Not wearing leg rig right now

When I have the brace on, and leg propped up, I get nagged by Loki, and like most cats, he using his paws (and the very tip of his claws) to get my attention. Then there's the nipping. He gets a bit 'bitey' when he doesn't get what he wants, WHEN he wants it. I have a myriad of little scratches between my ankle and where the bottom of the brace.

I have my leg propped up on the footstool, but if Loki starts making a pest of himself, I can, and do, push the footstool to the other side of the room. But I can't do this if I'm wearing the brace. But now, my knee hurts.