Thanks for all the responses - and a couple of the amusing links!

I agree with every point that has been raised.  In my situation, its probably not going to happen because we ARE a thoughtful place, and every employee has veto power on the idea.  I am sure there is one employee who will veto.  Not allergic, just doesn't like cats (because they are sneaky, she says)

It would have been an office cat - separate building from our museums.  It would have been an area sequestered from visitors.  My concern was the cat alone at night; and that the cat have a place to call its own, get away from the hustle and bustle of the place.

Well - my at home cat will not have any competition for attention!


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list on behalf of Elizabeth Walton
Sent: Wed 4/16/2008 7:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] office cats? allergies to cats and other businessplace inconsiderations
 
I agree with the allergy issues, not just donors, but potential hires, interns, etc. There is also the issues of stinky littler, fleas, furniture scratching, desk/counter jumping, etc.

Also as the owner of 2 cats, I don't know that a cat would be necessarily happy with the arrangement. Cats tend to be relatively nocturnal and would be attention starved with people around only 8 hours a day and not at all on weekends. Cats may act moretant than dogs, but they like to cuddle and have a human they like close at hand, even while said human is sleeping. Ask anyone who has woken up with a cat napping on their face. 

The only exception I would see is if it was a facility that was caring for a primarily outdoor cat, which is however, not safe for the cat for other reasons even if they do have more space to frolic(I own an FIV positive cat who contracted the disease prior to my adoption while he was abandoned and lived outdoors). 




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