While The Office had a core cast of recurring characters, there were some who had short-lived appearances, including Cathy, who disappeared after season 8. As The Office focuses on a realistic working environment, it was conceivable that various employees at Dunder Mifflin would come and go. The character Cathy, played by Lindsey Broad, made an impact for the short period she was on the mockumentary sitcom. Stepping in to cover while Pam (Jenna Fischer) was on maternity leave gave enough time for her character to cause a stir with her attraction to Jim (John Krasinski) and further the show's overall narrative, which could have resulted in a different ending.
Though necessary for the job, Cathy was an unsettling presence in the workplace, especially for Pam. Considering Jim and Pam were absent from The Office for only one episode, audiences had developed a strong connection with the two characters, always hoping their relationship would last. Cathy had a pleasant demeanor, but she also had a clear ulterior motive, which could have resulted in the breakup of the iconic TV couple if Jim had chosen to be unfaithful. Cathy was a risky character to involve, but her role was justified in the need to make the show as realistic as possible, demonstrating how things don't always go as planned.
Cathy Left Because She Was Pam’s Maternity Cover
Cathy was brought in to take over from Pam while she was on maternity leave, so it made sense for her to leave The Office once Pam returned. As not just a core part of the team at Dunder Mifflin but also the main storyline, Pam had built her kind reputation and became a focus for viewers, especially where her love life was concerned. From Jim's romantic gas station proposal to their pregnancy reveal, their journey was a major hook. When Cathy rocked the boat, viewers couldn't be sure of Jim and Pam's fate, but her departure relieved audiences of that uncertainty.
The notion that Cathy left because of Pam's return fits, but it wasn't a clear ending. There was no discussion of Pam taking over from the temp, nor was there any farewell party. The last time Cathy is seen is in The Office season 8, episode 18, "Last Day in Florida," during a meeting with Robert California (James Spader) when he fires Todd (David Koechner). Perhaps she's also fired or had enough of the job and of trying to catch Jim's attention. However, the most conclusive explanation was that Cathy simply left because her time at the company was up.
Fans Struggled To Connect With Cathy Since A Lot Of Her Scenes Were Cut
Cathy failed to connect with viewers in part because many of her scenes were deleted. Like Michael's deleted Office scene revealing his new job, Cathy's unseen moments would have revealed more about her. For example, one of her cut scenes shows her frustration with Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Jim's pranks, which sometimes caught Cathy in the middle. This could have been a moment for audiences to connect with her and even feel a little sorry that she's getting tired of the silliness while she works and attempts to fit into her new job.
In another deleted scene, Cathy is shown talking about her ex-boyfriend, whom she doesn't want to get back with, but she is concerned she'll fall back into the trap of becoming his girlfriend once again. If this had been shown as part of the series, viewers would've been able to empathize with her, seeing that there's more to her than someone who just wants to break up a marriage. As a strong couple, Jim and Pam nearly had a spinoff, so it's not surprising that any character who came between the idyllic couple would displease fans.
Cathy & Jim Were Almost Involved In A Controversial Season 8 Storyline
Cathy and Jim's story could have taken a very controversial turn in The Office season 8, had the creators chosen to go a different way with the outcome. When away on a work trip, Cathy is overly flirty with Jim, making it clear that she is after more than friendship, but he vehemently rejects her approach. However, writers had originally toyed with the idea of having Jim kiss Cathy, cheating on his wife, Pam. With the storyline that was filmed for the series, Jim is shown to be wholeheartedly dedicated to his relationship and family, something viewers would have expected from him.
John Krasinski revealed that he refused to film the scene of Jim cheating, not wanting the storyline to go ahead (via Pam and Jim having a different original storyline, this was the first time Krasinski felt so strongly about the script and didn't want to lose the audience the show had worked so hard to gain. Producer Greg Daniels went with Krasinski's decision but explained that he thought making audiences worry about Jim and Pam would pay off after the happy ending. Luckily, the right call was made and Jim didn't pursue Cathy.
Cathy Actor, Lindsey Broad, Still Experiences Fan Abuse Over Her Role
Cathy may have been a fictional character, but unfortunately, Lindsey Broad still experiences fan abuse over the time she played The Office role. So much so that it seems some viewers aren't able to separate the character from the real human being. In one particular awful event, her dog was murdered, and social media s declared that Cathy deserved it (via Cathy was actually almost played by Zooey Deschanel, but the New Girl star apparently dodged unkind reactions by missing out on the role. Obviously, fans have feelings toward characters, good or bad. However, the extremity of abusive language Broad has endured is a terrible thing to deal with.
It should be apparent to audiences that a fictional show doesn't define the actors' or creators' true personalities, and there's nothing to say that they even agree with the actions of their characters. By taking on the role of Cathy eight seasons into the show, Broad undeservedly took the brunt of an unpleasant experience, but her character was great for injecting a little tension into the narrative. Her abrupt exit from The Office left viewers with a few questions, but it does make sense that her time was up at Dunder Mifflin, purely because she was only ever required short-term.