April 30, 2026

10 Animals With Jobs and How They Got Them

From government cats and postal dogs to wartime animal officers and a penguin who ran errands, these are real stories of animals who ended up with jobs.

Animals have held all kinds of jobs over the years, some official, some accidental. Some guarded ships. Some went to war. Some delivered mail. Some became symbols of entire institutions. Others simply showed up, stayed long enough, and were given responsibilities no one else could quite fill.

These are real stories of animals who ended up with jobs, titles, and in some cases, better job security than the people around them.

1. The Chief Mousers of 10 Downing Street

For over a century, cats have lived and worked at the heart of the British government.

Their official titles are Chief Mousers to the Cabinet Office. They're responsible for keeping 10 Downing Street rodent-free, while also becoming public figures in their own right. From Rufus in the 1920s to Larry today, they’ve served through wars, political upheavals, and more than a dozen Prime Ministers.

→ Read more about the Chief Mousers of 10 Downing Street

2. Bodega cats of New York

In New York’s corner stores, hiring a cat was never a novelty. It was practical.

Where there’s food, there are mice, and for generations, shop owners brought in cats to handle the problem. Over time, these cats became part of the fabric of the city, napping between shelves, watching over customers, and quietly doing the job they were brought in to do. What started as necessity became culture, and eventually, something worth documenting.

→ Explore the story behind New York’s bodega cats

3. Rin Tin Tin

efore social media pets, there was Rin Tin Tin.

A German Shepherd rescued during World War I, he went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the 1920s. His films drew massive audiences and helped keep Warner Bros. financially afloat during its early years. Let's put it this way, he wasn’t just a dog on screen, he was the business.

→ Read how Rin Tin Tin became Hollywood’s most famous working dog

4. Kathy and Trinket

For more than a decade, a miniature horse named Trinket has worked alongside Kathy, a theatrical costume maker, visiting hospitals and care centers where animals are invited to do something words often cannot. Their work blends therapy and performance, creating moments that shift the emotional tone of a room.

It’s not a traditional job, but it is real work.

→ Learn more about Trinket the therapy horse and her work

5. Owney the postal dog

In the late 1800s, a stray dog hopped onto a mail train and never really got off.

Owney spent years traveling across the United States with railway postal clerks, becoming a mascot for the mail service and collecting tags from cities along the way. By the time his journeys ended, he had visited more than 200 cities and become one of the most famous traveling animals in the world.

→ Read the story of Owney the postal dog who rode the rails

6. Wojtek the soldier bear

Wojtek started as a cub in Iran and ended up as a corporal in the Polish Army.

During World War II, he was raised by soldiers and eventually trained to carry ammunition crates during the Battle of Monte Cassino. To officially enlist him, the army even gave him a rank and a service number. He was part of the unit.

→ Read how Wojtek the bear became a soldier in World War II

7. Lala the penguin

In a small town in Japan, a king penguin used to leave home each day with a small backpack.

His name was Lala, and his job was walking to the fish market and bringing groceries back. Locals watched him waddle through the streets like any other regular on an errand, except he happened to be a penguin.

→ See how Lala the penguin ended up running errands in Japan

8. Cher Ami

During World War I, when communication systems failed, pigeons carried messages.

Cher Ami was one of them. In 1918, despite being shot and severely injured, she completed a mission that helped save nearly 200 soldiers from friendly fire. She became one of the most decorated war animals in history.

→ Read how Cher Ami the pigeon helped save nearly 200 lives

9. Simon the ship’s cat

Aboard a Royal Navy frigate in the 1940s, a cat named Simon kept watch below deck.

His job was to control rats that threatened food supplies and equipment, but during his service, he also became known for boosting morale among the crew. For his role, he was awarded the Dickin Medal, the highest honor for animals in wartime. Not bad for a stowaway.

→ Learn about Simon the ship's cat and his wartime service

10. Ham the astrochimp

In 1961, before humans were sent into space, a chimpanzee named Ham made the journey first.

Trained by NASA, he was part of a mission to test whether living beings could perform tasks in space. His successful flight helped pave the way for human space travel. It was a job no one could explain to him, but one that changed everything.

→ Read how Ham the chimp helped make space travel possible

If you’re interested in more stories like these, explore the full collection: Animals with jobs.

More stories