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Leather furniture with fully clawed (armed?) cats (Read 237 times)

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rectumdamnnearkilledem

    Does anyone have any experience with this?  DH and I are soon going to be relocating to a home closer to his work (for 13 years he has had a 30 minute commute...sometimes as long as 60 minutes, if he has to attend meetings or training at corporate headquarters.  Our goal is to find a home midway between his regular office and the HQ).  One thing we've been talking about is pulling the trigger and investing in NEW furniture for the first time in our lives (at the tender age of 40 and 41), instead of accepting more ugly cast-offs from family members.

     

    We have 3 cats with their full array of claws.  As a result we've kept covers on our sectional sofa to dissuade them from scratching on the furniture.  We also have one whose a chronic puker (it's better since he's been on steroids for IBD, but he still likes to puke...and ON things, of course.  And he has long hair, so hairballs are occasionally a factor, as well).

     

    So we've been wondering if leather might be a better option than fabric.  Granted, we are anticipating punctures and light surface scratches from claws, but we can tolerate that.  We'd avoid putting the furniture near windows and giving them more appropriate climbing options, instead.  Cleaning puke from leather seems easier than dealing with washing sofa covers on a regular basis.

     

    The main thing we wonder is if cats ever get it into their heads that leather is good for claw-sharpening.  I wouldn't think that would be an appealing surface, especially with sisal post options around the house (and we'll still have our big, fugly sectional in the basement), but I've never lived with a fully-armed cat AND leather in the same residence.

    Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

    remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

         ~ Sarah Kay

    Chantilly75


      We have a leather couch, which my cat does not seem to care for, she will only lay on it if I put a folded up blanket on it, but leather does not appeal to her and she doesn't  hardly even walk on it.

      I don't know if this would be true for most cats.

      My MIL's cats don't like her shiny smooth brocade-type couch, but they like the other (cloth) furniture.

       

      I don't think their claws can dig into the leather, because it is a smooth surface, so it would not be appealing.

      My cat has 2 scratching posts, but she still likes to shred the back of my cloth-covered chair.

      "dancing on the path and singing, now you got away,

      you can reach the goals you set from now on, every day"

      Sonata Arctica

       

       

       

       

       

      TeaOlive


      old woman w/hobby

        Zoomy - We have two fully clawed cats. They haven't used the leather couch or love seat as a scratching post.

        I think that we have had the furniture for 3-4 years.  However, they are indoor/out door kitties.   But I don't think

        that makes a difference.  The Siamese cat likes her sisal thingy for scratching inside and the stripy kitty likes some

        trees out side as well as a wooden kitchen chair (really, I think that the chair is her door bell for any thing

        that she wants).  But neither has bothered the leather.

         

        As far as I can tell all clean up is better on leather!  Puke would be better on leather - just wipe off.  Our puker

        usually hits the carpet Sad   Hair is definitely easier to get off leather rather than fabric.   Once again just wipe off.

         

        We also have a huge Lab and she sheds 365 days a year as Labs do.  Her hair is very easy to wipe off.

        On fabric like the back seat of my car not so much.

         

        We have never made a habit of letting our past dogs on the fabric furniture but this current dog usually

        sleeps on the love seat at night since anything she might get on it wipes right off.

         

        Sure, there have been occasional little scratch marks form one animal or another but that is to be

        expected and don't look bad.

        steph  

         

         

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        rectumdamnnearkilledem

          Zoomy - We have two fully clawed cats. They haven't used the leather couch or love seat as a scratching post.

          I think that we have had the furniture for 3-4 years.  However, they are indoor/out door kitties.   But I don't think

          that makes a difference.  The Siamese cat likes her sisal thingy for scratching inside and the stripy kitty likes some

          trees out side as well as a wooden kitchen chair (really, I think that the chair is her door bell for any thing

          that she wants).  But neither has bothered the leather.

           

          As far as I can tell all clean up is better on leather!  Puke would be better on leather - just wipe off.  Our puker

          usually hits the carpet Sad   

           

          Our puker refuses to yak on the wood floors...no, he has to puke ON something.  Our late female was also a puker and was the same way.  I think they think they're doing us a favor.  When they do puke on the floor it's always right where we walk.  I have yet to decide which is nastier to step on - cold barf or warm barf...?

           

          We have a cat that insists upon scratching on a wooden kitchen chair, too.  And the plastic base of a stand fan.  He's pretty stupid.  He has also destroyed the trim outside our bathroom door.  If anyone is in there with the door closed he can't handle it.  We're going to invest in additional scratching posts for the next house...at least one/floor.

          Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

          remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

               ~ Sarah Kay

          TJoseph


            We had a cat destroy a $3000 leather couch and chair set by urinating on it (she did that when she was angry about something).  You can't get that smell out.  I always thought that mission style furniture would be the most cat proof, but we haven't invested in any yet.

