Can You Cat-Proof Your Laptop?

Every cat lover knows their feline friends are mysterious. They’re nowhere to be found when you’re relaxing and would love to pet them, but when you’re hyper-focused on a deadline? It’s all cat tails in your face and paws on your laptop keyboard. 

Then there’s the unattended laptop where your cat taps out an email to an important client, “kkhjkljkl,” and presses send.

Huh? 

Hopefully, your client has a sense of humor. 

Why does your own cat lay on your books, keyboards, and anything else you use? Why do they want your attention most when you’re in the middle of a deadline, and what can you do about it? 

Is That a Cat on Your Laptop? 

What do you do when you’re on your second or third Zoom meeting of the day, and your favorite feline rubs up against your leg? Do you give them an absent-minded stroke? 

Of course, that’s not enough for your furry feline. Now is when they want to snuggle or be fed or have your attention by any means necessary.

You know what’s next. Your kitty won’t be satisfied by an absent-minded stroke. There will be no ignoring the cat when the cat wants your attention. Your kitty will leap onto your lap or desk and walk across your keyboard to prove it. He’ll wave his tail in the air like he just doesn’t care – he doesn’t! 

As much as cat owners – er, cat people – love our cats, we must often find ways to entice Sir, or Madame Kitty cats away from the work area. 

7 Tricks for Keeping Your Laptop Safe From Roving Kitty Paws

Besides wanting your attention, every cat lover knows kitties love a warm spot. Your chair, when you step away for five minutes, your laptop because it’s warm.

Some cat lovers find inventive ways to give their heat-seeking feline a warm and cozy spot that ensures everyone can find satisfaction. 

1. Get a laptop stand 

This has two benefits. A laptop stand raises your monitor to eye level, which is better for your posture (and helps reduce aches and pains). It also keeps your laptop out of your kitty’s way. No cat is going to sit on a laptop at a 45-degree angle so this can be an effective way to send a “cats off” message. 

Some cat lovers report raising the laptop encourages their kitty to hang out behind the computer because they enjoy the everpresent warm air. Why not add a towel or small pillow for your kitty’s comfort? 

Of course, if you go the laptop stand route, you need a separate laptop keyboard and mouse. If your cat is more in an attention-seeking mood, it may still go for the separate keyboard.

Now what?

Fortunately, there are keyboard covers to keep yours clean and cat free. There are two kinds of covers: “skins” that go over your keys and protect them from spilled liquid and, yes, loose cat hair. Then, there’s the raised kind that can become a shelf for Fluffy. That way, your floof can be in your workspace, and you can continue typing.

Could it be a beautiful match? 

Amazon has dozens of skins and cat – er –laptop shelves. Just double check they’ll fit your computer model before buying.

2. Have two keyboards 

Cat on your keyboard? Obviously, moving them from their comfy perch would be inhumane, but if you have a separate wireless keyboard, you can use that one to carry on with your workday. 

Just plug it in and carry on. You can recognize cat behavior for being entirely focused on his comfort, yet you can still manage to complete the things you need to do with a workaround.

3. Offer your cat a bed 

Some people put a cat bed or basket on or near their desk area to attract their kitty. Again, that offers your fluffball the opportunity to be nearby but not on your computer. Your cat just might give you bonus points if you add a heating pad beneath a towel or blanket because a heated bed is warmer and more comfortable than your keyboard. 

You can also try a box decoy. You know how cats love boxes? Put a box next to your computer. Put some catnip toys in the box. Chances are good your cat will gravitate toward it.

This is especially true if it’s a box a tad smaller than your cat because everyone knows cat psychology compels them to squeeze themselves into small spaces. Your cat will spend hours happily snoozing away in his box while you get on about your day. 

4. Offer a decoy computer 

Do you have an old laptop lying around? Some cat lovers on TikTok report opening it up and leaving it nearby as an “offering.” Some cats are happy to claim their own laptop and will leave yours alone. 

5. Get a smaller desk 

We all know cats will go into contortionist mode to fit into the smallest of boxes, but that doesn’t mean they’ll leap onto a tiny tabletop already loaded with your computer and work tools.

Cats have standards, and one of those standards is the need to know there’s a legitimate landing spot if they choose to leap. Not for them to jump into the great unknown.

6. Bribe ‘em with cat toys 

If your kitty is meowing at you and wants play time, then take a quick break when you can and play. You can toss a cat toy or play tug-of-war for a few minutes. Work will be there when you get back. 

You might also want to order one of those fancy cat trees. They give your kitty a place to scratch those claws and lounge in a special cat spot. Got a window in your home office? Your kitty will enjoy lounging in a special cat bed or platform as part of a cat tree. That way, they can birdwatch out the window. 

What About Your Books and Papers? 

Alright, got your laptop cat scenario sorted, and now you realize kitty is often on your books, papers, and other items? 

First, consider yourself lucky. You are a chosen human. Not everyone gets to enjoy the company of a cat, even if they are blocking your access to your reading material. 

Second, there’s a good chance your cat is spending time on your books and papers because they’ve seen you with them. Those materials represent you, the human who feeds them and offers occasional snuggles. Therefore, you warrant some attention from your cat. The books probably smell like you, and your cat is content to curl up in a spot that smells like you because it makes them feel safe and happy.

Also, cats like to sit on books, magazines, and stacks of paper. It’s a universal law. 

What Do You Do If You Don’t Want Your Cat In Your Workspace? 

First of all, good luck. Every cat lover knows the cats are in charge; we just pay the bills.

If you have the room, you could try working in another room with a closed door between you and your furry friend. Though if your cat decides it wants into your home office, it will make a ruckus until you cave. 

Otherwise, put on your pet owner cap and try one of the above methods. Choosing a smaller desk, laptop stand, new box, and cat toys offers positive reinforcement. Though, if all else fails, you can always bring out what every cat hates – the dastardly squirt bottle. Fill it with water and aim it at your cat when he approaches. Your cat will grasp within seconds that he’s not welcome near your workspace. 

Which of these cat management methods will you use to keep your cat away from your laptop? 

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking one, Outward Hound may receive a small commission.