If you love (and have) your cats, you will love Kovi Fabrics. We offer a wide range of cat-resistant fabrics ideal for rescuing your sofa or chair from kitty claws and the inevitable stains that come from being a fur parent.
Before you get rid of your kitten or throw out the couch, opt for a facelift instead. Renovate your furniture with the best couch material for cats from the Kovi Fabrics Catalog.
Why Do Cat Owners Need Cat-Resistant Fabric?
If you are a new cat owner, you are in for a surprise. Cats are quite the force d’resistance in your home.
Cats claw at soft furnishings, sharpening their claws, and rub against furniture, leaving scents and tell-tale grime marks. As if that’s not bad enough, cats shed, leaving endless cat hair all over your furniture and life. Plus, when it rains, they leave little footprints all over your clean floors.
These are just some of the reasons why cat owners need a performance fabric that is geared to cat resistance and the survival of claw marks. To choose the best cat-resistant fabrics, opt for fully washable or wipeable upholstery fabrics, thick fabrics that won’t rip or shred, and upholstery fabrics that are resistant to pilling and pulling.
Choosing a fabric that won’t absorb cat hair is a huge plus, and while you can vacuum daily to remove the daily load of shedding, you want a fabric that won’t instantly form a bond with cat hair. Cat-proof fabrics are performance fabrics that can do all of that, and you can find the best of these at Kovi Fabrics.
Can Cats Damage Your Furniture and Fabric?
If you’re worried whether your cat can damage your new expensive leather sofa, the answer is a resounding YES! Cats have incredibly sharp claws, and they love to scratch furniture, pillows, and upholstery. Unlike a dog that can be trained to stay on the floor, cats believe they own your home and will continuously jump on your furniture.
Therefore, you need to be prepared with quality cat-resistant upholstery fabric and textiles to ensure you can minimize the damage. A fabric that resists sharp claws won’t let the cat shred the fibers. This kind of fabric should be fully wipeable or washable. Throw in the ability to vacuum that fabric, and you’re well up to the challenge of being a cat owner and having your home look stylish.
Do Cats Prefer Certain Furniture Types?
Cats can turn any furniture piece into a scratching post. They will happily nest on your ottoman, dining room table, or sofa. The flare arms of your wingback chair are not off-limits to them, and you will even find your cat scratching away at your coffee table legs. Nothing is cat-safe.
Best Types of Fabric for Cat Owners
Cats seem to like any furniture, but they especially love bright colors and fabrics that have some tooth to them.
Velvet, brocade, embroidery, and damask fabrics are a definite NO, as cats can sink their claws into these like a knife into butter. Additionally, cats will naturally gravitate toward fabrics that are susceptible to scratching and hooking-those are just so much more fun to a cat!
Instead, opt for upholstery fabrics that are solid, resist penetration by claws, and are not so “sink-in soft” that your cat will want to come over and hibernate there (while kneading the threads out of your sofa as they purr away).
Best Couch Material for Cats
Just remember, if a cat truly wants to, it’ll claw through just about anything. But these materials are a better choice to help combat it.
Genuine Top Grain Leather
Top-grain leather is the thickest hide available and can resist the average scrape or scratch. Unless your kitten is bent on destruction, you will be reassured with genuine leather as an upholstery choice.
Microfiber Upholstery
As the name suggests, microfiber is a tightly woven textile, and it resists cat claws. Microfiber is also quite stain-resistant, and you can wipe and wash microfiber upholstery, giving you numerous cleaning options for keeping your furniture spotless.
Microfiber has a higher thread count, which also means the fabric is more durable and resistant to infiltration by cat hair, pet hair, and other stains.
Higher Thread Count Upholstery
Cotton and marine-grade upholstery are ideal for pets and cat-friendly homes. These fabrics have a high thread count, which means pet claws aren’t so easily able to penetrate the fabric’s weave.
Fabrics such as denim, canvas, duck, and twill upholstery fabrics are all worth a try when keeping your furniture cat-proof. If your cat is truly destructive, you may need to consider the extreme, bite the bullet, and opt for 100% natural top-grain leather, the most natural and the least fragile to cat claws.
Tips for Protecting Your Couch from Cats
It’s not easy, and there’s no 100% defense against those claws and the hair, but these tips should help ease the headache a little.