             

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            rectumdamnnearkilledem

              We had a cat destroy a $3000 leather couch and chair set by urinating on it (she did that when she was angry about something).  You can't get that smell out.  I always thought that mission style furniture would be the most cat proof, but we haven't invested in any y

               

              We have fortunately never had a passive-aggressive pee-er.  Our worst kitty pee issues have always had an age or medical-related reason.  Nature's Miracle really is!!

              Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

              remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                   ~ Sarah Kay

              TJoseph


                 

                We have fortunately never had a passive-aggressive pee-er.  Our worst kitty pee issues have always had an age or medical-related reason.  Nature's Miracle really is!!

                 

                We tried everything we could find.  Nature's Miracle, Odoban, and a few others I don't remember.  The smell wouldn't come out of the leather and we ended up having to reupholster the set.

                LedLincoln


                not bad for mile 25

                  Okay this thread title reminded me of a Gordo comic, many years ago, that I probably can't relate well at all.  It went something like this.  People are going to acquire some fine antique furniture.  Cat says Oh boy, I've never clawed Hepplewhite.  Dog says Who's Claude Hepplewhite?

                   

                  You just had to be there.

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                  rectumdamnnearkilledem

                     

                    We tried everything we could find.  Nature's Miracle, Odoban, and a few others I don't remember.  The smell wouldn't come out of the leather and we ended up having to reupholster the set.

                     

                    Bad kitty!!

                    Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

                    remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                         ~ Sarah Kay

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                    rectumdamnnearkilledem

                      Okay this thread title reminded me of a Gordo comic, many years ago, that I probably can't relate well at all.  It went something like this.  People are going to acquire some fine antique furniture.  Cat says Oh boy, I've never clawed Hepplewhite.  Dog says Who's Claude Hepplewhite?

                       

                      You just had to be there.

                       

                      Reminds me of my childhood pets!

                      Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

                      remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                           ~ Sarah Kay

                        The cat does not have to be trying to scratch it. He/she may be just relaxing on it when the phone or doorbell rings, or the toaster pops up and the cat freaks out and launches itself in the air in retreat to his/her happy place. They push off with their rear claws and scratch the couch. Say this happens rarely, like 1 or twice a month. After 4 years you have 48-96 scratches on your nice leather couch. My sister has two cats with only rear claws and has to keep throw blankets on the couch to protect it. Even so, it has a lot of scratches. I think we pet owners just have to sacrifice and not have perfect furniture. Me, I would avoid leather.

                        zoom-zoom


                        rectumdamnnearkilledem

                          The cat does not have to be trying to scratch it. He/she may be just relaxing on it when the phone or doorbell rings, or the toaster pops up and the cat freaks out and launches itself in the air in retreat to his/her happy place. They push off with their rear claws and scratch the couch. Say this happens rarely, like 1 or twice a month. After 4 years you have 48-96 scratches on your nice leather couch. My sister has two cats with only rear claws and has to keep throw blankets on the couch to protect it. Even so, it has a lot of scratches. I think we pet owners just have to sacrifice and not have perfect furniture. Me, I would avoid leather.

                           

                          I'm really thankful to not have jumpy, neurotic cats when I read stories like this!

                          Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

                          remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                               ~ Sarah Kay

                          Nakedbabytoes


                          levitation specialist

                            Nice fat bike, zoom zoom. Salsa Mukluk? I have a Surly Pugsley. I think mine is about the same size(small mama & fat bike). I see you ride a lot by your siggy miles, road? I ride anything with wheels and pedals.......big wheels, unicycles, road, fixie, fat, 4 wheeled Rhodes Car. I have a thing for pedals!

                            zoom-zoom


                            rectumdamnnearkilledem

                              Nice fat bike, zoom zoom. Salsa Mukluk? I have a Surly Pugsley. I think mine is about the same size(small mama & fat bike). I see you ride a lot by your siggy miles, road? I ride anything with wheels and pedals.......big wheels, unicycles, road, fixie, fat, 4 wheeled Rhodes Car. I have a thing for pedals!

                               

                              Yep, my kid and I are sharing the Muk until he's big enough to need his own.  I've also got a roadie, CX, and 29er.  Busted my wrist 9 weeks ago on the mtn bike.  Hoping to have enough function to ride again in a few weeks.  I managed to give myself bad ligament damage.

                              Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

                              remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                                   ~ Sarah Kay

                              Nakedbabytoes


                              levitation specialist

                                 

                                Yep, my kid and I are sharing the Muk until he's big enough to need his own.  I've also got a roadie, CX, and 29er.  Busted my wrist 9 weeks ago on the mtn bike.  Hoping to have enough function to ride again in a few weeks.  I managed to give myself bad ligament damage.

                                 

                                Ouch! Heal quickly! I hope the bike was okayWink

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