Will a cat scratch up a leather couch?

[linnylu]

I spent all weekend looking at couches for our family room. I am having an awful time picking out a fabric that I like. I am not sure I want solid, but so many are "tweedy" looking. We had leather for the past 13 years and I am drawn to leather again because it is a solid color. But we got a cat 6 months ago and I am worried that her back claws will scratch it up (she doesn't have front claws). We are looking at either flexsteel or smith brothers in terms of brand of couch. We have dark green carpet in the room and an off white entertainment center. The walls are also off white but we will probably paint those.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Yep! Definitely.

 

[Bilberry]

Yeah, my cat had a good time one night with a former leather couch.

Recall that I bought some cat repellant spray, and hit the couch with it. That did a decent job of teaching the cat to stay away from the leather.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Our leather ottoman is ruined by our new kittens.

We do a good job keping their claws trimmed but our vet won't declaw (we wouldn't have anyway, but it wasn't an option.) But yeah, they have ruined it. I do my best with a spray bottle, but the problem isn't when I am around, it's at night. It is ruined. I want a leather couch, but can't see it happening cause of them. I love them, but I don't love that. BUT, with no front claws I think you are alright. Does your cat scratch other things with the back claws? I just ask cause ours only do with their front claws.

I don't know about the repellant I will have to look into that.

 

[cheshireqt]

Absolutely. Not only will they scratch it, they will leave lots of little puncture marks when they walk on it and climb onto the back of it.

 

[katesorad]

Yeah, absolutely. But, you could get rubber claw covers, though, that could help save your couch.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

Does a bear, well something about the woods?

 

[Swalphin]

I have 2 dogs and one cat. Last year I needed new sofas on one hand the dogs are just awful on fabric, the cats on leather. The dogs do not scratch the leather it is the sharp claws of the cat that does the damage. After debating and talking to many sales people I went with leather. I tried those claws covers, did not work for me. Cat just pulled them off with her teeth. I just ended up buying really thick throws for the sofas. The most damage that is done by the cat is when she jumps off. There are some scratches but the thick throw have helped alot. I throw them in the wash once a week. Not the ideal look but, I love my pets and when I have company I want my sofas to look good. So that was my solution.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I spent all weekend looking at couches for our family room. I am having an awful time picking out a fabric that I like. I am not sure I want solid, but so many are "tweedy" looking. We had leather for the past 13 years and I am drawn to leather again because it is a solid color. But we got a cat 6 months ago and I am worried that her back claws will scratch it up (she doesn't have front claws). We are looking at either flexsteel or smith brothers in terms of brand of couch. We have dark green carpet in the room and an off white entertainment center. The walls are also off white but we will probably paint those.

My sister's once beautiful leather sofas looks like giant pin-cushions due to her cats.

 

[Wall-E1]

Ours are destroyed also. I prefer leather couches because of my allergies. They don't seem to hold as much allergens as fabric couches. Anyway, they look awful. I just tell myself - they are just things.

 

[ilovejack02]

We have a few scratch marks on our leather sectional couch from the cats jumping off of it. The girls don't have front claws , but do have back claws.

We don't sit in the living room alot, so the girls tend to hang in the den where we have corduroy couches. We have a few pulls on the couches , but we live with it. No biggie, its the price you pay for having pets. Pets and kids in a house, something is bound to get messed up. What has worked best for us is I bought slip covers for the den, I wash about once a month, cleans off the cat and dog hair and keeps the couches protected.

 

[amyren]

Yep. My furball destroyed a perfectly lovely leather couch. The plastic claw tips (aka soft paws) worked for a while but he picked them off one by one and went to work on the couch I was so mad!!!!!!!!
We bought a second leather sectional and installed french doors and so far it is safe! We just don't let the kitties in the room unattended.

 

[Danemom]

I guess I've been lucky, but I have two cats with front and back claws and they haven't hurt my leather couches at all. One has done some damage to the coffee table legs though.

 

[Lloyd Gondolli]

Not if you declaw it!

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Not if you declaw it!

Declawing is cruel.

Anyway...my cat made pick marks in both arms of our leather couch. We have a leather chair waiting to be picked up, that I got my dh for a housewarming gift, and he won't pick it up because he's afraid the cat will scratch it up.

 

[Kycha]

We have 4 cats, 2 with only back claws, 2 with both back and front claws. And we have a black leather recliner sofa and a cream colored rocker recliner chair. The sofa has held up much better than the chair. There are some claw marks on the sofa. But because the black color is through the entire thickness of the leather, it is not as noticeable. The chair has cream colored upper leather and underneath it is black. So any claw marks on the chair are really noticeable. And for some reason, the 2 cats with front claws want to use the chair as a scratching post sometimes. But they leave the sofa alone.

 

[Lloyd Gondolli]

Declawing may be cruel, but so is killing an animal and tanning its hide so you can sit on your hide.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Declawing may be cruel, but so is killing an animal and tanning its hide so you can sit on your hide.

Perhaps if you tanned it while it was still alive. They are killed quickly and once they are dead they are dead. Pull off your fingernails and see how long you are in pain before you heal...why not chop off all the way up to your first finger knuckles and see how long it takes you to feel no pain and use your hands again.
Not to mention, if they should get outdoors, they have no defense.

ETA:
One has nothing to do with another. I eat meat and I might as well use the hide for something.

 

[nuke]

My cats destroyed a tweed type material chair but they don't bother at all with the microfiber furniture. That's all I will buy while I have kitties.

 

[Lloyd Gondolli]

Perhaps if you tanned it while it was still alive. They are killed quickly and once they are dead they are dead. Pull off your fingernails and see how long you are in pain before you heal...why not chop off all the way up to your first finger knuckles and see how long it takes you to feel no pain and use your hands again.
Not to mention, if they should get outdoors, they have no defense.

ETA:
One has nothing to do with another. I eat meat and I might as well use the hide for something.

Cows are not killed humanely. Have you not heard of what goes on in slaughterhouses?