Some Cats Actually Work For A Living. Here Are 50 Of Them

No kitten, this book features 50 cats with actual, real-life jobs.

A new book proves that cats can be anything at all when they grow up: surgical assistants, exercise partners, circus performers, newscasters, therapy pets, security guards, ministers, mayors -- the list goes on and weirdly, wonderfully on.

Personal Trainer Cat

Bad the cat helped fitness buff Stephanie Jackson develop Catflexing.

Bad the cat helped fitness buff Stephanie Jackson develop the exercuse routine called Catflexing.
Bad the cat helped fitness buff Stephanie Jackson develop the exercuse routine called Catflexing.
REX USA/Mike Hollist / Daily Mail/Rex

"Cats on the Job" presents 50 gainfully employed felines.

Caretaker Cat

Chesney the cat was babysitter to little kitten Joey at a British animal shelter.

REX USA/Richard Austin/Rex

Author Lisa Rogak told The Huffington Post it's hard to pick her favorites among them, these are all such impressively industrious animals.

But she was especially taken with the cat moonlighting as a school crossing guard, a police cat and, of course, Tama, the famous Japanese train conductor cat who died in June, just to name a few.

Minister Cat

Sisco, otherwise known as Reverend Cassidy, was ordained as a minister by the Universal Life Church.

REX USA/Martin McCullough

"I live in New Hampshire, so I have a soft spot for the farmer cat and weather observer cat, both of whom live in the state," Rogak said.

Actor Cat

This cat appeared in an ad for Pizza Hut Japan. Customers were disappointed when they visited the store's physical location and found humans working there, instead.

Pizza Hut Japan

Part of what Rogak loved discovering, while writing the book, is that cats find the jobs that best suit their personalities.

The cat circus performers and therapy cats and natural medicine practitioners -- yes, all actual cat jobs featured in the book -- weren't forced into these professions.

Rather, they've taken to their careers like a fish to water.

Model Cat

This cat's entire job is to look good in costumes, on camera. Give this cat a raise!

Artisan Crew/cushzilla.com â Photos for Leah Workman

Or like Captain Sunny to water in the Florida Keys, where that cat helps out aboard a -- it's true -- catamaran.

"The boat captain cat took his duties in stride while not being afraid of the water. Who knows if his skills and aptitude would have transferred well to working, say, in a bookstore," Rogak said. "I think the same would apply to most of the other cats in the book."

Crossing Guard Cat

Sable worked as a crossing guard at Enterprise Middle School in West Richland, Washington, coming twice a day to help kids cross the street safely, on their way to and from school.

Monti Franckowiak

Rogak does not have any cats herself these days, due to allergies. She did in the past, though.

And writing this book gave her some insight into what spoiled little pets those beloved furry guys were.

"I learned that there are plenty of industrious cats out there," she said, "who are nothing like the ones I lived with years ago."

Dog Trainer Cat

Cheeto helped train dogs to work as pet detectives, with Missing Pet Partnership.

Susan Tiftick

Get in touch at arin.greenwood@huffingtonpost.com if you have an animal story to share!

Lefty took a bullet for her owner.

Heroic Pit Bulls

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot