(Yes, we’re talking about litter boxes… and yes, it totally applies to work.)
🐾 Cats Don’t Carpool: The Leadership Blog Series
Herding Cats, Managing Chaos, and Leading with Less Hiss
If you’ve lived with cats for more than five minutes, you already know one universal truth:
A clean litter box = a peaceful household.
A dirty litter box = chaos, complaints, and at least one cat plotting a protest on your carpet.
But here’s the twist:
The same thing happens at work — just with fewer hairballs.
The physical environment of a workplace quietly shapes the emotional environment.
Clutter, mess, disorganization, unclear expectations, and “we’ll fix that later” attitudes?
Those things don’t stay in the corner.
They seep into communication, morale, and even trust.
Let’s dig into the litter box (metaphorically, thankfully) to see what clean spaces can teach us about healthy work culture.
🧹 1. Clean Spaces Signal Respect
Cats refuse to use a dirty box because it feels like disrespect.
Same with people.
When workspaces are clean, organized, and cared for, the message is clear:
“You matter. This space matters. Your experience here matters.”
💡 Leadership cue: A tidy environment isn’t cosmetic — it’s cultural.
📦 2. Clutter = Cognitive Noise
Too many objects. Too many papers. Too many tabs open (literal and mental).
Clutter pulls attention in ten directions at once, creating low-level stress you barely notice… until you step away and think, “Oh. I can breathe again.”
Cats react the same way:
When the environment is chaotic, their behavior becomes chaotic.
💡 Leadership cue: If people look frazzled, start with their environment before their workload.
🗺️ 3. Everyone Should Know “Where Things Go”
Cats thrive when routines and spaces are predictable.
A bowl in the wrong room? Chaos.
A toy that disappeared? Drama.
Teams feel this too.
When processes are unclear or documents live in ten different folders, people get frustrated — not because they can’t do the work, but because nothing feels anchored.
💡 Leadership cue: Organization is a kindness, not a chore.
🚫 4. Neglected Problems Don’t Stay Hidden
A litter box ignored… doesn’t magically improve.
Neither do workplace tensions, bad habits, or dysfunctional systems.
Avoidance sends one message:
“I see it, but I’m not dealing with it.”
That erodes trust faster than a cat scattering litter across the floor.
💡 Leadership cue: Address small problems early so they don’t turn into full-blown “someone peed behind the couch” crises.
😌 5. Clean Spaces Support Emotional Safety
Cats relax when the environment feels safe and orderly.
Humans, too.
A clean space lowers defensiveness, reduces tension, and makes people more open, collaborative, and curious.
Messy spaces trigger survival mode without us realizing it.
💡 Leadership cue: When the physical environment calms people, the emotional environment does too.
🐈 Final Meows
Culture isn’t built in all-staff retreats or mission statements.
It’s built in everyday habits — including how we maintain the spaces where people work.
A clean environment says:
“We care.”
“We’re paying attention.”
“You’re safe here.”
So yes… litter box lessons absolutely apply to leadership.
Because whether you’re leading cats or leading teams, the same truth stands:
Clean spaces create calm cultures.
📘 Cats Don’t Carpool: They Come in Their Own Accord shares more ways our furry coworkers secretly teach us about leadership, communication, and trust.