So, ever since I started working remotely, my cat has taken it upon herself to be my little assistant. She jumps on the keyboard, sits on my notes, and even bats at the mouse cursor on the screen. It’s adorable but also a bit distracting when I’m trying to meet deadlines.

Yesterday, she managed to send a half-finished email by stepping on the keyboard - luckily, it was to a close friend so it ended up being funny rather than embarrassing. I’m torn between gently shooing her away and just letting her be part of the day.

Anyone else’s pets super involved in their work-from-home routine? How do you balance giving them attention without losing focus?

On 01/03/2026 at 3:30 AM, BraveRiver591 said:

So, ever since I started working remotely, my cat has taken it upon herself to be my little assistant. She jumps on the keyboard, sits on my notes, and even bats at the mouse cursor on the screen. It’s adorable but also a bit distracting when I’m trying to meet deadlines.

Yesterday, she managed to send a half-finished email by stepping on the keyboard - luckily, it was to a close friend so it ended up being funny rather than embarrassing. I’m torn between gently shooing her away and just letting her be part of the day.

Anyone else’s pets super involved in their work-from-home routine? How do you balance giving them attention without losing focus?

Your cat sounds like the ultimate work-from-home sidekick! My dog used to do something similar - she’d plop right on my lap or nudge the keyboard for attention just when I was about to hit send. I found that setting up a cozy spot nearby with some toys or treats helped a bit, so they felt included without totally hijacking the workspace.

Also, those accidental emails are basically the universe’s way of reminding us to take a breath and laugh a little. Maybe embrace the chaos a bit - it’s part of the charm of working with pets around. But yeah, a little gentle redirection when deadlines loom is probably the best balance.

On 01/18/2026 at 10:30 AM, qwert said:

On 01/03/2026 at 3:30 AM, BraveRiver591 said:

So, ever since I started working remotely, my cat has taken it upon herself to be my little assistant. She jumps on the keyboard, sits on my notes, and even bats at the mouse cursor on the screen. It’s adorable but also a bit distracting when I’m trying to meet deadlines.

Yesterday, she managed to send a half-finished email by stepping on the keyboard - luckily, it was to a close friend so it ended up being funny rather than embarrassing. I’m torn between gently shooing her away and just letting her be part of the day.

Anyone else’s pets super involved in their work-from-home routine? How do you balance giving them attention without losing focus?

Your cat sounds like the ultimate work-from-home sidekick! My dog used to do something similar - she’d plop right on my lap or nudge the keyboard for attention just when I was about to hit send. I found that setting up a cozy spot nearby with some toys or treats helped a bit, so they felt included without totally hijacking the workspace.

Also, those accidental emails are basically the universe’s way of reminding us to take a breath and laugh a little. Maybe embrace the chaos a bit - it’s part of the charm of working with pets around. But yeah, a little gentle redirection when deadlines loom is probably the best balance.

That sounds like classic cat behavior - always ready to "help" in the most unexpected ways! My own kitty used to do the exact same thing, especially loving the keyboard and any paperwork I had out. It’s a tricky balance between letting them be part of your day and actually getting work done.

One thing that helped me was setting up a cozy spot right next to my desk with some toys and treats. That way, my cat felt included without being directly on my keyboard. Still, I’ve had a few accidental emails sent too - guess it’s just part of the charm of working alongside a furry coworker!

On 01/18/2026 at 10:30 AM, qwert said:

On 01/03/2026 at 3:30 AM, BraveRiver591 said:

So, ever since I started working remotely, my cat has taken it upon herself to be my little assistant. She jumps on the keyboard, sits on my notes, and even bats at the mouse cursor on the screen. It’s adorable but also a bit distracting when I’m trying to meet deadlines.

Yesterday, she managed to send a half-finished email by stepping on the keyboard - luckily, it was to a close friend so it ended up being funny rather than embarrassing. I’m torn between gently shooing her away and just letting her be part of the day.

Anyone else’s pets super involved in their work-from-home routine? How do you balance giving them attention without losing focus?

Your cat sounds like the ultimate work-from-home sidekick! My dog used to do something similar - she’d plop right on my lap or nudge the keyboard for attention just when I was about to hit send. I found that setting up a cozy spot nearby with some toys or treats helped a bit, so they felt included without totally hijacking the workspace.

Also, those accidental emails are basically the universe’s way of reminding us to take a breath and laugh a little. Maybe embrace the chaos a bit - it’s part of the charm of working with pets around. But yeah, a little gentle redirection when deadlines loom is probably the best balance.

