Even cats can have a work ethic. But what does it look like?

[mvp]

I think this is true because I have been fostering a kitten who had a rough start, decided to stop eating and now has to be fed formula with a syringe. Basically, it’s water boarding a kitten who weighs about 1 pound; a bad time was had by all.

In any case, this little cat has taken it like a man. She figures out when she’s licked and just submits. And later, she can find it in her heart to purr.

When I do her little biography/write up for adopters… I want to be sure to mention her outstanding, soldier-like work ethic.

If you have a cat with a strong work ethic, what does that look like?

[Rackonteur]

I have a cat whose job is me.

When I am sick, he knows and stays with me taking care of me. Actually he spends most of his time with me always. But when I don’t feel well he is right there with me and never demands anything.

[Peggy]

Dice’s work ethic seems to consist of keeping people from doing their work. After all, if no one’s working then, relatively speaking, we’re all working.
The vet.
Person trying to get something done at the barn.
A different vet.
There was also an electrician on this ladder.

But occasionally he does something useful, like help to schedule lessons.

Feel free to follow him on Facebook.

I hope the links work.

[Boomer]

One of my many adopted cats is named Abby but I been thinking I should’ve named her Catdog. She is the coolest kitty! She fetches, she sits at my feet when I’m on the couch, sleeps with me on the bed, goes to the door to greet people who visit, “helped” the satelite repair guy… She is like a dog in a cat body. My newest venture is teaching her to walk on a harness, which she’s really taking to.

When I first found her I had planned to rehome her as I already had 5 cats. But she tested FIV+ so I knew it was going to really hard to find a home for her.

I would list anything that you think would make her interesting to a potential adopter. It’s really hard to find cats homes.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Peggy;8240504]
Dice’s work ethic seems to consist of keeping people from doing their work. After all, if no one’s working then, relatively speaking, we’re all working.
The vet.
Person trying to get something done at the barn.
A different vet.
There was also an electrician on this ladder.

But occasionally he does something useful, like help to schedule lessons.

Feel free to follow him on Facebook.

I hope the links work.[/QUOTE]

I don’t know what it is about the black/white (“pinto”) cats but they consistently seem to have the most personality… what a doll!

My cat has a work ethic but it is more of a strict routine that must be adhered to at all times and she sees to it that her worker-bees (us) are doing our due diligence. She’s an “enforcer” type… Her day starts at 6 AM and she doesn’t clock out until 11. Sometimes she sleeps on the job during the day but otherwise, she’s a good worker.

The other cat, well, he is just lazy.

[ilmjumper]

My kitten is really really good at getting people to open doors, to let him in and then back out, and then back in…you get the picture here He’s also really good at making sure the dogs get enough exercise by running up and smacking them on the nose and then leading them on nice game of tag throughout the house.

It’s been a fun first month of life with new cat…

[DMK]

You seriously don’t think this ottoman stays here all by itself, do you?

This desk has been known to bolt through the fence line if not managed properly (fyi - kitten is nutcake miracle cat)

Seriously, this ottoman is SNEAKY!!! It takes a village to keep it subdued

[talkofthetown]

DMK! I just want to snuggle your kittehs!

Katie Kitty’s job is to help humans use the human litter box. As soon as you walk into the bathroom, she comes running. She’ll rub against your legs to make sure you know you’re in the right spot. Then she’ll put her front feet up on your lap to check your progress. Then she’ll hop up on the counter and stare into your soul, making you question if you have, in fact, done everything correctly.

[rugbygirl]

Disco Fuzzy has a superb work ethic as the town crier. If there is no low food situation, or scary “you turned the dryer on again, you fools” to report, we get the “all’s well” aimless wandering meow. My husband calls it the “everything’s OK alarm.”

[findeight]

Kitty work ethnic look like a kitty in front of whatever object you would like to look at instead of kitty. Want to sit on the couch and use a tablet or laptop? Ha, no you don’t.

Change channels with a remote? Not thru that cat sitting directly in front of the control box, kitty knows how it works. Also knows how walking on remote changing channel at critical plot point keep your attention on them, not a stupid program ( like MCFH?)

Read print version newspaper or magazine? Classic.

Trying to do any type of craft or decorating really shows kitty work ethic best. Inspecting every item carefully, walking thru the project at irregular intervals to keep you guessing if the glue or paint will dry before another walk through. “Helping” with housecleaning is also effective but exhausting.

mvps little kitty is doing an outstanding job remaining the center of attention by submitting to the indignity of the syringe instead of wasting energy fighting. Good job. It’s hard being the center of attention all the time.

