If you’ve ever felt like work was swallowing your entire life, this story is for you. I didn’t plan on becoming a paw parent—but my cats ended up teaching me everything about balance, joy, and getting my life back.
Kiki
Before my cats came into my life, I was what you’d call a full-on “社畜” (shachiku).
It’s a Japanese term that literally means “corporate livestock”—used to describe someone who is completely overworked and trapped in the grind of company life, with little to no time for themselves. That was me. Work was everything. Emails before breakfast, meetings during lunch, overtime until the last train. I had no private life. No hobbies. Just deadlines, pressure, and an ever-growing to-do list.
Then one day, everything changed—fluffy paws first.
At the time, it wasn’t entirely my idea. My partner, who had a much more balanced life and understood how much I was burning out, gently encouraged us to bring cats into our home. He had the time and energy to take care of them, especially in the beginning, and believed they would bring something good into my life—and he was right.
It started with one cat. Then another. And suddenly, my world wasn’t just about work anymore. My cats didn’t care about my unread emails or how many Zoom calls I had. They cared about belly rubs, playtime, and curling up next to me after a long day. They reminded me of something I had completely forgotten: how to slow down and just be.
Tiny Bosses with Big Lessons
My cats became my new “managers.” But unlike my office boss, their priorities were different:
- Take regular breaks (to pet them, of course)
- Wake up early (for breakfast—no snoozing allowed!)
- Enjoy the present moment (especially if it involves sunbeams or cardboard boxes)
They showed me how to find joy in the little things. How to listen to silence. How to take a nap without guilt. And most importantly, they reminded me that I’m a human being—not just a productivity machine.
From 社畜 to Cat Life
One of the biggest lessons my cats taught me is that even though the amount of work hasn’t changed, my approach to it has. To make room for cat-time—feeding, playtime, cuddles—I’ve become more organized, more focused, and surprisingly more productive. Knowing I have a responsibility (and adorable faces waiting at home) pushes me to manage my time better and prioritize smarter. Their routine helped me build one of my own.
Here are 5 things that helped me become more efficient at work:
- Setting clear boundaries – I now have a hard stop to my workday. Cats don’t wait politely.
- Using time blocks – I group similar tasks together to avoid context switching.
- Taking mindful breaks – Petting a cat is basically therapy. Short breaks help me reset.
- Prioritizing better – I ask myself: What really needs to be done today?
- Keeping my workspace tidy – Because a clean desk equals fewer distractions (and fewer things for cats to knock over).
One of the biggest lessons my cats taught me is that even though the amount of work hasn’t changed, my approach to it has. To make room for cat-time—feeding, playtime, cuddles—I’ve become more organized, more focused, and surprisingly more productive. Knowing I have a responsibility (and adorable faces waiting at home) pushes me to manage my time better and prioritize smarter. Their routine helped me build one of my own.
Since becoming a cat parent, I’ve slowly reclaimed my time. I started reading again. I picked up hobbies I had forgotten I loved. I even learned to say “no” at work (because someone was waiting at home for dinner—and it wasn’t optional).
Living with cats brought balance back into my life. They didn’t just change my schedule. They changed my mindset. I may still work hard, but now I live softer.
So to my cats: thank you for rescuing me. You didn’t just take over my apartment—you rescued my soul. 🐾
To whom feeling lonely and lost at this moment, life can change. It might not a cat in your case. It might be a dog you meet on the street, a person who meet at a bus stop or a coffee you drink in unfamiliar cafe.
OF, BY AND FOR CATS LOVERS! 
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