Those cheap generic metal stands are killing your sound. Your stands are, almost, as important as your speakers. Thy are a very real/significant extension of your speaker and will effect the sound in many ways. I don't have a clue about your cat. I believe in coupling (as you can read in my review of my monitor speaker stands) so attaching those speakers to your stands with anything less than gravity would be deleterious to your music. Perhaps floorstanders are the way to go. You could always get rid of the cat. Come on, where are your priorities? A cat over your system? good luck. peace, warren