Suggestions for a new couch that is Kitty friendly?

I have a cat that is indoors and I am lucky that he lets me live in the same house!!!!!!!!!!! I love the little guy to pieces. Currently I have an old silk couch that I cover with towels and it looks like grapes of wrath!!!! I plan on getting a new couch and would welcome suggestions on a fabric that would work well with a cat ( with claws.) I can deal with the hair but I want a fabric that will stand up . Any suggestions appreciated..............MEOW~!

I got a nubby sotf burlappy type of fabric.

I have put packing tape on my couch arms

2nd idea) and get a spray botle of water for them.
Shout: NO! when you spray-- he'll get the idea.

also place some cat-nip stratch posts near the couch for them/it to use instead

I got my cat "Becky" de-clawed years ago.

I know, I know all about it ............... but there was no problem at all for her.
All that is needed is to have the front claws done.

It's now easier both on people (no more scratches) and the furniture (nothing is ever ruined).

It's not a bad thing, ..............but I know that I will now get some hate mail.


Rick

yes it is a bad thing.
It's amputation down to the first joint.

I teach my cats and kitten "soft paws", teaching them involves some time but it's better than AMPUTATION

It's brutal, inhumane, arcane, barbaric and just so not nessecary- when you know better, you do better.

It is only a tribute to their loving, forgiving nature that Becki doesn't have biting issues.

We have a kitty. She's been in enough fights with other cats to know that scratching hurts ...so she plays nice.

I dont know the exact material our couch is made of but its kinda like cordory. She digs her claws into it all the time but it doesn't do any real damage. Whatever you do don't buy leather. It will be ruined within a month.

my ikea furniture with the heavy canvas slip covers has held up really well. can't imagine washing a sofa slip cover but the chair covers are fairly pick free and we've had them for a couple of years. they wash great -- though hanging to dry takes some time. considering the number of animals (dogs and cats) we have go thru here, we've been really happy with these.

keeping their nails trimmed also helps though it doesn't, usually, totally solve the problem.

before you try the actual clipping -- do a test run just so you can get a good look at the nails and the cat gets used to you touching the paws. the nail (just like ours) is a different color from the quick. most cats have white/clear nails and the quick is obviously pink and very near the toe. do not cut too closely to the quick or kitty will not like this 'game'!

using your regular nail clippers, hold kitty nicely and gently squeeze the center pad of her foot so that her claws all come out the toes. quickly nip of the ends. you can get really fast. most of my cats don't mind this especially if there are no other cats around.

i have to have good light, my reading glasses and treat for the cat. some won't take a treat. bribery doesn't work as well with cats as it does with dogs or humans.

to preserve furniture, all you'd have to do are the front paws. i only clip when i notice there is more clawing ((normally on a piano leg!!)

mine seem to use the cardboard scratchers better than the carpet or the sisal scratching posts. maybe because more catnip can go into the holes of the cardboard. the favorite is a slopped one --- i think called alpine. i ordered it from one the pet sites --- maybe petco. there are times that fresh organic catnip is more enticing to a cat than a piece of turkey!

good luck --

terri

I'll take a scratched couch, healthy cat, and clear conscience over a pristine couch, mutilated cat, and clouded conscience every time.

EVERY time.

"I teach my cats and kitten "soft paws", teaching them involves some time "

How do you do that?

Probably the way Roy Horn taught his tiger.


There's is no guarantee.

Rick

I have a hands on approach to my animals- I spend time teaching/playing w/ them because it takes time.

when cats or kittens play, you teach by reacting- to show it hurt- ouch! say it surprised/shocked, act a little hurt-- then say "no!, soft paws."

Over time,
they learn how much is too much. You have 2 years;
after 2 years they sleep 20 hours a day. They have 2 stratching posts, anything other than that is off limits. the spray water bottle is right by my couch if i don't like a behavior of theirs and they don't like being sprayed.
they know "Off", "Down" and "Scat!"

"Soft paws": I can't be the only one that knows this.. I just can't.