Living with the "Barnyard"

Writing about working remotely is so 2021, but some of us haven't yet gone back to the office. If you have pets at home, you know they can be simultaneously the greatest joy and peskiest irritation.

How am I supposed to work when I've got this on my chair?

The dog and the cat must be let in and out with a regular cadence. I don't mind getting up to ferry them through doors they can't open. Layla the dog likes to chill in the dark and calm of the house, often sleeping in a dog bed twenty feet from my desk. Yuki (He/Him) the cat (pictured) would rather spend the entire day exploring the backyard, chasing those infuriatingly cocky squirrels and even catching the occasional bird or lizard. Last year, I filled an Instagram channel with his exploits.

The one thing I can't stand is when the two of them start singing. If I'm too busy to get up for the door, Yuki will start mewling loudly and plaintively. If Layla is present, she apparently thinks she owes her "brother from another mother" a little solidarity so she starts howling with the cat. Together, they form a terrible racket of barnyard noise that can interrupt even the most important presentation.

Split has an internal Slack group for pet owners and lovers, and it is a daily source of joy. If you don't have such a group at work, organize one and you'll be surprised at how many of your co-workers share your love of pets.