If you follow me on social media, you may have seen that our family has grown recently. We adopted a Siberian Forest Cat 3 weeks ago and the first few weeks have been filled with excitement. He’s been an absolute star from the beginning and we haven’t really had to do any pet proofing. Of course, we keep an eye on him when we can and close the rooms we don’t want him in, but that’s about it! There are quite a few pet-proof fabrics that have passed the test, but a few others that I will avoid buying in the future. This post is based purely on my experience with a cat, so if you have other pets (dogs, rabbits and so on), you may come across slightly different issues, but most of it should apply to pet-friendly fabrics in general.
Velvet
When I bought my first velvet dining chairs 6 years ago, I had young children and very different concerns about their maintenance and durability. Since moving house, I’ve had to place them in direct sunlight, which isn’t ideal. I’ve noticed some fading, which is typical of darker fabrics. The white chairs still look brand new.
But when it comes to pets, velvet has its pros and cons. I have found it quite scratch-resistant. Our kitten likes to sleep, climb and hang off the chairs (despite my best attempts!), but so far, there has been no damage to the fabric. Cat hair is another story. Having a light coloured cat means that the black velvet chairs act as a cat hair magnet. I hoover the chairs every few days, depending on how much he sheds. I would say don’t go for the dark velvet if you have a pet, unless the pet has a black coat. You can’t stop the fur from getting everywhere, but at least it will blend in.
Our Edward sofa from Domkapa has also been fine with the cat. He has scratched it a few times to test my patience, but I haven’t noticed any marks. I don’t think velvet is that exciting for cats, although it does attract some pet hair, which is why I like to use throws on our sofas. Velvet is also easy to clean up after accidents, which makes it great for pets and children. In terms of maintenance, I prefer synthetic velvet to cotton velvet. Microfibre is another fabric with a similar look and feel that works well with our furry friends.
Boucle
By now you probably know how much I love boucle. Unfortunately our cat feels the same way. The cream-coloured boucle chair has become a cat bed, and it has definitely been tested the hardest of all fabrics. The good news is that it’s pretty tough. Regular scratching and clawing doesn’t seem to cause any loose threads. It’s a fabric that your cat will probably want to scratch (it’s just too tempting!), so I’d avoid getting a sofa in it for that reason. You should be aware that not all boucle is cat-friendly. A tightly wound boucle, such as the one we have, should survive most cats. Of course, I don’t encourage our kitten to use it as a scratching post, but I’m not worried about wear and tear. The chair seems to be doing just fine. If you have a dog, boucle will show dirt and hair more easily, so you may want to reconsider a large sectional in that fabric. I think an accent chair, pouffe or upholstered headboard would be fine. In summary, I think boucle can be pet-friendly in smaller doses, but having too much of it may be impractical for any pet.
Wool
We have quite a few wool rugs and they are doing really well so far. Tightly woven wool appears to be the best choice for rugs. Our kitty likes to dig his claws into the fabric from time to time. Although it looks quite claw-friendly, I usually redirect him to his scratching post. Most of our cat accessories come from Amazon. I must write another post about them soon!
Jute & Sisal
Now, this is a material that our cat can scratch as much as he likes. We have a jute rug in the kitchen and he just can’t cause much damage to it, and even if he does it just tends to blend in. He also likes to play with the carpet, so it is a win-win situation for us. However, jute is not great with moisture, so you may want to rethink it with messier pets.
Viscose
Just don’t do it. I have a carpet that is 50% viscose and I’ve regretted it since the day I bought it. It does not withstand liquids and there are loose threads. The cat isn’t massively interested in it, but the fact that it’s so hard to clean makes it a nightmare for pet owners.
Leather
Although leather is fairly easy to clean and maintain, scratches do show up. Fortunately, our cat isn’t too interested in leather, but I’ve seen the damage that scratching and clawing can do to it. Real leather is probably better, but synthetic leather will tear quite easily over time. So, if you want leather furniture and pets to co-exist, invest in good quality leather.
Silk
I don’t have much silk in my home (except a few cushion covers) and personally I would avoid this material with pets. It is very delicate and snags easily. A bit of silk in a rug might be fine, but full-length silk curtains are another story. Silk is also difficult to clean, so I’d avoid it if you can, especially with kittens and puppies.
So, what is the most pet-friendly fabric?
There is no simple answer to this question as it depends on so many things. Pets have different personalities too, and whether they have access to outside may affect the wear and tear on your furniture. But in general, anything tightly woven is more durable and can be washed multiple times. And, if you’re looking for the best fabrics for cats with claws, tightly woven velvet and wool are your safest bets. Investing in a good fabric cleaner will help as well, and if in doubt, place throws on your sofas so you can wash those more frequently. The other thing I’d say is that I don’t actually mind a bit of fur around the house. We have a cat and I’m not trying to hide it — it’s his home too! That said, I do try to keep on top of things for all of our sakes and make sure our home decor works for everyone, pets included.
And finally, make sure your pet has plenty of toys — hopefully that will keep them away from the furniture!
