Ummmm, you could consider a used one, maybe? if it gets really bad? Or see if someone has one you could borrow? Do you count borrowed plastic? Heck, if we didn’t have a new kitten who will need to be taught about not attacking the Christmas tree, I’d be inclined to loan you ours…

I totally hear the issue with climbing on things/knocking them over. That gets annoying really fast. But the scratching IS a bid for attention. How old is she? Any chance you can reprogram her by doing the “I’m ignoring you!!!!” thing? I could probably have managed that, but the Husband Unit couldn’t (he sleeps fairly lightly — I sleep like a rock). However, I also grew up with kitties sleeping in our beds like little furry roommates, so I was much more inclined to give in than he was.

Citrus peels? Bueller?

Laurie, what is the scat mat made out of? Is it some kinda plastic by chance?

Don’t know about throwing pennies. I think that would drive Michael crazy as much as my yelling.

The reason they can’t be in the bedroom at night is because their prowling around getting into stuff keeps me awake. If they prowl around and get into stuff in other rooms, at least I can’t hear them. (Unless they’re running around crashing into walls. Fortunately, that doesn’t happen every single night, only some nights.)

First time commenting, but have been reading/lurking for a while. You are a real inspiration, and I’m trying harder than ever to avoid plastic. It’s just everywhere, isn’t it? :P I *have* almost completely eliminated plastic bags from my life (the only ones that get through are ones other people acquire that end up with me), so I’m making SOME progress, anyway. Blister packs are the bane of my existence, though….

I am writing with a few suggestions for the cat scratching at the door issue. My first thought was a Scat Mat — it uses electricity, though. Basically it sets up to what amounts to a mild static shock, just enough to deter kitty from going where you don’t want her to go. (Unless your kitty is smart like mine were and figured out that it was the mat snapping them. We covered it with a sheet, and they figured out when it wasn’t under the sheet. *sigh*) We have since let them have full run of the bedroom. I’m assuming that isn’t an option for some reason, so….

Suggestion #2 involves pieces of aluminum foil, which some cats don’t like to walk on.

Suggestion #3 involves bits of citrus peel which some cats don’t like smelling.

I like the jar of pennies option — it’s just that my boy cat wouldn’t be deterred by less than the entire jar being flung as a unit. NOT the intended process! ;)

Good luck with re-training the kitty. They can be annoyingly smart and stubborn creatures. Probably part of why we love them. :)

great site, BTW – it has become one of my faves.

Plastic is looking not too shabby! Neither is the kitty. :)