How to keep cats from attacking needlework?

I haven't been able to have a nice relaxing evening of cross stitching for a
couple of years because Sundance keeps attacking either the floss or the
fabric or both. He's really good at being sneaky about it, too. Anyone
have any ideas on how I can stop this? I don't plan to confine him while I
work, because I like to work for hours at a time.
--
Sandy
See my furrbabies in the Cats album at http://tinyurl.com/3djsq

In article ,
enlightened us with...
I haven't been able to have a nice relaxing evening of cross stitching for a
couple of years because Sundance keeps attacking either the floss or the
fabric or both. He's really good at being sneaky about it, too. Anyone
have any ideas on how I can stop this? I don't plan to confine him while I
work, because I like to work for hours at a time.


Each time he does it, calmly tell him no. If he persists, put him in
another room for 5 to 10 minutes. Let him out and try again.
Rinse. Repeat. Wipe hands on pants. *LOL*

He'll get the picture eventually. This will require a good deal of
patience and consistency on your part.

Also, if you work for hours and he has no playmate, he's probably bored
out of his little mind. Bored cats are bratty cats. They want attention.
You didn't say what toys, if any, you have for him. I recommend a large
cat tree if you can, with dangly toys, catnip, and a little tunnel to
hide in. By the window is a bonus. Animated mousey toys can be great
fun, too.

Reward him if he leaves you alone for longer than he usually does. Stop
what you're doing and play with him for a few minutes. Increase the time
required for reward. Say he normally starts bothering you after 5
minutes. If he waits 7 minutes, reward him. Keep that up until he always
waits at least 7 minutes, then go to 10. And so on.

It's going to take some time, of course.

--
--
~kaeli~
Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

In article ,
enlightened us with...
I haven't been able to have a nice relaxing evening of cross stitching for a
couple of years because Sundance keeps attacking either the floss or the
fabric or both. He's really good at being sneaky about it, too. Anyone
have any ideas on how I can stop this? I don't plan to confine him while I
work, because I like to work for hours at a time.


Each time he does it, calmly tell him no. If he persists, put him in
another room for 5 to 10 minutes. Let him out and try again.
Rinse. Repeat. Wipe hands on pants. *LOL*

He'll get the picture eventually. This will require a good deal of
patience and consistency on your part.

Also, if you work for hours and he has no playmate, he's probably bored
out of his little mind. Bored cats are bratty cats. They want attention.
You didn't say what toys, if any, you have for him. I recommend a large
cat tree if you can, with dangly toys, catnip, and a little tunnel to
hide in. By the window is a bonus. Animated mousey toys can be great
fun, too.

Reward him if he leaves you alone for longer than he usually does. Stop
what you're doing and play with him for a few minutes. Increase the time
required for reward. Say he normally starts bothering you after 5
minutes. If he waits 7 minutes, reward him. Keep that up until he always
waits at least 7 minutes, then go to 10. And so on.

It's going to take some time, of course.

--
--
~kaeli~
Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace