Couch Upholstery Choices of the Cat and Dog Owners
As a loving owner of a cat or dog, you know that it is not just your prized sofa—but also most of your home decor—that bears the brunt of your beloved pet. Because even when Fluffy isn't trying to destroy your upholstery, the simple act of climbing, sitting, or walking on it can warrant a heavy cleaning bill. This is how and why selecting the best upholstery for your couch gets complicated.
Luckily, there are some heavy-duty fabrics that can withstand a few claw marks, prevent clinging pet hair, and resist dirt marks and stains due to the occasional accident from a cat or dog on the couch.
Guide to Upholstery Fibers
General Recommendations
While training your pet to behave (and not to jump up on or scratch the couch), the best defense against furniture wear is pet-friendly upholstery fabrics. Select a fabric with a tight weave and one that is free of complicated textures.
Steer clear of light colors—even if you have a well-behaved and well-trained pet—and instead choose charcoal grey, brown, or camel-colored couches that hide fur and fit into the color schemes of most rooms. Select a fabric built for heavy usage areas and consider stain-resistant fabric or those meant for indoor and outdoor use, like Sunbrella.
Leather
Hands down, leather is one of the best couch coverings for pet owners. In fact, this long-lasting natural material actually improves with age and heavy use. Leather is easy to maintain, comes in many colors, and is available at different price points. But most of all, leather can stand up to pets.
Dirt and water can be easily removed and pet hair wipes right off and does not cling to the smooth leather surface. It is possible for your cat to poke holes in your leather sofa if he uses it as a scratching post, but general scratches tend to enhance the weathered look and feel of your living room's centerpiece. Most leather couches can be easily cleaned with sudsy water, but for serious stains, you should call a professional.
The 10 Best Leather Sofas of 2021
Microfiber
Microfiber, a synthetic fabric, provides another great choice for pet owners. It looks a bit like suede, is simple to clean and maintain, and wears well. Microfiber is more affordable than leather and can be found in many colors to suit most decor tastes. With no loops in the fabric, microfiber is virtually resistant to claw marks, as claws do not catch on the weave. Animal hair goes practically unnoticed, which is great if your pet is a long-haired breed.
Stains are easy to clean off microfiber couches—just blot the accident with a clean towel and then finish it off with a little soap and water. But check the manufacturer's instructions first.
The best thing about microfiber is the texture it displays with a simple brush of the hand. Brush it one way for a lighter hue and then, should a stain happen, a darker tone can be achieved by running your hand over the fabric in the opposite direction.
How to Use Pet Stain and Odor Remover
Other Considerations
For pet owners, a patterned fabric may be better than a solid color, as pet hair and stains will become less visible. And puppy owners should buy a suitable cotton throw that covers the entire couch (no matter what fabric you choose). Then, pull it off to display the couch underneath, once your pup has matured.
As for what to avoid: Steer clear of any fabric that is nubby, this fabric is fun for cats to scratch. Also, fragile fabrics—such as silk, wool, or linen—should be avoided altogether or used only where your pet is not allowed.
Pet-Friendly Couches and Sofas
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What Is Pet-Friendly Furniture?
Choosing the right sofa is hard for anyone, even if dogs and cats aren't in the mix. When you add pets into the equation, there's a whole other layer of things to consider. So how do you know a couch will work for everyone in the family? When it comes to finding pet-friendly furniture brands, there are a couple key considerations.
First, find the right frame. Sofas come in a range of frames, both in terms of size and style, but also structure and material. You'll want to choose one that's well-made, ideally of kiln-dried hardwoods that won't warp or twist, especially if you've got larger pets (or kids) who like to jump on and off the furniture.
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, the fabric. Selecting a pet-friendly sofa fabric is crucial to purchasing a couch that will last and look great for years to come.
How To Choose the Right Fabric
So what should you look for in a pet-friendly sofa fabric? You'll want to make sure it checks the following boxes:
Durability: Pets, like kids, can be tough on furniture, so you'll need to make sure your sofa's upholstery can withstand it all. One key metric to look for: double rubs.
A double rub is a back and forth motion over the surface of a fabric. In factory tests, these are counted to see when the fabric starts to show wear and tear. So, the higher the double rub count, the more durable the fabric. While upholstery-grade fabrics typically start at 15,000 double rubs, for pet owners should aim for a minimum of 45,000 double rubs for pet-friendly fabric that will stand the test of time.
