When my friend (acomplished fiddle player) plays oue cat used to curl up on his lap and "knit"( cat people will know about that)
When my wife (beginner) merely made a move to get out her fiddle he would leave the room at a rate of knots (sailor talk)
I think he did more damage to her resolve to learn than any other factor. (she gave up in the end and took up mandolin (to which the cat did not object)

Regards, Ted.