I feel your pain with regards to table space. I have a spare desk next to my computer desk and basically will take a single map 'plus a bit', and thus Holland '44 just about fits.
Like you we have a cat who is very found of kicking dice and counters around.
However, and I know that not everyone likes Vassal, but the Holland '44 module is very good and I have used it a lot to get familiar with the rules, so you may want to give it a try, JD.
“O Lord God, let me not be disgraced in my old days.”
'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers'