My indoor cat keeps jumping on my keyboard
I'm working from home, and my cat keeps jumping on my keyboard—it's so frustrating. Especially when I'm typing important code, and suddenly she plops down—chaos ensues lol. I've tried putting a cat bed or toys next to me, which helps a bit, but apparently the keyboard is still the best spot. How do other cat owners deal with this?
9 answers
How about a cat-specific keyboard toy? My friend bought a cheap keyboard and placed it next to them, and their cat only presses that one, so it works fine. But my cat insists on using the real keyboard… ㅠㅠ
I just give up and treat it as a short break when they climb onto my keyboard lol. Even when there's a code error, seeing my cat's face makes it all better. But during important meetings, it's really awkward...
I struggled with the same issue until I placed a tall monitor stand on my desk and worked on top of it—turns out the cat can't jump up there. Though I can't stop it from rubbing against my legs and swishing its tail around down below.
I've heard that if you put a cat warmer or heating pad next to your keyboard, it gets warm and attracts the cat over there. I haven't tried it yet, but if it works, please let me know how it goes!
Cats do this to get attention, so I've found that playing with them intensively for about 10 minutes before working helps a bit. They either get tired and fall asleep or lose interest in bothering you. It's not perfect, but it's worth a try.
When they climb onto the keyboard, it seems like it's ultimately a desire for connection with their owner. I actually placed a small cushion next to the keyboard and trained them by giving treats when they sat there—now it works about 70% of the time. It takes patience, but it's effective!
I've had the same experience lol. Especially during video calls, when they sit on the keyboard, everyone just laughs... I keep an empty box next to my keyboard, and they go in there to sleep. Give the box magic a try!
I bought a keyboard cover and put it on. Even if my cat climbs on it, the keys don't get pressed, so it's less stressful, and it's easy to clean up later. Have you tried it?
Cats want to receive both the warmth of the keyboard and their owner's attention at the same time. I lure them away to another spot by giving them treats during every tea break, but it doesn't fully solve the problem. Still, isn't it one of the small joys of working from home?