Can you take a workcation at a cat inn? | Wi-Fi, desks, and cat safety

You can also work in a cat inn if the conditions are met. However, just because the reservation page says “Free Wi-Fi available” does not mean that it is a suitable accommodation for work.

Is the communication stable? Is there a desk and chair that can be used for long hours? Is there a place where you can hold online meetings? And even if a resident cat approaches, will it be possible to avoid creating a danger with cables, food and drink? There are more items to check than on a normal trip.

In this article, we organize how to choose work tools so that time with resident cats does not get in the way of work, and work tools do not pose a danger to cats.

Conclusion: Realistic if 4 conditions are met

Working at a cat inn is realistic if you can meet the following four conditions.

1. Necessary communications are stable in the room you will be staying in or in the common areas available.
2. The company’s telework regulations allow connections and work from the accommodation.
3. The desk, chair, lighting, and power supply match the work content and length of stay.
4. Safely store wiring, food, medicine, and small items in areas where cats may enter.

If you can’t meet even one of these requirements, it’s safer to enjoy a cat inn as a vacation or do your work at a nearby coworking space.

The Japan Tourism Agency has also listed Wi-Fi, security, workspace, desks, chairs, lighting, etc. as items to check when it comes to the working environment. Let’s think about “connecting to the internet” and “being able to work all day” separately.

When it comes to Wi-Fi, it’s less about whether it’s available and more about where and how much you can use it.

The inn’s Wi-Fi signal strength varies depending on the location, such as the guest room, lobby, and dining room. There may be differences even within the same facility, such as in old wooden buildings, outbuildings, and in mountainous areas.

Before making a reservation, it will be easier to make a decision by asking the following questions to the inn.

• Is Wi-Fi available in the guest room you are planning to stay in?
• Are there any usage examples of video conferencing or sending and receiving large files?
• Will the connection become unstable even at night when the number of users increases?
• Are there common areas where you can work during communication failures?
• Can you get mobile phone signal and use tethering as a backup line?

There is no need to decide whether to accept or not based only on the communication speed numbers. Text writing, cloud development, video editing, and multi-person video conferencing require different stability and communication volume. Tell them about your job and ask them to answer as much as they know about the accommodation.

Check company regulations and communication security first

Some companies prohibit shared Wi-Fi at accommodations, personal devices, meetings in public places, and the removal of paper materials. Please check your workplace’s regulations before making a reservation for accommodation, and consult your information systems representative if you have any questions.

In addition to adhering to the regulations of your organization when teleworking, IPA advises you to be careful about peeking at screens, talking, and managing paper materials in public places, disabling file sharing when using public Wi-Fi, and using a reliable VPN if necessary.

At the inn, the following actions will be taken as a basic rule.

• Check if the SSID provided by the inn is correct
• Update your OS, browser, and security software before departure
• Use company-specified VPN, multi-factor authentication, and device management
• Lock the screen when you leave your seat, even for a short time
• Do not post information containing the Wi-Fi SSID and password on social media.
• Do not post customer names or meeting details in places where other guests can see or hear them.

Rather than choosing a VPN based on your own judgment, if there is a method specified by the company, always prioritize that method.

Do not judge desks and chairs based solely on photos.

A low table in the guest room may be useful for checking emails briefly, but it may not be suitable for computer work all day. Even a small cafe table won’t have enough room if you place your laptop, mouse, and materials on it.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s guidelines for information equipment work emphasize work surfaces that allow for proper placement of keyboards and documents, space that does not cramp the legs, and adjustments to chairs and desks that suit the body shape. Additionally, the guidelines suggest ensuring a viewing distance of approximately 40 cm or more from the screen and avoiding long continuous work.

Please check the following before making a reservation.

If you do not know the height of the desk or the location of the outlet from the equipment photos, please contact the inn. Rather than just asking “Can I work here?”, it is better to specifically tell them the time you will be working on the computer, whether there will be a meeting, and your preferred location.

Don’t make work tools a danger to cats

At lodgings where resident cats visit the guest room or common areas, charging cables, earphones, USB devices, sticky notes, and rubber bands may be of interest to cats. Cats Protection advises you to keep wires and cables out of reach of cats using cable management products and to avoid leaving strings unattended.

Create the following conditions before starting work.

