Cat proof sofa?

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:02 pm

OK, we have three cats and between them they've stratched the heck out of the corners of our sofa and love seat. This furniture has leather seating surfaces, with back and sides made from matching faux-leather. It's the fake stuff they scratched, yanking the stuffing right out of it.
We'd like to get replacements (furniture, not cats, and no, declawing is not an option). Any suggestions as to what cats don't like to scratch?

One thing we've thought of is Mission style furniture, since most of the vertical surfaces are cat-deterrent wood.
This evening I went looking at a local furniture store, and the sales person told me that cats don't do much damage to microfibre upholstery.
Anyone had experience with this?

BTW-- we've already tried cat repellent sprays, we have scratching posts, etc

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:35 pm

cat-deterrent wood

best of luck with that, eh...

BillChin · Post by **BillChin** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:57 pm

Found this site:
http://www.comfy1.com/pet-resistantfurn.htm

They suggest all wood backs and arms in hard wood such as oak, and smooth fabrics, because cats don't find that as interesting.

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:06 pm

Denny wrote:cat-deterrent wood

best of luck with that, eh...

I got a chuckle out of that myself... "and I've a bridge fer sale too..."

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:35 pm

This could be cat-proof:

Needs more spikes, though.

buddhu · Post by **buddhu** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:40 am

It's futile. The cats are always a step ahead...

Flogging Jason · Post by **Flogging Jason** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 4:55 am

This only works when you're there to supervise: Spray them with a watergun or spray bottle when they scratch. Eventually, the sight of the water device will be enough to send them running.

Now they only scratch on the couch when they do the cute stretch-mew-and cuddle routine.

I also have found that the cats love the corrugated cardboard scratching posts and will spend hours trying to tear them up...especially if you douse it in catnip.

You could also get a couch from the thrift store....the price will make it less painful when they slowly destroy it!

Whistlin'Dixie · Post by **Whistlin'Dixie** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:22 am

I've about given up, but I have noticed that they don't scratch anything with a slipcover, anyone else notice that too?? And slipcovers can be replaced. Of course, only my tattiest couches are slipcovered......

So that's what I would recommend.

M

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:45 am

What cats usually like to scratch is textured surfaces. I think
smoothly finished wood would be quite unsatisfying to scratch.
The fabric should definitely be as untextured as possible. I think
microfiber fits that bill, it's pretty dang smooth.

djm · Post by **djm** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:52 am

fearfaoin wrote:I think smoothly finished wood would be quite unsatisfying to scratch.

Unfortunately, cats don't think the same way. Smooth wood is wonderful to scratch if it is a soft, yeilding wood like pine. I have the torn up pine furniture to prove it. Plaster walls by doorways are wonderful for scratching, as is any fabric that will catch under their claws and give them something to pull against.

This catching is what satisfies their urge to scratch. If a surface does not yeild to their claws, they won't continue to try to scratch at it. Very expensive hardwood furniture with a glass finish is the best way to go .... or plastic.

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:02 am

djm wrote:Smooth wood is wonderful to scratch if it is a soft, yeilding wood like pine. I have the torn up pine furniture to prove it

Hm. So, no This End Up is what you're saying

I guess that's why the site BillChin posted suggests oak wood
with a hard finish. I wonder if microfiber was suggested because
the tight weave doesn't catch as easily?

dwinterfield · Post by **dwinterfield** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:31 am

Paul

We've had the same problems. We replaced two cat-destroyed couches with leather couches. The current cat "Pete" (who played a major role in destroying the junked couches) has no interest in them. In another room, we slip-covered a sofa and love seat and Pete no longer claws them. We have some mission furniture (wood +leather) and Pete leaves it alone.

Pete's about 15 yrs old. He still claws at some carpeting (we don't care) but there's still a damaged easy-chair and ottoman from the set under the slip covers. He sleeps on them but I haven't seen him claw them in years. Excessive, strategically-placed fur balls are his current annoying
habit.

Good Luck
Mark

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 8:13 am

I will add another vote for mission style furniture, or similar. In fact, that's all I would get anymore for the cat reason. Anything with a primarily wood frame where the soft parts sit on top of the frame without providing any firm vertical fabric surfaces.

I will also concur that a very scratchy cat will go for soft pine. In the basement we have IKEA pine shelving (cheap but functional,) and she does love those upright pieces. When it is clawed to the collapse point, the relative inexpensiveness of it will keep me from going berserk.
So the wood in your furniture should be a hard hardwood, and very smoothly finished.

She loves pine 2x4's which make a terrific scratching post. You can nail them to a wall, or to anything vertical if you want to provide an acceptable clawing surface.

Coffee · Post by **Coffee** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 8:20 am

Go with stainless.

And chain-maille curtains.

And stone tiled floors.

Should be good to go now.

buddhu · Post by **buddhu** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:08 am

buddhu wrote:It's futile. The cats are always a step ahead...

Are you not listening? Not only is it futile but if you keep trying, the cats will eventually take offense... and then they will get you.

Just don't say I didn't warn you.

(Of course, if they get you you won't be able to say anything...)