Keeping them out from under the table?

Pixie and Milo love to chase each other around my little apartment and this often means hiding under the bed or in the shower curtain and getting ready to pounce on each other. This doesn't bother me at all. However, I have a little 3 leg table with a table cloth on it as well. The table is somewhat sturdy, but they have knocked it over before. When there's no table cloth on it they could care less about it and leave it alone. It's so ugly though that it needs a tablecloth and they, of course, see this as another place to hide and pounce. Is there anything I can do to teach them not to go under there? I've tried a loud clap when I see them going near it and while it works for other things it's not working for that. I also tried spraying it with air freshener so that it would have a kinda strong smell, but they didn't care about that either. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I don't know if this will work for you, but it might... Try polishing with a lemon-scented polish. Then leave some empty lemon juice bottles (unwashed, uncapped) under the table. Most cats don't like citrus smells. It's worth a try...though mine have been known to swat the empty lemons around the room!

One of those little inexpensive accent tables with the tablecloth down to the floor? I don't think you're going to be able to discourage them! Kitty caves made from cloth just invite them inside for pouncing opportunities! My suggestion instead would be to work with the table. Try taking some ribbon or some such and gathering up the sides to get the cloth high enough off the floor so that they can't hide behind it. I know the legs on these little tables are nothing to write home about, but I see no reason why you couldn't paint them an interesting coordinating color with a small can of inexpensive acrylic paint. My sister has even taken these little tables (they can usually be had for less than 10 dollars) and decoupaged interesting labels or pictures on the top and then forgone a cloth completely. Of course in that case it's a very informal piece that she uses in her den when she's having a party or some such.