Cat lamp obsession - why? how to break it?

I have a buff tabby (born 6.2007) named Mr. Furley - he's playful, friendly and a ton of fun. As a general rule, he's very well behaved, but there is one behavior that I can't figure out, or get him to break.

As I lay in bed (at night, in the early hours of the morning, and when my alarm is going off) he runs back and forth between the nightstands on either side of my bed. While on the nightstands, he LOVES to rub his face up against the edge of the lampshades and loves to "climb" up into the lampshands by standing on his two back legs.  Unfortunately, he's getting so big that he sent the lamp sailing off the nightstand a few weeks ago - luckily is did not land on him.

I've tried getting him to stop with a stern "no" - and he tends to respond and leaves the lamp alone, but only for a few seconds until he is right back into the lamp.

What is his obsession with lamps? It doesn't matter if they're off or on - either way, he's interested. Also, what can I do to get him to stop?  I'm thinking of putting contact paper down on the nightstand, sticky side up, to keep him off the nightstands altogether.

Many thanks - in advance - for the information and guidance!

[Terrin2]

wow, that's a new one!

[marissposa]

Have you tried spritzing him with a squirt bottle every time he goes for it?  I've also heard that the scent of oranges will drive them off certain surfaces, but I haven't tried it.

[Terrin2]

No, I would not use oranges scent, unless it's natural.  Try not to use chemicals.  Water sounds OK.

[RWag]

Unfortunately, he seems immune to water (I've used it to try to keep him off the kitchen table and counters). Plus, I'd be worried about damaging the wood. Thanks to both of you for the suggestions/responses - I appreciate it!

[rubytuesday29]

I would try Sticky Paws on the night stands. It is the same thing used to discourage a cat from stratching the furniture and it is the same concept at the contact paper you mentioned using, except that Sticky Paws shouldn't damage the furniture and contact paper might. Also the Sticky Paws won't get stuck to him and contact paper might get stuck in his fur. I know you can get Sticky Paws at any pet store. A few contacts with the sticky paper and he will likely stop climibing on the night tables and bothering the lamps.

[Ghilly]

Cats - gotta love 'em!  LOL  They're strange little creatures.  We have nine of them, and each one has their own little purrsonality and quirks.  :)

I have absolutely no idea what might be attracting Mr. Furley to your lamps.  The suggestion I was going to offer was the squirt bottle tactic, and you've already said that he's basically unaffected by it.  The only other thing I can suggest is to take double-sided tape.  Put some paper under the one side so that it doesn't stick to your table, and leave the other side up.  Put this on the nightstands where the lamps are.  When he jumps up on the nightstands to schmooze with the lamps, he'll stick to the double-sided tape and hopefully not like it.  Keep the tape up there for a while until he figures out that if he jumps up there, he's going to stick to it.  Hopefully after a couple of leaps and getting stuck, he'll decide that it's not a good idea to jump up there.

Ghilly