Stain resistance: Muddy paws, accidents, and treatscan all leave stains on sofa upholstery, but many of today's fabrics are engineered to prevent stains. Check the website or ask a sales associate to help you select a stain-resistant fabric that's pet and kid-friendly for your couch. It doesn't hurt to ask about warranties as well—many stores offer protection plans that cover stains, tears, and other damage.
Color: There are two schools of thought here. Darker colors tend to hide dirt and stains better, so that's always a good option. On the other hand, if you've got a cat with long white fur, you might be better off selecting a light upholstery to camouflage the hair between vacuumings.
Type of fabric: While technology has certainly expanded the range of pet-friendly fabrics, there are some types that are inherently better for homes with pets. Microfiber has seen a boom in the last decade or so. But is microfiber pet-friendly? Most of the time—yes! Its short pile and tight weave make it a breeze for removing pet hair, and the smooth texture won't catch on your cat's claws.
Leather can be another great option, both as a fur-free place for humans to sit and also because it continues to patina and improve with age, even with daily wear and tear from pets.
Pet-Friendly Furniture Tips
To find the right pet-friendly furniture for your family, get clear on how you and your pets use the furniture—and what issues you're trying to prevent.
If your cat loves to scratch, you may want to avoid textured fabrics and opt for a smooth microfiber instead. Constantly having to rearrange cushions after your pup lies on the sofa back? Choose a tight-backed frame for fluff-free comfort.
If you have a pup or kitty that sheds, you'll want to avoid fabrics with a loose weave, which can trap fur between the fibers. Instead, go for a low-pile fabric or leather to make cleanup a breeze. Just use a lint roller or the upholstery attachment on your vacuum to get pet hair off the sofa.
Finally, slipcovered sofas are a great pet-friendly sofa choice because you can toss the cover in the wash and know it's really clean. Just double check the label to make sure you use the right detergent and washing machine settings before you start the load.
Determined to keep your sofa pet-free altogether? There are a few tips to help train pets to stay off furniture, including:
Buying a pet bed they'll like even better—and rewarding them with treats when they choose it over the sofa
Giving your pet their own seat—like an older armchair they can call all their own
Deter them from the start—most pets don't like the smell of citrus, so a room spray can encourage them to steer clear of the sofa. (Just don't spray directly on the sofa to prevent accidental staining.) You can also place something uncomfortable (aluminum foil or plastic placemats) on the cushions to deter your pet when you're away.
Ready to find the best pet-friendly couch for your family? Check out our list of 11 pet-friendly sofas and sectionals below.
The Best (and Worst) Sofa Fabrics for Pet Owners
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There are people in this world who don’t let dogs on sofas (or even on rugs). I’m not one of them. Why even have pets if they can’t be on the furniture with the rest of the family, am I right? #dogsfirst!
So when my husband and I find ourselves on the hunt for a new couch, the biggest consideration is not how nice it is, or how pretty, but how well it will hold up to paws and shedding fur and the mud and who knows what else our two pups bring onto the couch with them. That makes this velvet Chesterfield I pine for an impossible dream. But what makes for the best sofa fabric, anyway?
To find out, I talked to some people who would know — the makers of both dog beds and people furniture: Denise Eddy is the home and gift buyer and Jon Comeau is the pets product development specialist at Orvis. They tag team their knowledge in coming up with products (like this bed) made with materials that can withstand life with pets. The two main things to consider, they say, are how well the material can stand up to being soiled, and if it will survive a flurry of claws.
I also turned to some fellow pet families to hear about real world experiences with different sofa fabrics.
First things first: what should you avoid if Fido and Fluffy are going to snooze on the sofa with you?
Lose the loose weaves and anything high maintenance
The trouble with fabrics like tweed, Denise says, is hairs and dirt can get trapped in the weave — not to mention claws can snag and tear it. And forget something high maintenance like velvet. It’s a magnet for hair, she says.
Sondra, who lives with Buddy and Jelly Bean, doesn’t dig her “nubby fabric” sofa. “It traps dirt and pieces of random sticks I don’t see them bring in until it’s too late,” she says.
Skip the silk
Silk can stain very easily, Denise says. And everyone loves a beautiful dupioni silk sofa but if they can get a claw into it it’s going to be pieces. (Chelley, who I spoke with for real-world advice, learned about silk the hard way when her Shih Tzu shredded a silk-covered sofa.)
Say no to suede
While true suede is durable, the Orvis team says, “the problem in a sofa fabric is cleaning it. If it happens to get soiled, it’s a lot more difficult to clean than leather.”