Pet of the Week: Stewy Calls the Office Home
This playful and affectionate cat adds amusement to his owner’s workday
Meet Stewy Dewy De, or Stewy for short. This playful cat loves that his owner runs her design business out of the house. It means his owner is home a lot, so there are more cuddles and company for Stewy during the day.
Break time: Stewy’s downtime looks a lot like his work time. He likes to lounge on DeFrancisco’s desk. If she can’t find him on the desktop, he has probably moved to the dining room or living room to watch birds out of the window. Stewy also provides DeFrancisco with a break during the day. Every time he hops up on her desk, she indulges him with a little loving.
Payment method: DeFrancisco says Stewy is perfectly content with a few cat treats.
Playtime: Stewy lives an active life. He has a few moments of stillness, such as when he’s watching the birds outside, but otherwise he’s on the go. He roars down the hallway and jumps onto chairs and tables. He also spends hours batting around soft little ball toys. He whacks the balls down the stairs and retrieves them, and he plays floor hockey with them.
Playtime: Stewy lives an active life. He has a few moments of stillness, such as when he’s watching the birds outside, but otherwise he’s on the go. He roars down the hallway and jumps onto chairs and tables. He also spends hours batting around soft little ball toys. He whacks the balls down the stairs and retrieves them, and he plays floor hockey with them.
Photo by Shelley DeFrancisco
Nap time: After all the playing, Stewy needs a nap. That’s when he seeks out his pal Wally. DeFrancisco and her husband, Tom, adopted both cats, and others in the past, from the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society. Wally, who is 5, allows Stewy to snuggle up next to him, even sharing the cat bed.
Between the two cats, DeFrancisco says she almost always has a companion while doing her design work. “I had to get a bigger desk to accommodate two kitty pillows for my boys,” she says.
Nap time: After all the playing, Stewy needs a nap. That’s when he seeks out his pal Wally. DeFrancisco and her husband, Tom, adopted both cats, and others in the past, from the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society. Wally, who is 5, allows Stewy to snuggle up next to him, even sharing the cat bed.
Between the two cats, DeFrancisco says she almost always has a companion while doing her design work. “I had to get a bigger desk to accommodate two kitty pillows for my boys,” she says.
From his owner: “We haven’t stopped laughing since he arrived. He is all personality and must be involved in everything from showers to printing paperwork, watching water go down the drain, playing with pens — while you are trying to use them.”
Could your pet be a Pet of the Week? We’re looking for pets that join their owners on the job, pets that may have a space built just for them, or simply a fantastic photo of your pet in an interesting home setting. Post your best photo in the Comments and tell us your pet’s story.
Read more about pets and design
Could your pet be a Pet of the Week? We’re looking for pets that join their owners on the job, pets that may have a space built just for them, or simply a fantastic photo of your pet in an interesting home setting. Post your best photo in the Comments and tell us your pet’s story.
Read more about pets and design
Pet at a Glance
Pet: Stewy, an orange tabby cat
Age: 1½
Location: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Owners: Shelley and Tom DeFrancisco
On the job: Stewy enjoys lounging around the desk of his owner, Shelley DeFrancisco of DeFrancisco Design. She runs her interior design and custom cabinetry business out of her home. While she works, Stewy hangs out with her in three- to four-hour shifts. DeFrancisco calls Stewy her design assistant, but he mostly stretches out across paperwork or watches the printer operate. “He just can’t figure it out,” she says.
Favorite project: DeFrancisco updated her kitchen with new bar stools that have been a favorite of Stewy’s since they arrived, the designer says. He leaps from one bar stool to the next, finishing with a dive across the countertop.