here in the United States, we’re celebrating Labor Day today, and this post is dedicated to all the working cats out there.
I’ve had a number of working cats in my life. Virginia was my first office cat at the animal healthcare facility I managed, followed, of course, by Buckley, as those of you who read my book know. Amber wasn’t so much a working cat as she was the inspiration behind The conscious Cat, although who’s to say being a writer’s mewse is not hard work. Allegra and Ruby not only write ther own columns, Allegra’s world and Ruby’s Reflections, they also work hard at testing new products for you and your kitties. The picture above was taken a week after I adopted Allegra: she was getting an early start on learning the computer!
Cats hold any number of jobs. There are store cats, office cats, clinic cats, and nursing home cats. I love checking out stores or offices who have a citizen cat. I think having a cat on the premises completely changes the energy of a business.
Does your cat have a job? Do you check out a service with a working cat? Please share in a comment!
Ingrid King
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14 comments on Cats at Work
Esme says:
September 6, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Both my kitties have jobs-they remind me to stop and smile when I see them and regularly pet them. They are my anxiety reducers.
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Viki Worden says:
September 3, 2012 at 4:06 pm
I loved this blog about Allegra and Ruby working! My Cisco has a job of checking on his brother and sister. If they get medicine or his brother is picking on his sister, he will run to them to see if they are ok. He has taken on this job ever considering that I brought him into the home to spend his life with his brother and sister. all of them have a job twice a day, letting me know it is time to eat. They eat in the morning and then in the evening and they all know when it is time. They come hang out around me. Princess will start meowing, Meeko stares at me and Cisco and will keep jumping up in my lap and back down again. They meet my life and never make it dull!
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Ingrid says:
September 3, 2012 at 4:14 pm
If you asked any cat, I bet they would say that reminding the humans that it’s time to eat is the most crucial job of them all, Viki!
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Akiko says:
September 3, 2012 at 10:15 am
Ms Rainbow has two main jobs in my apt. As a guard she vigilante listens and smells for any unusual occurrences around the premise. One time on a quiet full moon night she woke me up by stepping over me, which she has on no other occasion ever done to date. She was growling and edgy. She led me to the shower room window where I could see a odd man peeking in over the back fence. Her other job is being my manager. She has the best timing to interrupt me for my exercises, meals, and breaks from the computer, as well as for her meal and play times, like an alarm clock. I wonder if she is a Virgo ?
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Ingrid says:
September 3, 2012 at 4:14 pm
That’s really something, Akiko, that Ms. Rainbow informed you to that man peeking over the fence!
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Caren Gittleman says:
September 3, 2012 at 9:51 am
“work” and “cats” are a contradiction of terms ?
Then again….Cody is a “blogging cat” as Allegra and Ruby are. He is a product testing, book examining cat as well…..he is also an “eating cat” which with as much as he eats…that’s A lot of work!
I have known a number of “Shop Cats”…but they really didn’t “work” they were there to add to the retail “therapy” experience ?
Happy Labor Day!
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Ingrid says:
September 3, 2012 at 4:13 pm
I love it Caren! Cats add to the retail therapy experience!
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Texas, a cat in new York says:
September 3, 2012 at 9:15 am
I’d rather have my human work for me, but I take it as my job to make her smile and laugh and to be there when she needs a little comfort.
And of course I have my blog (thanks for your check out by the way ?
Allegra seems very severe about her job in front of the computer!
Purrs
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Ingrid says:
September 3, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Making humans smile and laugh and comfort them is very crucial work, Texas.
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Deborah Julian cat Art DeborahJulian.etsy.com says:
September 3, 2012 at 8:33 am
My cats are the muses for much of my art work. but they also like to participate in creating the work I sell. They are in charge of supplies and thoroughly check very box of art supplies I order. Sammy is an exceptional paper weight. I never have to worry about sheets of card stock flying away. now that I am making keepsake boxes, using paint and glue, I have had to set up a table just for the cats so they can supervise from a safe distance. Of course, they will only use this table if they have piles of paper to sit on. They are always so helpful!
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Ingrid says:
September 3, 2012 at 4:12 pm
I can’t think of how artists without cats get any work done, Debbie!null