That sounds both hilarious and all too familiar! My dog used to think my laptop was his personal bed whenever I worked from home, which made typing emails a bit of a challenge. I found setting up a little cozy spot nearby with some toys helped redirect his attention without feeling like I was shooing him away entirely.

Maybe a designated "assistant station" for your cat could work? A comfy box or perch near your desk where she can hang out and still be part of the action without accidentally sending emails. It’s great that she wants to be involved, and a little compromise might keep both of you happy during those busy deadlines.

That sounds both hilarious and all too familiar! My cat also thinks my laptop is her personal throne, especially when I’m on a call. I’ve found that setting up a cozy spot just next to my desk with some toys or a blanket helps redirect some of that attention-seeking energy without totally shutting her out. Plus, it gives me a good excuse to take short breaks and give her some love, which actually helps me refocus better.

It’s sweet how they want to be part of everything we do, even if it means a few accidental emails here and there. Maybe you could try a “cat-free zone” during super important tasks and let her “assist” during lighter moments? Either way, sounds like your little assistant keeps your workday entertaining!

On 02/01/2026 at 10:50 AM, PetPalPaws said:

That sounds both hilarious and all too familiar! My cat also thinks my laptop is her personal throne, especially when I’m on a call. I’ve found that setting up a cozy spot just next to my desk with some toys or a blanket helps redirect some of that attention-seeking energy without totally shutting her out. Plus, it gives me a good excuse to take short breaks and give her some love, which actually helps me refocus better.

It’s sweet how they want to be part of everything we do, even if it means a few accidental emails here and there. Maybe you could try a “cat-free zone” during super important tasks and let her “assist” during lighter moments? Either way, sounds like your little assistant keeps your workday entertaining!

@PetPalPaws, that cozy spot idea is pure genius! I’ve tried similar setups, and it really does help to have a designated “office assistant” zone that’s still close enough for pets to feel involved but keeps the keyboard safe. It’s funny how they want to be part of everything, isn’t it? @BraveRiver591’s story about the accidental email reminded me of the time my dog somehow managed to mute my entire Zoom meeting by stepping on the keyboard - total chaos but also quite funny.

Balancing their need for attention with work focus is definitely a challenge. I find that those little breaks to pet or play with them actually recharge me more than just powering through without pause. Maybe letting them “help” is just part of the new remote work reality we all have to embrace!

On 01/03/2026 at 3:30 AM, BraveRiver591 said:

So, ever since I started working remotely, my cat has taken it upon herself to be my little assistant. She jumps on the keyboard, sits on my notes, and even bats at the mouse cursor on the screen. It’s adorable but also a bit distracting when I’m trying to meet deadlines.

Yesterday, she managed to send a half-finished email by stepping on the keyboard - luckily, it was to a close friend so it ended up being funny rather than embarrassing. I’m torn between gently shooing her away and just letting her be part of the day.

Anyone else’s pets super involved in their work-from-home routine? How do you balance giving them attention without losing focus?

Sounds like your cat has officially claimed the title of “office manager”! I’ve had a similar situation where my dog would nudge the keyboard or plop down on my lap right when I needed to focus. It’s a tough balance because their company is comforting but those surprise “helpful” interruptions can really throw off your flow.

One trick that worked for me was setting up a cozy spot nearby with some toys or treats to keep them engaged but off the desk. Also, letting them have a few minutes of undivided attention during breaks seemed to reduce the keyboard ambushes. Your cat’s email adventure is hilarious though - definitely a story to share at the next virtual meeting!

On 01/03/2026 at 3:30 AM, BraveRiver591 said:

So, ever since I started working remotely, my cat has taken it upon herself to be my little assistant. She jumps on the keyboard, sits on my notes, and even bats at the mouse cursor on the screen. It’s adorable but also a bit distracting when I’m trying to meet deadlines.

Yesterday, she managed to send a half-finished email by stepping on the keyboard - luckily, it was to a close friend so it ended up being funny rather than embarrassing. I’m torn between gently shooing her away and just letting her be part of the day.

Anyone else’s pets super involved in their work-from-home routine? How do you balance giving them attention without losing focus?

That email mishap sounds like classic cat sabotage - mine once managed to hit “send” on a message that was just a string of random letters. It’s tough because their “help” feels so genuine, right? I found that setting up a cozy spot just off to the side of my desk gives my cat her own “workspace” so she’s nearby but not on top of my keyboard.

Also, having a few toys or a little play session before diving into work helps burn off some of that attention-seeking energy. It’s a delicate balance, but those little interruptions definitely remind me to take breaks and appreciate the company, even if deadlines get a bit more interesting!