I'm "lucky" from the sounds of things. My biggest problem with the cat is his insisting on laying all over whatever I'm working on. As if it isn't hard enough wrestling with a quilt when you're trying to machine quilt. LOL
I did replace all my carpet with tile last year. Not especially for sewing safety, but I knew it would be a bonus. 'Course, around here, I'm the one who usually ended up with pins in my paws.
After reading about the thread disasters, I'll start paying much closer attention AND find a way to conveniently but safely keep things at hand. He hasn't played much with anything else - yet - but he does like to chase those spools.
Now if I could just keep the dog from munching on the batting ... gotta watch him like a hawk. LOL