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Back in May, I gave up on trying to keep Chessie and Casey off my kitchen table since they were always getting on it when I'm not around. Only problem was that they were scratching the wood surface. So, I got a vinyl table cover to put over the table to protect it. They started avoiding the table for a while, but then they accepted the table cover and started getting on the table again. They've seemed much happier that they can get on the table and look out the window without my telling them to get down all the time. However, about three weeks ago, they began pulling the table cover off the table. In one incident, I went into the kitchen, and the table cover was on the table with Casey under it. About a week ago, I got some table cover clips to clip the table cover onto the edges of the table. However, both cats have been pulling the clips off and playing with them, leaving me back at square one. Any suggestions on how to protect the wood surface from getting scratched up?

Also, last Friday, I came home from work, and the cats had pulled a CD off the rack in my living room, biting off the corner of the plastic case. I did find the piece and got it glued back on, so they at least didn't swallow it. They've rubbed up against the rack before but never messed with the CDs. So, last night, Chessie, right in front of me, sits down in front of the rack and begins biting the corner of another CD case. I've rearranged the CD rack and a cabinet next to it so that they are less likely to rub against the corner they were messing with, and I'm planning on getting CD cabinet (or higher shelves) within the next couple days to get the CDs out of reach. What I'm wondering is why they're suddenly (after two years) messing with the CDs and chewing on them.
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Chessie and Casey Jones relaxing together.

Hi There,

I know what you mean about those clips that supposedly help keep a tablecloth where it belongs. You might have better luck with another kind of clip, such as those made for bags of chips or even plastic clothespins.

There is an option that you might consider to try to keep the cats off the table totally. It's a product called SCAT and it's an aerosol can that also contains a motion sensor. When the device detects movement it sprays air and makes a hissing noise. I have a friend who got one of these to keep cats of her desk and she says it works very well! This kind of thing might even be helpful in keeping the cats away from your CDs.

It can be very difficult to try to figure out why cats do what they do, but for some reason your CDs have become of interest to them. It is strange that they ignored them until now. I've always kept my CDs in a cabinet where they are safe from my babies.

Regards,
PHKitkat

Well, they last got the table cover off was on Friday, and they've left it alone since. I did get some different clips the other day and will try those if and when I need to. I have heard of SCAT, but as smart as my two boys are, I'm doubting that they would learn to stay off the table unless it's always on there. Right now, with the table cover clipped on, they seem to now be calming down with it a bit. Plus, they enjoy getting on the table to look out the kitchen window and watch the birds and squirrels.

I also did get a cabinet to replace the rack I was using for my CDs. Actually, that turned out to be a good thing since it was on a clearance sale, and I now have more room to expand my collection than I had with the rack I'd been using.
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Chessie and Casey Jones relaxing together.

I read on some web page about cat behavior that if you get two side tape (or roll the tape around so its sticky on both sides) and stick it on your counter or table that after the first couple of times the cats touch it they wont want to but I didn't like the idea of tape they also said you can tape balloons to the counter or table and when they pop them it will deter them from doing it again because of the noise or use foil because once again they don't like the way it feels on there paws...just so you know I haven't tried any of these just read about them and thought I would pass them on good luck

I tried the tape idea with Chessie when he was a kitten. He discovered how he could bite or swat the tape out of his way to get to where he wanted to go.
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Chessie and Casey Jones relaxing together.

both cats have been pulling the clips off and playing with them, leaving me back at square one. Any suggestions on how to protect the wood surface from getting scratched up?

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