Otis has never messed with the thread in my machine, but I cover mine at night, if I leave a spool or bobbin out it is fair game. my pins and needles are to. When I leave the room for any reason I put all pincushion, spool, bobbins, rippers, anything she can pick up into a drawer by my machine. while I am working that drawer is open, I(maybe the cat) have taught my self to use out of that drawer and just drop it back in when I am done.When I shut everything down for the night all projects are covered with a large sheet any loose strings swept up. When the lights go out she knows I won't be back in and usually follows me out but sometimes she will disapear and I'll find her laying right in the middle of whatever I was working on. usually grooming herself, She is part Siamese but what ever else she is sheds a lot and has very course hair. Be that as it may, you will love having a cat, if your new fur baby knows what they are doing the training period won't be long and you will soon settle into there way of doing things. LOL Take your time at the shelter maybe make 2 or 3 trips to be sure the right one pickes you.Good luck and have fun!