"This company still doesn't recognize cat maternity!" fumed Angela Martin, the feline fanatic in The Office. "I mean, when somebody has a kid, oh sure, take off a year." 

Nobody in the real world appears to be suggesting that employees should be granted parental leave to raise kittens, but some people are arguing that pet owners should be allowed time off to mourn their departure. 

"I think [pet bereavement leave] is a good idea because the role of pets in our society is changing," said Charlotte Reed, host of the radio show "The Pet Buzz" in New York City, according to the Society of Human Resource Management. "We now rely on technology for our needs — shopping, texting, working from home — and we don't really have to interact with anyone anymore. People are waiting longer to get married and have children. Pets have filled a physical and emotional void for many people, so when a pet passes, it can be very difficult."