My cats once got in a fight with a praying mantis in an old townhouse.
I'd seen praying mantisses before but this one was a. in my home and b. large enough to be genuinely a little intimidating. The cats won, but it took a long time because they were being more cautious than usual.
I used to use canned air, but they eventually stopped caring.
The room where I spend most of my time and they get up to most of their shenanigans is pretty long across so, unless I used a super soaker, I'm not sure I could hit them with water.
I have occasionally thrown something soft - like a pillow, I have no desire to issue actual corporal punishment - in their direction. That's gotten mixed results.
I've never once had a cat who cared about verbal excoriation. Mine will only stop doing naughty things if you get up and approach them, then as soon as you sit back down they're back to doing it again.
Also, what if it uses a lot of resources and potential time travelers didn't want to waste them to go to parties (thus further progressing your hypothetical conundrum)?
This reminds me of when I chatted with someone who had synesthesia.