If you have pets you might be hesitant to purchase new furniture for your home. Pets can extremely destructive to our furniture, and while dogs can usually be trained to stay away from furniture, it is very difficult to stop cats from scratching. New furniture is a huge investment and you don’t want to see good money go to waste. There are certain types of furniture that are less likely to be ruined by pets so shop carefully and give yourself the home field advantage.
Furniture that has bare exposed wood is a magnet to animals. Dogs love to chew on wood and cats love to scratch it. Many sofas and chairs have legs made of wood and these will be prime targets for destruction. Try to find sofas and chairs that have covered legs or sit on an upholstered base. Bamboo furniture will also attract negative attention from your pets. If you must have furniture with exposed wood try using an orange oil furniture polish on it as dogs and cats dislike the smell and taste of it.
The upholstery on your new furniture is a very important aspect to consider. Certain types of upholstery won’t stand a chance against your pets. Fabrics with a rough weave will catch pet hair and will be an irresistible surface for scratching. Anything a cat can get his claws caught on even by accident is a bad choice for upholstery. Brocades are an especially favorite scratching material. If your cat can get a grip on the fabric he will enjoy ripping it to shreds. Claws will also easily ruin delicate fabrics such as faux suede and soft leather. Velour type upholstery is highly resistant to scratching as it has a smooth surface and your cat will find it very difficult to get a claw hold. If your cat does happen to get his claw into the fabric velour hides the holes very well. Solid colors of velour will show pet hair so try to choose one with a varied pattern. Pet hair can easily be brushed away from a velour surface using a damp cloth. Heavy vinyl and leather are also very resistant to scratching and keeping them clear of pet hair is very easy. Pet hair can simply be brushed off from vinyl and leather furniture with a dusting rag. Vinyl and leather are also great choices if your pet has a tendency to wet the furniture, as with an excitable dog that leaks urine from time to time.
Furniture made from plastic laminates is highly pet resistant. You can find coffee tables, end tables, bedroom furniture, and dining room sets made from laminates. Pets do not like to scratch or chew on the plastic surfaces and they are easily kept clean.
Even if you choose pet resistant materials for your new furniture your pet may still find ways to damage it. Always provide alternative scratching objects for cats such as scratching posts and chew toys for dogs. Scratching and chewing are natural instincts for dogs and cats and they need to exercise their natural urges. Cover your furniture with sheets or slipcovers when you are away from home for extended periods since animals will usually choose an unsupervised time to try and ruin it.
