My 18 year old cat has left the thread alone since she wrapped it around her legs when she was seven and couldn't do anything but crawl to the bathroom when I was. I know it sounds horrible but it was really funny since the thread and cat were black. Anyway, I would get a plastic box with a lid and keep the pins, threads, seam ripper, etc... in it. If you have any other hobbies such as cross stitch, keep those items out of the way as well. Also, keep an eye on the cat when you sew. Some cats love the motion of the sewing maching and want to grab it. The best thing to do is keep a very vigilant eye on the cat when you sew. An older cat won't be as playful but still you want to be careful. Good luck...you will find that a purr is the next best thing to sewing.