Crazy cat ladies, please come in

alikatt17 · June 2013

My cats are totall azzholes and have just ruined my precious, beautiful Macy's couch in my living room. I'm really glad I got it secondhand for $400 because after three years, the upholstery is total garbage. It's this nubby textured fabric that is apparently awesome for a kitty scratching post. It's just effing shredded. And light cream w/ a tortoise shell who thinks it's the best cat bed ever? Awful. (The other two currently think the crib is the best cat bed ever)

I've found that they don't scratch anything with a smoother texture, like a cotton twill. (Side note: I looked for slipcovers and they are all made for puffy couches and not vintage looking skinny couches and I have no inclination to attempt a major reupholstering job when the frame isn't in good condition anymore either).

So, do cats not like scratching leather? Fabric recommendations? I found an Ikea leather couch on CL for $125 that I'm considering or a seriously cheap $250 cotton twill couch from Target.com. I'd be tickled pink to get 3 years out of a couch, since that's apparently the life span of couches in our house and it's not worth buying a $1k sofa that a toddler may draw on some day. I don't even care if it's comfortable, it just needs to look presentable since it's the first thing you see.

Oddly enough, we have the exact same sofa in the family room and the cats don't scratch that one.

NerdyLucy · June 2013

Out of curiosity, do you have scratching posts for them?

We have one of those carpeted tower things with three holes in it for them to climb into, and then we have several little scratchers with the replacable corrugated cardboard pad for them to "pick" on. Basically, they do very little picking/scratching on the couches and rugs now because they have places they're allowed to use.

ETA: If you don't, get something. Whenever they pick or scratch your furniture, redirect them to their scratcher. You can also use catnip to encourage them to use it.

ETA again:

These are the two favorites in the house.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Morovilla-Turbo-Scratcher-Interactive-Cat-Toy-And-Scratcher/19856412

This one is the favorite cardboard one because they also love the ball.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Classy-Kitty-Three-Story-Cat-Condo/14668357

This is the carpeted one that has saved our couch, loveseat and rugs.

hmonkey · June 2013

my friends have three cats and their leather couches were pitted with claws before they were even paid off.

zsazsa-stl · June 2013

Have you ever looked into capping their claws? My friend does this. Apparently it is a pain because they fall off easily, so you have to check them frequently and keep a replacement supply on hand.

I am a mean cat lady that had her cat declawed.

alikatt17 · June 2013

We have two tall sisal scratching posts and another cardboard one that's flat that they all use. One right by each couch, they still prefer the couches. Like I said, azzholes.

Maybe the Target couch might be a better idea. I'm embarrased it's under "college furniture."

http://www.target.com/p/thompson-sofa-bed/-/A-14368651#prodSlot=medium_1_1

NerdyLucy · June 2013

alikatt17 said:

We have two tall sisal scratching posts and another cardboard one that's flat that they all use. One right by each couch, they still prefer the couches. Like I said, azzholes.

Maybe the Target couch might be a better idea. I'm embarrased it's under "college furniture."

http://www.target.com/p/thompson-sofa-bed/-/A-14368651#prodSlot=medium_1_1

Hmmm. They really may prefer the fabric. We started off with just the cardboard, then the sisal posts, and we still had issues with rug-picking. Our carpeted kitty condo really has helped though. Thankfully they've learned that they can scratch the heck out of the "carpeting" on it without getting in trouble.

NerdyLucy · June 2013

This is what I really credit for saving our furniture.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Classy-Kitty-Three-Story-Cat-Condo/14668357

At the time, we had our old couch and loveseat, and since then we've gotten new ones and it's all been fine. We do have to keep their nails trimmed because they'll get so long that they actually "pick" the cushions when just walking.

Chipmunk415 · June 2013

Squirty was declawed front and back when we got her. Mops has her back claws still. They both still use the scratch post like they have something to work with. Squirt's a big fan of "scratching" the side of the bookshelf (I think she just likes the smooth feel of it), and any blankets draped over the futon. Oh, and of course, they both "scratch" the door at 3 am if we're not letting them in our bedroom for the night.

alikatt17 · June 2013

I always read that if you have carpeted kitty condos they'll learn that scratching all carpet is ok, because they can't differentiate between the good (and brand new) carpet on the floor vs the carpet on the tower. So we've only done sisal.

They are not declawed at all, front and back are fully armed. We trim often but they don't give a shit.

PMeg819 · June 2013

Get rid of cats. Problem solved.

NerdyLucy · June 2013

alikatt17 said:

I always read that if you have carpeted kitty condos they'll learn that scratching all carpet is ok, because they can't differentiate between the good (and brand new) carpet on the floor vs the carpet on the tower. So we've only done sisal.

