Ah, working from home. Sounds like a dream, right? No more commuting, no more office drama, just pure focus in the comfort of your own home. At least, that’s what I thought before Muffin, my cat, decided that she was now the CEO of my home office. It’s her world now; I’m just the lucky tenant.
The other day, I was on this important Zoom call. You know the type—cameras on, everyone looking super professional, trying to act like they’re paying full attention. I’m in the zone, speaking confidently, when Muffin, in all her glorious, furry splendor, leaps onto my desk like she’s about to give a TED talk. And, of course, she doesn’t just sit near the laptop. Oh no. She plops herself directly onto the keyboard like it’s her throne.
Next thing I know, the screen goes black, the Wi-Fi disconnects, and I’m left staring at her face. This was not a “cute cat on camera” moment—it was full cat sabotage. Muffin sat there, completely unbothered, while I desperately tried to salvage my meeting. My coworkers must have seen her tail flicking across the screen right before everything cut out, like she was signing off on my behalf.
By the time I reconnected, there was a brief silence, and then someone asked the question I had been dreading: “Did your cat just disconnect the meeting?” Yep, thanks to Muffin, I went from professional to “that person with the disruptive pet” in 10 seconds flat.
I apologized, but the damage was done. From that day forward, every time I log into a meeting, I can feel my coworkers’ eyes flicking nervously to my screen, waiting for Muffin’s inevitable return.
Positive Note:
Despite the chaos, working from home with Muffin has its perks. Sure, she’s unpredictable, but she’s also the best office buddy (when she’s not cutting off my Wi-Fi). Plus, my coworkers now ask for Muffin by name in meetings. Turns out, even in the professional world, a little bit of cat drama can be a good icebreaker.