- Provide alternative scratching surfaces
- Invest in various scratching posts, pads, or furniture specifically designed for cats.
- Place these alternatives near the couch to encourage your cat to use them instead of the couch.
- Sprinkle a bit of catnip on the scratching posts to attract your cat’s attention.
- Use deterrents
- Apply double-sided tape or aluminum foil to the areas of the couch where your cat tends to scratch. Cats generally dislike the texture and will avoid scratching these surfaces.
- Use a commercial cat repellent spray, or create a homemade one using essential oils like eucalyptus or citrus (diluted and safe for cats), and spray it onto the couch. Always test it out on a small, inconspicuous area first.
- Trim your cat’s nails
- Regularly trim your cat’s nails to reduce damage from scratching.
- Alternatively, consider using soft nail caps specifically designed for cats to prevent damage to your furniture.
- Train and redirect
- Train your cat to associate the couch with a negative experience, such as a loud noise or water spray, whenever they attempt to scratch the couch. Be consistent and timely with your response.
- Redirect your cat to the appropriate scratching post or pad when you catch them scratching the couch.
- Use furniture covers
- Invest in durable, washable furniture covers to protect your couch from scratches and cat hair.
- Choose tightly-woven fabrics less likely to snag on your cat’s claws.
- Provide a comfortable resting spot
- Place a cozy cat bed or blanket near the couch to give your cat a designated spot to rest and sleep.
- Encourage your cat to use their space by rewarding them with treats or praise.
- Ensure your cat is entertained and engaged
- Provide plenty of toys, activities, and mental stimulation to keep your cat occupied and less likely to scratch your couch.
- Interactive toys, puzzle feeders, and regular playtime can help reduce boredom and anxiety, which may contribute to destructive behaviors.
FAQs
What couch material will cats not scratch?
There is no couch material that cats will not scratch. However, some materials are more resistant to scratching than others. Upholstery fabrics with a tighter weave and a more textured surface tend to be more scratch-resistant than smooth fabrics like leather or microfiber.
Will cats scratch a leather couch?
Cats may scratch a leather couch, but it is less likely than with other materials. Leather is a natural material that has a textured surface, which makes it less appealing for cats to scratch. However, some cats may still scratch leather if not provided with other things they can scratch.
Do cats scratch microfiber?
Cats can definitely scratch microfiber, especially if it has a smooth surface. But they don’t have a preference for it if that’s what you’re wondering. They treat it like any other material.
What is the best pet-friendly upholstery fabric?
The best pet-friendly upholstery fabric is one that’s fairly durable, can be cleaned with ease, and is as resistant to scratching as possible. Synthetic materials and fabrics like polyester and nylon tend to be popular with pet owners, not just for cats. Leather is also a good option for cat owners, but it can get expensive and needs extra care, like conditioning.
Will my cats ruin a polyester couch?
Yes, because they don’t care about material, cats can scratch a polyester couch, but the material is generally more resistant to scratching than other fabrics.
Polyester is a man-made synthetic material that is extremely durable, usually easy to clean, and tends to be fairly affordable, making it a good choice for pet owners. But it’s still a smart idea to provide your cats with some decent scratching alternatives to deter them from damaging your couch.
What material sofa is best for cats?
The best fabric sofa for cats is made of durable material, fairly easy to clean, and as resistant to scratching as possible. Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon are common choices because they’re durable and easily cleaned. Leather is also a good option to go with, just remember that it gets pricey.
What is the best material for a couch if you have pets?
The best materials for a couch, if you have pets, will be anything that’s highly durable and can be cleaned daily. Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon are always a good go-to pick. Leather is an all-around good pick for pet owners simply for the fact that it repels hair.
Will a cat scratch a leather couch?
Cats may scratch a leather couch, but it is less likely than with other materials. Leather is a natural material that has a textured surface, which makes it less appealing for cats to scratch. However, some cats may still scratch leather if they’re not given enough scratching alternatives.
The Purrrr-fect Material
Kovi Fabrics can help you find the best couch material for cats that can make your life much easier and keep your furniture looking new for longer. With rip-resistant, hair-repellent, and stain-proof fabrics, you can choose a textile option to suit your life (and cat), budget, and home.
Choose Kovi Fabrics to keep your cat-friendly lifestyle purring away with cat-friendly couch material.