Kittens
Tell me about kittens – but I trained mine to YOU’D BETTER NOT! said all in a monotone with a little oomph behind the line – sorta like you’d tell a kid. It worked too. They’d put out a paw but it never quite reached the strand of yarn. I finally bought a love-seat type chair and I’d put a cat on either side. That also moved them further away from the temptation.
My motto when the kids were still young was, “Kids and animals can be made to behave.” My youngest daughter, the one I’m visiting now, hated that. She also hated it when I’d call the tribe in from outside – all on word – GENE MARK LES DEBBIE SUE. I think mostly because she didn’t want to be called Sue, her name is Suzanne if you please.
I smile now thinking of these things. Both girls were bound and determined to not “do that when she had kids.” They also found it to be natural to do/say some of the things I had said – Mom, I sounded just like you. I don’t smile in front of them unless they are smiling too. 
The good old days???????????
Jo