Make the alternative obvious
A visible mat, a covered laptop stand, or a sunlit chair within arm’s reach usually wins. Animals do not refuse the keyboard; they pick the warmest accessible surface.
Keep routines predictable
Steady feeding and play times mean work cues are less likely to become bargaining points. A surprised animal climbs on the keyboard; a settled one sleeps next to it.
Move warm equipment
Put routers, chargers, and set-top boxes on a ventilated shelf the animal cannot use as a bed. The shelf is the problem, not the device.
Clear the desk early
Start the room two or three minutes before the call. Most desk-occupation reports happen during the rush to join.
Reduce sudden sounds
Doorbells, alerts, and call tones double as transit cues. Turning down notification volume is usually enough.
Offer an adjacent perch
A chair or shelf at the same height as the desk gives the animal the company without the keys.
Log before you act
Record two weeks of the routine before changing it. Most reported problems shrink under observation.
Care first
Stop any observation if the animal shows stress, pain, or unusual behavior, and contact a veterinarian rather than the archive.
Ask, do not deduce
If a habit changes suddenly, a check-up is more useful than a new theory. We have seen plenty of “mystery behaviors” turn out to be dental pain.