help controlling my real world cat

I no longer have cats, but when I did, I kept things on/near my desk that interested them. My male cat liked to lay in a box on my desk that was leftover from mail. He also liked to play with objects and push them off my desk, so there was always a few things sitting on it for him. I also had a scratching post, cat tree, and there were other tables and desks in the room for them to climb on. (My kids all had desks in there at the time.)

I had less success later with my dogs, chihuahuas who thought/think the best place in the world is my chest. Particularly the one I have now, a Chi Papillon mix named Bishop. I generally just cuddle him with one hand and attempt to use my keyboard and mouse with the other until he's decided he's content to move to his bed beside my desk.