• Move the charging cable close to the wall and use a hook-and-loop fastener or cable cover.
• Do not let excess cables hang from your desk.
• Store wired earphones, straps, rubber bands, and clips when you are finished using them.
• Keep drinks in containers with lids and keep them away from your PC and cat.
• Put medicines, supplements, sweets, and gum in your bag.
• Close your PC when you are away from your desk and do not let the cat watch over your device.

Even if the cat tries to get on the keyboard, you won’t have to hold it or move it with your hands. Follow the rules of the inn and choose whether to change your seat, close your computer and take a break, or consult the staff.

Do not use cats for presentation during online meetings

Having a resident cat on the screen can sometimes ease the conversation. However, there is a possibility that information such as whether or not photography is allowed, the public area of the guest room, the voices of other guests and staff, and the inn’s Wi-Fi information will be reflected.

Avoid holding the cat and putting it on the screen, calling the cat with sounds or treats, and closing the door so that the cat cannot leave. Even if a cat approaches you, prioritize the privacy of confidential business information and meeting participants, and turn off the camera if necessary.

At an inn where the sound of meetings echoes inside the inn, you cannot muffle your own voice even if you use a headset. If private calls are not possible, stay overnight on non-meeting days or use a nearby private workspace.

Time with resident cats and work time divided

If you work while waiting for the cat to come, you won’t be able to concentrate on your work or the cat. Roughly divide work time, breaks, meals, hot springs, and quiet time with the cat.

No need to hunt around for the cat every time you take a break. Respect the cat’s rest time and the staff’s working time, and do not interrupt work to call the cat even if you cannot meet him. If a cat approaches, I respond at a time when it is safe to close my computer, rather than prioritizing the cat over the deadline.

Useful things to bring

• Company-specified PC, authentication equipment, and VPN environment
• Tetherable smartphone or company-approved backup line
• Short charging cable and hook-and-loop fastener
• Drink container with lid
• Headset
• PC stand, external keyboard, and mouse if necessary
• Privacy filter to reduce screen prying eyes

If you plan to bring an extension cord or power strip, make sure it meets your accommodation’s equipment and safety regulations. Do not let it cross the floor or place it in the cat’s path.

This is not the case for a workday.

• Unable to check Wi-Fi location and stability
• Difficult to connect to mobile phone line, unable to prepare backup line
• Confidential meetings must be held in common areas
• There is only a low table and you cannot adjust your posture for a long time.
• Even when the cat comes, I can’t stop working or put away cables and other small items.
• Unable to secure work space due to cleaning hours or daytime closures

In this case, the accommodation isn’t necessarily bad either. There are two types of lodgings that are suitable for quiet travel and digital detox, and ones that allow you to bring your work with you.

Pre-reservation checklist

• [ ] The company allows telework from your accommodation.
• [ ] Checked the Wi-Fi status in the guest room or work area.
• [ ] You can use a spare mobile line or another work area.
• [ ] Confirmed the location of desks, chairs, lights, and power sources.
• [ ] Confirmed the location and time for online meetings.
• [ ] Confirmed daytime stay, cleaning, and usage hours of common areas.
• [ ] Find out where cats can go and how to safely manage cables
• [ ] I made a work and travel schedule that would work even if the cat didn’t come.

Summary

A workday at a cat inn is only possible after checking not only the availability of Wi-Fi, but also the stability of communication, company regulations, desks and chairs, privacy of calls, and the safety of the cat.

Rather than making it your goal to work near cats, prepare your work environment and then quietly greet the cat if it approaches you during a break. This sense of distance makes it easier to balance work and a stay typical of a cat inn.

Please also check Advantages of staying multiple nights at a cat inn and things to check before making a reservation and How to spend time at an inn where a cat comes to the guest room. Candidates for consecutive nights can be compared at 7 cat accommodations suitable for consecutive nights.

Reference materials

• Reception environment development | Workation & Leisure (Tourism Agency)
• Security precautions when conducting telework (IPA)
• Guidelines for occupational health management in information equipment work (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare)
• Keeping the cat Safe in the Home (Cats Protection)

Note: Communication environment, cat’s presence/range of activity, and guest room usage rules are subject to change. Please check the inn’s latest information before making a reservation and at check-in.