That may be true for some. I really don't know the rules surrounding that. It's just what has worked for us, but we may be the minority.

alikatt17 · June 2013

zsazsa-stl said:

Have you ever looked into capping their claws? My friend does this. Apparently it is a pain because they fall off easily, so you have to check them frequently and keep a replacement supply on hand.

I am a mean cat lady that had her cat declawed.

We tried it once with Woogie when he was a kitten with horrible results, lol.

GBCK · June 2013

IME, leather is awful.
My lazy cat is front declawed and she destroyed the leather ottoman before we even GOT the superasshol3 cat--because she's klutzy and would jump off of it and her back claws would stick into it.

Microfiber = dabomb.
(my cats have destroyed my uberexpensive handmedown couch because it's nubby too)

Ven&Radio · June 2013

I've had three microfiber couches and my cats don't scratch them at all. There's just nothing to "pull at" really because the texture of the couch comes from individual fibers. Microfiber cleans really easily if you spill on it too.

kking1982 · June 2013

I am sorry to hear about the loss of the couch. I have had cats my entire life, currently mommy six of them. my past two couches over the last non years have been microfiber. They do not scratch at them. I reccomend 3-4 scratching posts spread about through the house. Try to make sure each scratching post is different height, type, material as I have learned each cat has its preference. I keep at least one cardboard, one sisal rope, and one carpeted one in the house. Some flat, some vertical, some sloped. Also, I trim their nails every few weeks. It may be difficult in the beginning, but mine are so used to it now I can do all six in about ten minutes. I have found it to be very much worth going through the growing pains of getting them used to having their nails trimmed. If you only have one or two you could use a groomer or vet for like $10 each. Good luck!

GetThePointe77 · June 2013

My cats (and my parents cats) have LOVED to scratch the leather. Even the one cat who doesnt really scratch at all ends up causing little holes when he runs across it/gets scared or excited. As for the carpet thing, my cat condo is carpet and they definitely differentiate between the carpet and the condo, its more of a location thing than a fabric thing, since they are trained (with catnip) to only scratch there.

Amsdragonfly · June 2013

We have a fake leather couch set we got second hand (we have two dogs and three cats) and two large scratching cat trees, and we routinely clip all of our animals nails (including the cats). I feel like the last part is really important (clipping their nails). Also, we have a squirt bottle and if we ever saw a cat go to scratch on something bad they got a squirt. We honestly have no problems with ruined furniture.

VarunaTT · June 2013

I don't think anything is safe. We have the microsuede and the cats love that. I finally just laid a blanket over the spots they liked and they stopped. If the blankets ever fall off though, Sebastian especially is right back at it. We have a huge 3 story cat condo with carpet and sisal and hardwoods in the house, so they're just azzholes.

We won't be having any more cats after this (I say, knowing full well a stupid kitten will someday tug at my heart and I'll fall for it again).

alikatt17 · June 2013

Yeah, I'm not going to amputate the first knuckle of my cats paws so my couches look pretty. Especially since they are 7, 6, and 4. The risk of infection and arthritis is so not worth it to me.

I passed on the leather sofa. I just won't buy nice and expensive couches from now on- just cheap stuff that's disposable. And maybe buy a couple more scratchers for them (apparently, 3 is not enough) and try the Sticky Paws stuff again (Lucy loves licking it, weird cat).

I hate microfiber so much, I just don't like how it looks and the style of couches I like do not ever come in microfiber.

hmonkey · June 2013

can you get the couch re-upholstered for $250? there's got to be some pro discount to be had there.

alikatt17 · June 2013

I think fabric alone would cost around $250 (needs about 20 yds of fabric). The frame isn't in good enough condition to consider re-upholstery (from what I'm seen on AT- its gonna be expensive as hell). I have no pro connections at all, working in the industrial part.

Oh well. At least they don't scratch wood furniture and woodwork, like my brother's cat does. ::shudder::

hmonkey · June 2013

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/fuo/3887312110.html

alikatt17 · June 2013

Bwhahahaha. I love you.

GBCK · June 2013

speaking of...I want this bench:

http://www.sciplus.com/p/JOBARIA-FEMUR-BENCH_40045 JOBARIA FEMUR BENCH

LnR70707 · June 2013

Prior to owning a microfiber couch I hated them too (hate leather much more though) but honestly ours has been great. There are a few holes on one end where someone decided to have an assy day, but for the most part my 2 don't mess with it. It is also easy to clean off the toddler spit. Ours is.....7 years old I think and it doesn't look new anymore, but it still looks good IMO.

Crazy cat ladies, please come in

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