I Need a Union

These working conditions are terrible. How am I supposed to pin a straight hem with a cat lying on my project? I tried gently removing him to the floor, but he just hopped right back to his spot, snuggled down, and proceeded to suck his thumb. Yup, he's suckling his carpal pad while he kneads his forehead. How could I disturb that?

(Actually, he's sucking on the anatomical equivilant of his heel, but it seems to serve the same purpose as a human baby sucking its thumb.)