People think that being a cat is all about lazily lounging around the house all day, eating treats, and meowing at delivery people. But we, as owners, like to imagine that our pets are just like us: with thoughts, dreams, and even… jobs? It’s interesting to imagine what profession your pet would choose if given the chance, but some owners already know.

Cats can be much more than just emotional support animals. We’ve found that out when we visited the “Cats With Jobs” subreddit where folks share their felines doing all sorts of work. Some of the kitties work in security, some are really good with the tools, and others even become personal trainers. So, scroll down and see how adorable these professional kitties look, even if they can’t read the job description.

More info: Reddit

Discover more in “Kitties Working Hard And Hardly Working”: 109 Delightful Pics Of Working Cats (New Pics)

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#1 Healer. Caregiver

#2 MFA Of The Republic Of Lithuania Has A New Official Cat! 🇱🇹🇪🇺

#3 Soldier

In this listicle, cats having jobs are more of a joke than a reality. The “Cats With Jobs” subreddit is more about owners dressing up their pets and putting them in certain situations to look like they’re employees. However, some felines actually do have jobs. Let’s look at some of the kitties who can definitely bring home the bacon.

If you had to guess, which profession would you say suits a cat the best? Aside from looking pretty and adorable, cats are also great at pest control. Granted, they might not really know they’re on duty while they catch mice and rats in urban areas. Yet, Chicago is able to control its rat population with the help of the Tree House Humane Society.

#4 Opthalmic Nurse

#5 Bodyguard

#6 Park Guardians

In the 2010s, Chicago’s rat problem got so bad that the mayor had to create a rodent task force. Among other solutions, the authorities asked for help from Tree House. They came up with the Cats at Work project, which provides colonies of cats to areas that have bad rat infestations. The Community Cats program manager, Liz Houtz, told CNN in 2016 that the process is a bit more complicated than simply dropping off a bunch of cats in a neighborhood.

“The cats would honestly have no reason to stay; they don’t know the area,” she explained. So, the organization creates the sort of “kitty apartments”: they fill big dog crates with litter boxes, toys, scratch pads, and everything else the cats would need to feel “at home.” The neighborhood caretakers are responsible for feeding the cats and providing veterinary assistance if needed.

#7 Purrfessional First Responder

#8 Thought Meownitor

#9 A Professional Garden

The cat solution didn’t seem to work for New York. Research shows that using cats to control the rat population in New York has had no significant effect. However, kitties have been used as exterminators for nearly 1,000 years. Natufians domesticated cats so that they would protect their grains from attracting rodents.

Cats are used for pest control in other places as well. Disneyland, for example, uses a population of around 200 stray cats to get rid of any rats that are roaming the park. They mostly work at night, but sometimes people spot them during the day, too. Truly, exterminators have never looked this cute!

#10 Doc’s Little Helper🥹

#11 Actor. Oscar Worthy Actor

#12 Tenor

But not all cats work in pest control. Some are stars of the big screen! Throughout the years, there have been numerous cat actors who have become iconic, like the feline that Marlon Brando was petting in The Godfather or the shorthair tabby Orangey from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Even recently, a cat named Tonic was the breakout star in Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing.

“He’s a scene stealer,” actor Austin Butler praised his feline co-star. “He could stay on a mark for an hour and a half, he’s just so focused.”

#13 Molly Has Started A New Religion And Recruited Her First Follower

#14 Bathroom Attendant

#15 Fruit Stall Seller

Just like dogs, cats can be therapy animals too. They are great at relieving stress and helping people feel less lonely. Places where cats are used for therapy include schools, prisons, hospitals, care homes, and hospices. If a person is afraid of larger or more excitable animals, such as horses and dogs, cats can be a great option. But cats can even help people relax with their purring. A 2001 study found that the frequency at which cats purr promotes healing of “bone growth/fractures, pain, edema, muscle growth/strain, joint flexibility, dyspnea, and wounds.”

#16 Professional Mouser

#17 Voice Actor

#18 Genie

There are plenty of jokes on the internet about how cats are becoming our overlords. However, that future seems a tiny bit plausible when we consider that there have been cats who worked in government. The most popular example would be Larry the Cat, or Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office in the UK. Larry was originally a stray cat whom the staff at 10 Downing Street took in. Since then, he’s been good at chasing mice, birds, and was even captured chasing off a fox once. Who needs security when you have Larry the Chief Mouser?

#19 Not Sure If My Plumber Is Qualified 🔧

#20 Construction Worker

#21 Oreo

In the past, cats have also worked as post officers. In the 1970s, Belgian authorities attempted a quirky experiment and used cats to deliver mail. They tied waterproof bags to the collars of 37 cats and released them a distance from where the mail had to be delivered. Luckily, all the cats turned up, but they weren’t exactly swift about it. That’s why this idea was scrapped and the post found other, quicker, and more reliable ways to deliver people’s mail.

#22 Quality Assurance

#23 Take Cat To Vet / Vet Is Also Cat

#24 A Professional Rug

In the 2000s, Japan’s Kishi train station was looking for ways to attract visitors. Because it was the last stop on a failing train line, they decided to make Tama, the stray cat who was cared for by the train station keeper, a mascot and the “Super Stationmaster.” The plan worked immediately, with people flocking to the station to see the famous cat and buy merchandise, boosting the local economy by $10 million.

As of 2026, Tama is no longer alive. But there are two successors: Nitama and Yontama who carry on her duties. Tama passed away in 2016 at age 16, but people can visit her shrine at the station.

#25 The Babysitter

#26 A Very Important Train Ticket

#27 IT Support Arrived

Have you ever come across a cat that had a real job, Pandas? Or maybe your own feline brings home the bacon, too? Share your stories with us in the comments. And if you’re in the mood to see more pets who have jobs, check out these adorable puppies who are training to be police officers!

#28 Therapist

#29 Cushion Impersonator Working Really Hard

#30 Be Careful Using ATMs In Istanbul! He Demands Cash, Foreign Exchange, Wet Food, And Treats!

#31 Professional Napper

#32 Shopping Cat

#33 Little Peacemaker On Duty

#34 A Cat From Lithuania Can Now Fire The National Broadcaster General Director

The cat’s name is Nuodėgulis (meaning a burnt piece of wood in Lithuanian), and he was given this right yesterday by the Lithuanian parliament (Seimas), after the opposition started filibustering a change to the national broadcaster law, allowing the director to only be fired in case public interest was not acknowledged while broadcasting or publishing news.
The law was only approved, because the ruling coalition did not fully show up and the opposition managed to get quorum and vote that into law.

#35 Black Cats Waiting To Audition For A Horror Film In 1961

#36 Larry Now PM Of Italy

#37 Librarian

#38 I Hired Him To Assemble My Furniture, But I Don’t Think He Really Knows How To Do It

#39 I Told Him My Computer Has A Virus And, Judging By His Face, I Think It’s More Serious Than I Imagined

#40 Table Server Tired After Serving The Table

#41 Cabinetry Apprentice

#42 Book Cover Model

#43 He’s Definitely About To Fix It

#44 The Barista Will Prepare Your Latte Now

#45 Actor. Hollywood Extra

#46 Guard Of A Mosque

#47 Concierge At The London Hotel

This distinguished gentlecat carries his duties at The rookery in London UK. He was very dignified and graced me with his attention only on our last day there and I’m forever grateful. Would not respond to pspsps silly business.