” set the date and time, associate your cat, and choose the required type, for example, “General” » “Free play and walks.” Under “Repeat,” select “N times per day,” set up to 6 times, and tap “Done.” Then open the row with the bell (“Set reminder”), enable reminders, and choose “10 minutes before”; tap “Confirm” and then “Save.” Mark each completed break as done using the small circle next to the occurrence.
Video calls: before, during, and after
Before the call, offer a short play session and prepare a food-foraging activity near your cat’s spot. During the call, if this is their usual request for attention and their needs are met, don’t react to meowing or hand out food to quiet them. Afterward, give them attention when they’re calm, if they enjoy it.
Suddenly closing a door that’s usually open can increase scratching and meowing. If you need to keep your office door closed, gradually get your cat used to short separations, leaving water, a bed, and a litter box accessible outside the room. Try it for the first time outside meeting hours.
No yelling, spray bottles, or any other punishment.
Keyboards, cables, and small objects
When you step away, lock the screen: one step on the keyboard could send a message or delete something.
Keep cables and chargers out of reach, and put away elastic bands, paper clips, string, and caps: they aren’t toys to leave lying around, as your cat could swallow them. Also check that the plants near your desk aren’t toxic to cats.
If requests become constant or change suddenly
A sudden increase in meowing, restlessness, changes in appetite, or changes in litter box use should be reported to your veterinarian, especially if your cat is older. Don’t automatically treat these as attention-seeking requests to ignore.
If your veterinarian has ruled out health problems but difficulties continue despite the setup and routine, ask a feline behavior professional for help.
Try this tomorrow morning
Start with three practical steps:
- Set up a resting spot beside your desk, comfortable and with a view of you.
- Play with your cat before turning on the computer, without waiting for them to climb onto the keyboard.
- Schedule two or three very short breaks, choosing times that work around your calls and keeping them as regular as possible.
