The Purrfect Co-worker: 3 Ways Businesses Can Benefit From Office Cats

Cats are often considered to be excellent additions to any home. But what about workplaces? More businesses are open to workers bringing in their own pets or even adopting an animal as a permanent fixture of the office.

Many companies and their workers are finding that the presence of a cat offers a variety of advantages. This can encompass everything from boosting innovation to reducing negative impacts on worker health.

Let’s take a moment to explore a few ways businesses benefit from office cats.

Supporting Creativity

Creativity is an invaluable aspect of any business. It helps to ensure more effective problem-solving and contributes to innovation. There are techniques workers can adopt to develop creative skill sets. This includes making time for creative activities in the working calendar, building a creative network, and stepping outside of comfort zones. Yet, it’s worth considering how furry co-workers can play a role here, too.

Cats have been connected to greater creativity throughout history. This isn’t just because famous artists, such as Mark Twain and Edward Gorey surrounded themselves with felines. Primarily, the sense of comfort and emotional support cats provide can help workers to feel freer to explore new ideas and test out unconventional actions. They may be less limited by the anxiety or uncertainty that can come from acting differently. 

In addition, observing cats can be a source of inspiration. Often, our feline companions will act in ways that are unpredictable, unexpected, and unrestrained. They’ll find odd ways to navigate obstacles or they’ll make a bed out of the strangest objects. This outside-of-the-box approach to life can be a valuable influence in your office.

Boosting Marketing

Marketing is an essential component of connecting with consumers and boosting company growth. However, without effective planning, this can be an expensive prospect. Establishing low-cost marketing techniques enables you to promote your brand with minimal risk. Social media advertising and quality content creation can be effective tools here. You can also find that your office cat could play an invaluable part in this cost-effective advertising strategy.

Cats continue to be a popular part of the social media landscape. This is hardly surprising as cats make people happy and they often exhibit cute or funny behavior. Using your office cat in your company posts may help to increase audience reach and engagement. 

That said, it’s important to strategize how you include your furry colleague in your social media posts and marketing content. There is, after all, a lot of cat content online and people can get pet content fatigue. Be creative but contextually relevant. Dress them in formal attire to show them as a professional presence in your behind-the-scenes posts. Use them consistently as the source of your brand voice during suitable campaigns.

Enhancing Wellness

Cat owners know how positive their pets can be to their quality of life. They can significantly support mental and physical well-being. Similarly, a furry co-worker can contribute to the wellness of human office workers, which may boost satisfaction and productivity while reducing absenteeism. 

This can be particularly effective if your workers operate in a potentially stressful field. Studies have shown that the presence of cats can reduce physical and mental health symptoms associated with stress. This includes lowering blood pressure and heart rate. 

Cats in the office may also encourage employees to practice self-care. In busy environments, it’s not unusual to get caught up in professional activities and not take a little time for vital rest periods. A feline colleague might prompt workers to take a break to stop and pet them or take a moment to simply appreciate the cat’s presence. This can contribute to wider efforts to tackle burnout.

Conclusion

An office cat can be a valuable contributor to your business. They can influence the creativity of your workforce, which may lead to innovation and better problem-solving. Your furry colleague may also be a useful focus for your marketing efforts. Importantly, cats are considered effective tools for improving workplace wellness. With care and consideration, you may find adopting an office cat to be a positive experience for everyone involved.

About the Author: Katie Brenneman

Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in lifestyle, mental health, and animal-related content. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or snuggling with her cat, Clementine. To connect with Katie, you can follow her on Twitter.