Japanese Company Goes Viral Hiring 11 Office Cats So That Employees Feel Less Stressed

A tech company in Japan called Qnote Inc. has gone viral for hiring 11 office cats as official stress relievers.

The feline employees roam freely, nap by windows, and interrupt coding sessions, offering calm moments during long workdays and turning an ordinary office into a gentler workplace.

The tradition began in 2004 with the adoption of a stray named Futaba. As more cats joined, the office adapted around them.

Today, these feline colleagues hold playful titles like chief clerk, manager, auditor, chaircat, and more.

The office is literally built for them. When Qnote purchased their building, they renovated it with walkways and perches specifically for their furry staff.

Employees love the distraction, noting that having a cat walk across a keyboard offers a much-needed break from staring at screens.

“Work shouldn’t be about enduring and being overly formal; it’s better to do it in a freer environment with flexible thinking,” CEO Nobuyuki Tsuruta said.

In a culture often defined by high pressure, these quiet paws prove that sometimes the best coworker is one who simply asks for a head scratch.