Cat lover? You can hang out with these 11 cats at this IT company's office
feline staff members are as integral to the team as their human counterparts. At Qnote Inc., a system engineering firm based in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward, this is a reality. The company has 11 "cat employees," each with a unique role that goes beyond the usual office antics. From providing comfort to their human colleagues to enhancing the company’s public image, these cats have become an unexpected but beloved part of the workforce.
The feline roster includes characters like department heads and division chiefs, roles that may sound whimsical but have a tangible impact. The story of these cat employees began in 2004, just a year after the company’s inception, with the adoption of Futaba, a female cat who had previously lived in foster care at a local sushi restaurant.
The integration of cats into the office environment has brought several benefits. They help foster better communication among human staff by encouraging interaction through their care and playful disruptions. According to Yuki Igarashi, a non-feline employee, «Having the cats around adds just the right amount of change to our routine. It’s a delightful break from being glued to our computers all day.»
In 2020, when Qnote moved into a new four-story building, the space was specially designed with cat-friendly features, including elevated walkways, to accommodate its furry employees. CEO Nobuyuki Tsuruta, 55, believes that a less formal and more flexible work environment leads to greater creativity and job satisfaction. «Work shouldn't just
