Cloth or leather sofa better with cats?

[Sadik]

For the first time ever, I'm in the position to buy a new new sofa. I'd love a leather one, but now I'm wondering if that's going to get more trashed by cat claws than a cloth one. I'm not super-precious about things, so the odd fluffy bit on a sofa corner isn't going to worry me, but massive holes would be a bit of a shame. What do you multi-cat-people all have?

[RubbishMantra]

I've got a purple velvet one, which (fingers crossed. touches wood) they have zero interest in scratching. My previous leather one got slashed.

Also, it's unpleasant getting stuck to leather when it's warm.

[isseywithcats]

my cats trashed my last material one when i bought a leather one what i did was put olive oil mixed with lemon juice (cats dont like lemon) onto a cloth and wiped it over the arms, front and sides of the new sofas it discouraged them from thinking it was a huge scratching post and my cats have not trashed this one its a year old also leather is easier clean if they decide that the fur ball they want to chuck up absolutely has to go on the sofa as no where else in the house will do

[isseywithcats]

and lemon juice in water sprayed lightly over a material one does the same thing

[UsedToBeAPaxmanFan]

We have leather sofas in our living room and a fabric sofa in our kitchen. The cats don't scratch either. However, it is MUCH easier to get cat hair, muddy paw prints etc off the leather sofa than the fabric one.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

I have material couch and fake leather chair, they've trashed both.
In all honesty I've given up caring, I love my cats more than my stuff, but then I don't buy stuff I care about getting trashed iyswim.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Our leather stood up better than the fabric one.

Whatever you get they'll ruin sooner or later.

[Sadik]

"Whatever you get they'll ruin sooner or later."
Very true
But I hadn't thought of velvet - that might be just the ticket (and I bet both dd and the cats would love it for curling up on)

[SpecialFlowSnake]

I am going to try the lemon and oil trick. I have 2 sofas, 1 leather which gets the odd claw and the other faux suede with faux leather trim where one pleather corner - closest to the patio door - has been brutally savaged. I have a theory that BroCat is working out his frustrations with the birds he can see but not get. My 2 indoor cats have plenty of options for climbing, scratching, playing plus I use puzzle feeders. There's usually somebody home and wiping protein spills up straight away us the house rule. BroCat likes the suede for snoozing but SisCat chooses the leather. See photos. I should be folding the towels and fixing the dvd player instead of mumsnetting

I used to have a green cord sofa that they did not go near, if that helps.

Cat face cushion from Ikea. They have matching curtains but DH drew a line...

[Watto1]

I'd say material. If the cat pulls a thread on a material sofa, you can chop it of with scissors. With a scratch on leather, you're buggered.

[mycatloveslego]

We had a leather sofa. The cats hated it and would only go on it if someone got up from sitting on it (so it was warm!). They've destroyed all the fabric sofas we've had.

[Toddlerteaplease]

I had a fabric sofa from ikea. That they trashed Replaced it for a leather one and they've not touched it.'y leather arm chair never got touched either. I have taken out the damage protection on it though, just in case.

[Trustyourself2]

I had a velvet sofa & it got trashed. All of my furniture has been. They have zero respect, full stop.

[Sadik]

Lovely pics FlowSnake :) I hadn't thought about the temperature issue with leather - definitely puts me off as it's for my little snug, and I think velvet / cord would be much more in keeping. TBF the cats haven't really trashed the fabric sofas I have now (the one due for replacement has just died of old age!), so I shall just keep my fingers crossed. Furballs appear to be saved for a carefully selected spot under the kitchen table just waiting for me to sit down with my morning tea . . .

[dailydance]

I have a fabric chair and a leather sofa. The sofa is standing up better to the claws-it's mostly just claw marks from jumping up. I do c

[dailydance]

Oops...
I do c

[dailydance]

I give up

I have a bandaged finger from one of the cats .. clearly mucking up my typing ability. I'll get my coat.

(Leather is better in my experience)

[Bluntness100]

I can only talk about dogs, and my dog trashed my leather sofa, his claws scratched the hell out of it, and leather stains, like grease from skin, are harder to get out. My fabric sofa however remained unharmed and was easily cleaned.

This time I've went for fabric for both new sofas and scotch guarded them and when it is dirty will get an upholstery cleaner in. I'd say go for fabric. I genuinely don't think leather works with pets.

[AveEldon]

Cheap cloth - then you can replace it if they trash it

[ChildrenOrCats]

I have the Astaire sofa from dfs...the fabric is tightly woven so he can't really get his claws into it. A year on and so far so good - he has given the arm of it a decent try but with a velvet throw over it he doesn't bother as much. Fur is an issue but I run the Hoover over it when I'm hoovering the living room

Absolutely destroyed the previous leather sofa. What I've gained in an intact sofa I've lost in a shredded hall carpet though.

Choose what you like is probably the moral of that tale, you'll never win!

[Sadik]

Refurb is including swapping carpets for wooden floors!!!

[hollinhurst84]

I've had fabric and a suede feeling one and mine hasn't touched either but he never scratches anything so I guess it's cat dependent too

[Verbena37]

Our two ripped the fabric ones to shreds......all over the upholstered legs and the cushions....nightmare!
Now we only have leather and they don't touch them.

[GreyStars]

In my experience what ever you love they will decide requires some improvements.

For example I have a lovely cashmere jumper, left it on the table (no they are not supposed to be up there) they decided it was too good for me, same with a lovely cushion I purchased I cannot ever get a look in. Ugly old don't care jumper, not so nice cushion not in the least bit interested

So just get an ugly one, or loudly announce you hate it when it arrives, then they won't touch it

Mine do seem to make a bee line for anything that is leather or wool, but don't have scratchers in this house - they tend to eat and lick things they are very odd.

[ChestnutsRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

My scratchy bastards also have no interest in velvet. We have 2 pristine velvet sofas and 2 mutilated soft leather chairs.

[ChestnutsRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

Ps it's not so much they enjoy scratching the leather, they don't. It's borne the brunt of their mad chasing half hours, or clawed when climbing up.