... I don't work with customers and that's exactly how I deal with by coworkers.

And people I randomly meet throughout the day (including eg employees at a store).

For me these are just rules on how to deal with humans.

Now if I see a cat that's a completely different story:

• I'll maintain eye contact (and blink slowly),
• give them my full name and address for purposes of visiting,
• will accept headbutts,
• will actively agree with their meows & acknowledge just how right they are,
• will apologise when I eventually have to leave,
• will thank them for their time (with some more pats),
• will live in the knowledge we fully understood each other in our little talk.

Additionally I will vow to visit again.