Working from home with a cat or a dog… is it possible?

If you are a cat or dog lover, working from home might seem like a dream!

After all, now you have the option to work with company from a pet. all day. That’s great for them and for you…

Until you really try. That’s when you realize this is a huge challenge with a lot of logistical and practical hurdles.

It’s possible? And how can you survive?

The challenge

Of course, the point is that pets want attention. Your cat may very well decide he wants to come over and sit on your keyboard, while your dog might have a tendency to nudge your leg with his head until you play with him.

This is not always the case! Some dogs (especially older ones) will happily curl up on the couch behind you all day. Some cats are loners and really prefer you not Pay attention to them!

So this is certainly possible, depending on the type of pet you have.

There are also some things you can do to make your life easier.

morning walk

One option is to go for a walk in the morning or play with your pet early in the morning. You don’t have a commute, so you have a little extra time for this. This is a good way to make sure you get active before your work day, and it’s a good way to help them tire out before you need to get things done.

closing the door

Another tip, and it may seem harsh, is to close the door.

Your pet will not like this at first. They will cry, bark and scratch at the door! But remember: you will see them many times throughout the day. You can play with them at lunch, you can walk with them as soon as you finish work, and you can pet them when you go out for coffee. That is much more than they on the contrary I would have had.

But it also means you can get the silence you need to focus. This is something you’ll get the hang of sooner or later, it just takes a bit of training.

Otherwise, you can leave them in the same room as you, while separating the area where you will be sitting.

Make sure the office and the rest of the house are free of things that they might destroy or manipulate to get your attention! Do that, and you could settle into a pleasant symbiosis. And you’ll both love the company!