[sorrelfilly721]

Clyde’s day:
6:06 AM: Jump up on bed, stroll to human head and sit down. Stare for up to 1 minute. Make sure to start tapping human face with paw before alarm goes off at 6:10.
6:15 AM: Ambush dogs from couch as they run to the door to go out. If possible, ride one as far as possible. Extra points if you make eight seconds.
Between 6:20 and noon: Stroll up to territorial dog and rub head on his. Laugh inwardly when he is scolded for growling. Note to self: Make sure to ride him down the hallway later.
Noon to 4:30: Sleep. Eat. Sleep. Sleep.
4:35 PM: Race human to litterbox and poop before she can get to it to clean it.
4:45 PM: Jump into clean litterbox and poop.
5:30 PM: Assume position on chair at counter and look pathetic and hungry when human refuses to share food. Meow pathetically when human continues to refuse to share food. Begin tapping human on the arm with paw until it pets you, shoos you or shares food.
6:00 to 9:55 PM: Torment dogs by trying to snuggle with them or riding them down the hallway.
10:00 PM: Race dogs into kennel and refuse to come out until the crazy red light starts dancing on the wall. If feeling rebellious, remain in kennel until human gets down on hands and knees, climbs into kennel and physically extracts you.
10:05 PM: Jump onto human’s spot on the bed and SPREAD OUT. Take up as much room as possible. You know you have performed this task well if the human is hanging some or all parts off the side of the bed.
10:10 PM: Sleep.

[tikihorse2]

Small Cat’s latest job is getting into my pants. No, seriously. If I’m in the bathroom, he must come in there and sit in my pants while I’m on the toilet. He purrs and says a few words and pats my bare knees and is generally loving while I’m a captive audience. I discourage this, as I really don’t want cat-hairy underwear, but with little to no success.

Cooking is always a joint project. I have a squirt bottle of water on the counter, but everyone, even Evy the eldest cat, is very spry and fast at avoiding it. I feed the cats and dog before I cook my own meals in an attempt to keep begging to a minimum, but has that ever stopped it? Ha ha!

You’d think a double bed would be large enough for three cats and one human, yet it always comes down to the human having a tiny sliver, often being forced to sleep on an angle with her feet sticking over the side of the bed so the kittehs have enough room. Oh, well, at least the cats (Evy) can’t bite my feet if they’re not on the bed.

How could I keep house, or indeed survive, if I didn’t have these three noble cats helping me along every step of the way?

Kim

[Paks]

Camwyn has a true work ethic

When I get up in the middle of the night it is his job to lay on me and purr me back to sleep.

In the morning when my sleep cycle app goes off he walks on me and purrs helping me wake up.

Then to help me achieve alertness he stays between my feet as I attempt to walk/shuffle to the bathroom and get dressed. His job is then to test the tensile strength of any clothes he can catch with his claws as I am putting them on.

He then supervises me as I open the cans of cat food and stand on his hind legs to get the food lowered to both him and his partner in crime.

He eats quickly so he can supervise me packing my lunch and drinking my coffee and escorts me to the door as I leave for work.

He greets me when I return home, stands guard as I shower and lays on top of me and purr as I rest for a few minutes.

He follows me to bed at night and positions himself at my husbands feet so he can keep watch but not get moved.

Ad hoc jobs supervising all meal preparation and consumption. Supervise all human bodily functions. Supervise house cleaning activities including vacuuming (ensures humans don’t vacuum too fast by sitting in the way as much as possible). Teach dogs their place in social structure (bottom of course). Referee dog wrestling matches.

There is a job he interviews for several times a day and that is official food taster. He is very determined to put his life at risk to make sure the food is safe for his humans. He salmon is a food he would like to specialize in and feels it needs some kind of extensive feline quality control before humans should be allowed to eat it. Despite his extensive efforts to expand his duties to include this function we feel he has enough on his plate and decline his rather persistent offers.

[Feliz]

The Small Fry’s has a serious work ethic when it comes to cuddles. This was clearly demonstrated on Sunday, when we had a Tour de France highlight watching party. He worked HARD to make sure he sat on everyone’s knees, tried to eat snacks and lunch and played with a bit of ribbon. It was a long afternoon for him and he finally flaked on my friend’s knee.

The latest new job is Post Shower Cuddles. As soon as you step out of the shower he rubs on your legs and begs to be picked up. Then he’ll jump on the bench and if bend over he’ll jump on your back and lie there purring. And he loves to put his paws on your front and give your face bumps and snuggles.

The Big Fluff has a work ethic when it comes to lying around looking majestic and snubbing any visitors who all want to bury their hands in his fur. And ensuring no food is ever left out . . .

[Paks]

My cat has added something new to his workload. He now gets on the scale with me. I try to convince him those numbers are plenty high without his help, but he insists I not do that chore without his expert assistance.