September 2, 2025, 8:01 am | Read time: 3 minutes
You just sit down to read a book or open your laptop for work–and the cat comes over, demanding attention. Just a moment ago, she was curled up in the corner, dozing off. Why does she come over precisely when you’re busy?
“You’re Not Doing Anything Right Now”
It’s no coincidence that cats run to us and meow loudly or lie on the keyboard just as we’re about to start working. The cat thinks, “My human is sitting and not moving–now they have time.” The animals can’t understand that we’re doing important things.
Additionally, most of us are quite active before starting work. A quick trip to the kitchen to make coffee. Then a quick stop at the bathroom. To our cats, it seems like we’re very busy. They usually prefer to wait until we settle down.
Cats Know Our Daily Routine
Especially in a home office, many experience that the cat demands attention just as we sit down and start a call. The reason: The animal has learned that we usually respond when they come and meow or walk across the keyboard. And even if we’re annoyed or scold and shoo the cat away, we give them attention at that moment.
We Often Reinforce the Behavior Unintentionally
Many cat owners get up and quickly give their pet something to eat, hoping to continue working undisturbed. This reinforces the behavior because the cat learns: If I bother my human as soon as they sit down, I get attention and something tasty to eat.
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Ignoring the animal would be the wrong approach. For one, because cats would initially show the behavior even more strongly–meowing louder. Or they might develop entirely new strategies, like knocking things off the table or scratching something. Additionally, it’s extremely frustrating for the cat if their needs are ignored.
Many cats that demand attention at that moment start the behavior because they aren’t sufficiently stimulated. We usually come home from a workday, quickly feed the animal, have dinner, and then focus on important things–like doing taxes or maybe just wanting to read a book. Meanwhile, the cat has been home the entire time. Finally, their human is there, and they want interaction. This includes releasing the energy that has built up throughout the day.
What to Do When the Cat Wants Attention?
The best thing to do when the cat demands attention every time you want to start an important task is to be proactive. Before you sit down and potentially be busy for several hours, play extensively with the cat. If your pet has been alone for a long time and has built up a lot of energy, wild chase games with a play wand are ideal.
But also, catch and search games are great for mentally and physically stimulating cats. You can throw treats around or hide them in the room. Some cats also love to fish their dry food out of puzzle feeders. This task is ideal when you’re on a call, as the animals are usually occupied for some time. We’ve compiled even more ideas for you here: 7 Appropriate Games to Keep Cats Busy.
About the Author
Dr. Saskia Schneider is a biologist with a Ph.D. During her studies at the Free University of Berlin, she focused on zoology and animal behavior. In addition to training as an editor, she completed training as a behavior consultant specializing in cats.