Cat-Approved Artist: Picolas and I at Work!

Written by Erica Lee De Alday

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    Working for an inclusive and active studio for 2 and a half years now has come with a few perks. My boss was usually very loose with rules and allowed us to do what we want with such freedom as long as it didn't hurt the studio and well didn’t break anything within the rules. One of the things my boss allowed was to bring pets BUT no fishes and water animals (apparently, the studio wasn’t ready for an army of goldfishes taking over)- and well, while most of my coworkers don’t really bring pets— I kinda like to bring mine. And who do I bring? My cat—the little guy I usually draw everywhere in class and on my friends’ notebook. Yep, he comes with me to work often, perhaps there’s no escape from him. May I introduce to you, the studio art cat, Picolas.

           

    Usually, at mornings in work, Picolas just sleeps under my desk or his cat bed near my desk- maybe sometimes, stare at me with a smug face but it’s one way to have company while I work on some projects and in the afternoons and evenings, Picolas usually roams around the studio or keep my coworkers company- but most of the time? He sits and stares at everyone with a very smug little face but having Picolas by me was really helpful- having deadlines and rushed projects usually had me stressed sometimes at work, my cat motivates me to work harder and eases my tense work stress with silly smug looks. One may say that he’s a lazy fella (he might be more lazy), but hey! His silly antics really does lighten me and my coworkers up, he’s a very behaved feller with a smug smile and usually he has a job as  a mouse guard outside the building. My boss once told me that my cat would almost get those rats roaming outside the building but instead of biting the rats, he’d rather paw-punch it… perhaps my cat could be just a mouse boxer than a hunter, he’ll corner a mouse, bat his paws at it a few times and… walk away- but it’s a really silly antic of his which I adapted to my illustrations and doodles, my coworkers often draw him too on the whiteboards around the studio, “a smug feller”, they usually captioned and it’s just a doodle of my cat having boxing gloves and a smug smile. It had been a running joke to draw Pico with boxing gloves and a rat besides him and  I find it really silly! 

A coworker also told me once that my cat kind of helped in making the music for a client’s requested animation, but after being sent the picture, I figured Picolas was some sort of emotional support, he was just laying down but it made me happy that my coworkers found it comfortable to have my cat around. And the music produced on that day? It was bomb, maybe Pico’s emotional support is really good?

       

(Picolas helping in making the music… or an emotional support?)

    Picolas is one of the reasons why the studio feels like a second home to me. There’s something incredibly comforting about working with him peacefully chilling beside me—it’s like bringing a piece of home into the studio, Picolas makes even the busiest work days feel a little more manageable. But it’s not just Picolas who makes the studio special. My coworkers have created a supportive and kind environment that feels like a true community. They’ve welcomed me, my passions, and even my silly cat with open arms. This sense of belonging has turned the studio into a safe space where I can fully embrace my love for art, explore my interests, and grow alongside my talented coworkers. Over time, I’ve learned to not only embrace my work but to truly love it. Picolas, along with my other cats and pets, has become one of my biggest motivations. They remind me to find joy in the little things—whether it’s the simplicity of sketching at my desk (doodling silly drawings of anything), or the quiet moments of inspiration that come from having my cat by my side. This simplicity is the happiness that makes everyday worth it.

Photo provided by Erica Lee De Alday