Sofa Buying Guide for Cat & Dog Owners

As a cat or a dog owner, you know that it is not just your sofa—but almost all of your home décor items—that bears the brunt of your beloved pet. Because even when they aren’t trying to destroy your upholstery, the simple act of climbing, sitting, or walking on it can get you a heavy cleaning bill. This is how and why selecting the best upholstery for your couch can get overwhelming. Fortunately, there are some heavy-duty fabrics that can withstand a few claw marks, prevent clinging pet hair, and resist dirt marks and stains due to the occasional accident from a cat or dog on the couch. Luckily, with the help of Furniture Adda, you can design your own sofa online with upholstery of your choice.

General recommendations:

While training your pet to behave (and not to jump up on or scratch the couch), the best defense against furniture wear is pet-friendly upholstery fabrics. Select a fabric with a tight weave and one that is free of complicated textures.

Even if you have a well-behaved and well-trained pet, steer clear of light colors, instead choose charcoal grey, brown, or camel-colored couches that hide fur and fit into the color schemes of most rooms. Select a fabric built for heavy usage areas and consider stain-resistant fabrics or those meant for indoor and outdoor use.

Leather

Leather is one of the best couch coverings for pet owners. In fact, this long-lasting natural material actually improves with age and heavy use. Leather is easy to maintain, comes in many colors, and is available at different price points. But most of all, leather can stand up to pets.

Dirt and water can be easily removed and pet hair wipes right off and does not cling to the smooth leather surface. It is possible for your cat to poke holes in your leather sofa if he uses it as a scratching post, but general scratches tend to enhance the weathered look and feel of your living room’s centerpiece. Most leather couches can be easily cleaned with sudsy water, but for tough stains, you should call a professional.

Click here to buy leather sofas from Furniture Adda.

Microfibre

Microfiber, a synthetic fabric, is another great choice for pet owners. It looks a bit like suede, is easy to clean and maintain. Microfiber is more affordable than leather and can be found in various colors to suit most decor themes. With no loops in the fabric, microfiber is virtually resistant to claw marks, as claws do not catch on the weave. Animal hair goes practically unnoticed, great option of your pet sheds a lot.

Stains are easy to clean off microfiber sofas, just blot it with a clean towel and then finish it off with a little soap and water. The best thing about microfiber is the texture it displays with a simple brush of the hand. Brush it one way for a lighter hue and then, should a stain happen, a darker tone can be achieved by running your hand over the fabric in the opposite direction.

Furniture Adda, a furniture store in Delhi, allows you to choose the upholstery for your sofas.

Other considerations:

For pet owners, a patterned fabric may be better than a solid color, as pet hair and stains will become less visible. And puppy owners should buy a suitable cotton throw that covers the entire couch. Then, pull it off to display the couch underneath, once your pup has matured.

As for what to avoid: Steer clear of any fabric that is nubby, this fabric is fun for cats to scratch. Also, fragile fabrics—such as silk, wool, or linen—should be avoided at all costs or used only where your pet is not allowed.