Who’s your boss?

Gloria J. Towle, Special to The County
2 weeks ago

A huge shout out to everyone who stopped by our booth at the Caribou Craft Fair this weekend. It was a smashing success. We raised close to $1,900 to help with our new building fundraiser. 

We want to thank the many hands who helped with our bake sale. There were an amazing variety of sweet treats to tempt those stopping by. 

The big winner of our lottery board raffle was Susan Boyd of Washburn. We wish her (and her daughter Elizabeth) lots of luck when scratching all those lottery tickets. We truly do appreciate all your support.

Since every cat owner knows who’s the boss at home (the cat is, obviously), working from home with a feline colleague can be a challenge. You’ll have to take care of tasks while dealing with a cat that just won’t leave you alone. But there are many benefits of working at home as long as it is the right fit for you, your feline boss and your employer.  

Since COVID, your home may also be your office, but for your cat, your home is just home. This difference of opinion may be confusing for a cat that is used to being in charge of the palace. Several tips to create the best environment will help to ensure your work productivity and maintain a happy home for you and your cat. 

First, have a cat-friendly home office space. Cats are used to having freedom to go where they want, when they want. And that includes your lap, your laptop, your printer, etc. Usually, the cat will want to sit in or on the spot that will be most inconvenient for you at any given time. When you are off the clock, it can be quite cute; but a needy cat that won’t let you work during office hours can rapidly turn into a liability. 

A good idea is to try setting up a bed, a perch, a hammock or other comfy spot that your cat can curl up on and still keep an eye on you. Make sure your kitty is fed, always has clean water, and has a clean litter box before you start your workday. If your cat’s needs are unmet, you will hear about it, whether you are working or not. 

While you may never be able to keep your cat off your workspace and completely out of your way, don’t get frustrated. Your cat just wants to be near you, and that is one of the best perks of working from home. 

You should enrich your cat’s environment. Since you are busy with work, make sure your cat stays busy, too. A bored kitty will quickly make you the object of feline attention. 

Have your cats’ favorite toys, a scratching post and other interesting objects around to keep him or her occupied. You can also start a routine which includes playtime before work and scheduled cat breaks during the workday. Cats will respond to routines, so it’s important to be consistent.  

Quality playtime will also be good exercise, and hopefully your cat will be ready for a nap after your morning playtime. After all, nothing is more interesting to a cat than a freshly printed report, spreadsheet or important document.  With my Willie years ago, just bringing out the Christmas paper would be his cue to jump on it and “help” me wrap. 

Above all, don’t get frustrated when your cat distracts you. No workplace is perfect and working from home with a cat will probably not be purrfect, but you can certainly make it work. Be patient and flexible, even if your cat is not. Have reasonable expectations and don’t get stressed. We all know that cats are curious by nature, so it may take some time for your cat to get bored with your work.  

In the meantime, appreciate and be grateful for the show of love and attention that your feline is bestowing on you.

Check out the Central Aroostook Humane Society’s Facebook page for all the latest happenings. Please be responsible: spay and neuter your pets.

Gloria J. Towle is the secretary for the Central Aroostook Humane Society board of directors.