In short-you can't! Especially since you used to let him on the furniture! All due respect to Carrie, but my experience has been that cats are way too smart to fall for a trick like that - once the hangers are removed again the cat will be there again. But, of course, I won't discourage you from trying - anything MIGHT work. He probably stays off the couch simply because he doesn't like it. If more people would realize that animals are just like us (we ARE animals) - they don't like being in the rain, cold, heat, or forced to sleep on hard floors when there's comfy furniture around, then there would be fewer animals being dumped in shelters and on streets because "he didn't match the furniture anymore" (sadly, on of the main reasons animals are abandoned or surrendered). He obviously likes the chairs, and you will probably not be able to keep him off them completely, even if you do find a method that discourages him. Even buying him a bed may not help, because most cats have several "favorite" places to sleep (although buying him a nice comfy bed would help, if he takes to it). I hope I'm not sounding too preachy, but your letter scares me a little because I've seen way too many abandoned cats and dogs whose former owners sounded just like you. If you value your furniture so much that your cat is not even allowed on ANY of it, you might shouldn't have gotten a pet. But since the horse is already out of the barn, maybe you could look into pet fur squeegees in the pet stores and catalogues. They are more effective than vacuuming, and they don't harm the furniture. The pet bed I previously mentioned might help, as well as Carrrie's suggestions. I really don't mean to sound offensive, but I do feel sorry for your poor kitty who's not even allowed to snuggle with you.