Cat proof sofa?

[fearfaoin]

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

So, cheap, easily replaceable furnature, is what you're saying...

[Nanohedron]

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.

Catching, I agree in general, but it's no guarantee. As to what they're likely to scratch on, wagers are destined for failure. In my last apartment, herself only used the door hinges for some reason. I'd never seen that before. And there was PLENTY of wood for her to use instead. Gotta love that, right? Well, now she ignores the hinges (same type) and has a little spot on the frame of a glass door to a built-in cabinet that she goes at when I'm not around 'cause I give her hell when she does. It's mission oak. The real thing, too. It was smoothly finished. My damage deposit is flown away, flown away. *rends garment* I've got a pine-framed thingy in the living room. She doesn't touch that.

Moral of the story is, if the cat has its claws, something will be scratched. You can never know what or why.

Mine seems to like the challenge of some things that are less likely to catch, and do them in: outdoors, she's made a project out of a smooth hard plastic garden border thing, going at it with a big smile on her face. It's got little marks in it now, all right. Trees and roots are for just because, apparently.

[anniemcu]

Seriously, I've had good luck with a good quality scratching post, and especially a two tier cat hidey (cylindical, about two feet tall, with flat top and bottom - set about an inch inside the cylinder ends, two round entry/exit holes, one upper and one lower, inside opening between the two levels, and covered with carpet - about $20US)... whenever feline felons begin scratching where they are not supposed to, we'd remove the beast from the inappropriate object (without ranchor, just simply move them) and attach them to the proper facility and encourage the climbing, scratching, sharpening activity there... didn't take too many times to make it the first choice. Furniture lasts a lot longer.

[Cass]

We have 2 soft leather sofas, an old cat and a kitten. I have huge pieces of heavy duty canvas over the sofas, and nice throws over the top. When we have guests round, I can take the cat proofing off them, and banish the cats to another room! It's the only way!

Cass.

[buddhu]

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

So, cheap, easily replaceable furnature, is what you're saying...

Now we're starting to see some sense... but cats resent cheap.

[fearfaoin]

They also resent misspellings. furniture, dang it!

[Coffee]

I still think, if you have cats, stainless steel furniture is the only way to go.

[awildman]

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.

That's what I do with the roommate's cat. Only it's my fiddle instead of a squirtbottle.

[Coffee]

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.

That's what I do with the roommate's cat. Only it's my fiddle instead of a squirtbottle.

Try an airsoft pistol maybe?

[cowtime]

One thing we've thought of is Mission style furniture

I don't have cats, indoors or out, just dogs, but I do have Mission/Arts&Crafts Style furniture. If you decide to go this route, just don't splurge for Stickley or Limbert originals or exact reproductions... They'd be a bit pricey as a scratching post.

You could make it yourself if you're handy. There are lots of books on the subject and it really is simple stuff for the most part.

[In The Woods]

What DON'T cats like to scratch? Let's see.... tungsten carbide, maybe concrete, oh, yes, stainless steel!


We have two cats and our furniture is slightly out of focus, when you look at it.

Don't have any really good suggestions for material unless it's one of the above. Danish Modern in tungsten carbide?

Anyway, best of luck in your search.

Regards,

Steve Mack

[djm]

maybe concrete

Ha! Don't you believe it! I was making some patches to the concrete in the basement floor, stepped away for two minutes, and came back to find little paw prints all over my freshly laid patch. I don't know if it was the warmth of the curing concrete that attracted them or what, but there wasn't a bit of it they didn't knead with their paws (the primal knead).

djm

[chas]

Catching, I agree in general, but it's no guarantee. As to what they're likely to scratch on, wagers are destined for failure. In my last apartment, herself only used the door hinges for some reason. I'd never seen that before. And there was PLENTY of wood for her to use instead. . .

Our junior cat for some reason is liking the window frame of our vinyl sliding glass doors. She also scratches, but doesn't really sharpen on, the cherry banisters of our stairs (I think she does that in the middle of the night just because it's loud). Her absolute favorite claw-sharpening place is a tree that can be accessed from a deck railing, about 15 feet above the ground.

There was a cartoon in the paper a few years back that had two cats talking, maybe one on top and one pulling itself up on the back of a couch. One was saying, "The scratching post is fine for the pects, but to get really good glutes you need the couch."

[rebl_rn]

Another deterrent to scratching - put some double sided tape on the spots where the cats like to scratch. The stickiness deters them. Eventually, you should be able to take the tape off and they still won't scratch. At least that worked for me.

The tape can be fairly noticeable depending on the type of furniture, but no more than the scratch marks!

[Cass]

When I've got the cat proof covers off the leather sofas, and the cats are in the room, I find that smearing a few drops of pure essential Lavender oil on the leather works really well. It's very offensive to cats! ...These two turn tail and run!:D

Cass.