naamahdarling:

This is actually A+ cat management.

“Mirroring” is a big thing with cats. It’s why they will lay in similar positions several feet apart, or will come and try to do things when you do them.
It’s a sign that they love you and want to show.

This cat wants to be close to its owner, and also wants to do what its owner is doing, to be involved in some way.

Giving them their own thing to use is a really great way to redirect them and allow them to mirror the behavior in a non-disruptive way that frustrates neither party.

This is a GOOD IDEA.

Works for kids, too, frankly.  I used to put an old broken keyboard on my toddler’s highchair when I was cooking or at my computer and told her it was her turn to work.  She loved it.