Paws on the clock: history behind pet jobs and intelligence
- Ethan Seow
- Jan 18
- 3 min read
We all dabble in work in our everyday lives, it is but a routine for us. But every so often, you run into an animals that do just about the same thing.
Where did it all begin? It is a widely known fact that dogs were the first domesticated animals. Back then, they assisted us humans primarily in hunting and guarding against predators. This was the earliest period where animals actually had jobs just like us.
(Source: Freepik)
Of course, jobs were not necessarily relegated to dogs, cats and wolves. An amazing example would be the ancient traditional Asian fishing method of using cormorant birds, where these birds' excellent instinctual ability to hunt fish helped fishmongers to feed their villages.
(Source: Wikipedia)
After evolving as people, pets played an even bigger part in our everyday lives. Lets take a look at a more famous modern example.
Meet Tama, The Stationmaster Cat
(Source: Sophisticat)
In 2006, the Kishigawa Line in Wakayama was struggling financially, and Kishi station was de-manned to save costs. The president of the electric railway allowed local stray cats to live inside Kishi station to make way for new roads. One of the cats, dubbed 'Tama' was officially granted the title of stationmaster the following year, with her primary duty being to greet customers.
Overtime, the news of the country's first stationmaster cat had spread, and quickly became a sensation. This of course, had massive effects on tourism, as even during the early internet age, people around the world knew about this story, and had flown in just to visit her.
Through this, Tama quickly climbed through the rankings and eventually became the ultra stationmaster, and even got given a year's worth of cat food as a treat!
History of Stationmaster Cats
While Tama is the most famous example, the history of stationmaster cats dates back a century. Historically, cats were 'hired' for pest control.
(Source: BBC news)
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many railway stations across Europe kept cats to protect grain shipments and keep the tracks clear of rodents. These cats were of course, returned in kind with milk and food.
Over time, as pest control and rail infrastructure became more modernized, these cats were phased out of their roles. In recent years, they've been seen as cute mascots across a multitude of areas, and as evident from Tama, they provide just more than just comfort for passing travelers.
Yontama, The Legacy Lives On
Unfortunately, good things had to come to an end as Tama passed away in 2015. She was properly enshrined in the traditional Shinto way, as thousands attended her funeral. But, there's not all doom and gloom to this story, as Tama had apprentices under her wing!
(Source: The Straits Times)
Going down the lineage, since Tama, there had been 4 generations of stationmaster cats to take her place, with the most recent being appointed just after the start of the new year.
On January 8th 2026, Kishi station had appointed a new stationmaster cat, Rokutama, who carries on the lineage of Kishi's stationmaster cats. This trend is a perfect modern example reminds us why our pets matter more to us than we think. Looking at Tama or a highly trained search dog makes you wonder about how intelligent our pets are.
How Smart are They, Really?
For a long time, we knew about how well animals follow human commands, but as of recent, it seems as if they've grown a whole lot smarter.
If you've been on the social media recently, there have been videos floating around of dogs playing complex games that range from video games to classic Asian games like Mahjong. There was even a dog that passed a driving test!
(Source: Eckerd College Florida)
Cats on the other hand, possess impressive long-term memory capabilities, retaining collections of events and locations for a decade or longer. This in turn allows cats to easily adjust to their current surroundings, using the ability to adapt their memories of past environments.
What about social intelligence? Dogs in general are capable of complex learning, and are probably the most socially complex pets, with studies showing their ability to adapt to various social situations. We've surely have seen videos of dog competitions, where dogs are able to understand obstacle routines. This really puts into perspective on how amazing our pets really are!
Over time, through domesticated evolution, pets have generally gotten smarter, and are seen to be capable of handling themselves in a human environment.
All in all, despite our pets being our, seeing them in a professional role reminds us that they are capable and observant animals. So when available, expand your options of play with them! Who knows? They might have a secret skill or 2!
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