Working with Cats in the Office - A Guest Blog By Heather Kalinowski Of Trupanion

Heather Kalinowski is a pet lover and internet journalist at Trupanion, North America’s fastest growing pet insurance company. Trupanion offers 90% coverage for diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications if a pet becomes sick or injured.

Most people, when they hear that Trupanion is a pet-friendly office, assume that we allow only dogs. While admittedly dogs do make up a majority of our furry office mates, cats are also allowed! It is so much fun to work in an environment that supports pet passionate people and allows them to bring their feline friends into the office. I’ve noticed that having pets in the office actually adds to our productivity and keeps moral up. Here’s how: 

·         You Take Much-Needed Breaks – I know from experience that it can be hard to tear yourself away from the computer when you have a lot of work to do. But it’s important to take breaks every once in a while to give your mind and eyes a bit of a rest. A sweet kitty sitting in a bed on the desk provides for a much-needed distraction every once in a while. A quick pet and some loves can do wonders for productivity!

·         It’s Comforting – This is two-fold. First, it’s comforting knowing that your sweet little one is right beside you and not stuck at home all day. And second, when you are having a bad day, there is nothing more comforting than a cuddle from your favorite cat. Having your cat around just makes you more relaxed in general throughout the day.

·         It Gives You Something to Talk About – Your cat is always the subject of conversation, am I right? The funny things he does, the trouble he gets into, and the sweet moments shared together can always be discussed. If you are looking to break the ice with a new coworker or manager, it’s much easier when they are as pet passionate as you!

·         You Can Quickly Get Advice – Has your cat all of a sudden started ‘fishing’ in your fish tank? Or has he changed his behavior in other ways? Working with other cat owners can be invaluable when it comes to getting quick advice about health issues or training hurdles. In my experience, cat owners love to give and receive help from other cat owners. Which leads me to…

·         It Gives You a Sense of Community – Cat owners share a bond and working in an environment where you don’t have to hide your love for your cat can give you an instant sense of community. Sharing stories, offering advice, and simply knowing these people understand you can help you instantly feel comfortable in a new setting.

I’m sure you can all agree, as cat lovers yourself, that having cats in the office space can be a great thing. Are you able to work with cats in your office? What are some other benefits you can think of?