Japanese tech firm has 10 cat 'employees' living in office - including manager, clerk and 'chaircat'

Several cats live in the Qnote office in Japan. (Representational)

A Japanese tech company has found an unlikely source of productivity and employee retention—cats. Qnote, a web and app design firm based in Tokyo, has integrated 10 feline "employees" into its workforce, offering a balance of companionship and creativity for its 32 human employees.

It all started in 2004 when the company adopted its first cat, Futaba, from a sushi restaurant. Since then, Qnote has become home to 10 resident cats, each assigned quirky office roles such as "chief clerk", "manager", and "chaircat". Futaba, now 20 years old, holds the highest rank as the company’s “chaircat”, outranking even the CEO, Nobuyuki Tsuruta.

The company’s deep commitment to its cats was evident when it moved to a larger, four-storey office in 2020. The second and third floors were specially refurbished for the feline employees, featuring 12 custom cat toilets, cat shelves, and walls painted to withstand scratches.

“Many of our employees have cats at home, and their presence in the office has become a crucial factor in attracting new talent,” Tsuruta shared with Mainichi Shimbun. He added that the company’s low quit rate can be attributed to the soothing environment created by these four-legged companions.

The cats aren’t just there for show—they’ve woven themselves into the fabric of Qnote’s daily operations. Employees voluntarily take on the responsibility of feeding the cats and cleaning their litter trays when the office is closed. According to Tsuruta, the cats have even helped managers better understand their teams, with interactions between cats and employees offering insights into team dynamics.

Interestingly, Qnote acknowledges that the cats occasionally interrupt work—a fact the company welcomes. “The interruptions force our employees to take breaks, which helps refresh their minds and boosts overall productivity,” Tsuruta explained.

The company’s website too features prominent cat-themed elements, including its logo, and applicants are encouraged to share their love for cats as part of the hiring process.

With eight of the cats living in the office full-time, Qnote dismisses them as distractions and view it as the secret ingredient to a harmonious, productive, and happy workplace.