She frays the couch, stains rugs, knocks valuables over, and leaves dander everywhere. Who knew your cute little furball could be this much of a menace?
This guide will help you minimize the losses with practical, cat-proof furniture!
Table of Contents
Our Favorite Cat-Proof Furniture Ideas
1. Microfiber Sectional With Not-So-Inviting Armrests
Generally speaking, microfiber is a practical choice for cat owners. It’s easy to clean, soft, and doesn’t snag easily.
Bonus points if the arms are tapered or angled.
Remember: The wider (and flatter) the arm is, the more likely it is to end up as your cat’s favorite napping spot!
2. Wood-All-Around Couch
Does your cat love scratching the life out of your couch’s exposed back? A simple wood panel frame might be the answer.
You could buy a new one with a wooden frame or get a carpenter to custom-build one around your existing couch.
Some people go the extra mile and customize a whole bookcase around the couch.
This approach can be a bit complicated. Plus, it’ll make your couch bulkier. But hey, you won’t need end tables when you’re done!
3. Distressed (But Cool) Leather Couch
Getting a leather couch/chair when you’re a cat parent might sound like a terrible idea. But it doesn’t have to be.
Leather can be a decent choice because it doesn’t collect pet dander like traditional fabrics.
However, the key is to go for distressed leather. The classic worn-out look should conceal most of the tiny scratches.
If your pet somehow manages to tear a hole through the leather, you could patch it up with a repair kit.
4. Industrial-Style Ottoman
Thick aluminum foil, thumbtacks, and some free time—that’s all you need to turn an old, frayed ottoman into a statement piece in your living room.
Guaranteed, this industrial look isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But it’s definitely cat-proof, so we can’t complain.
5. Plush Microfiber Rug
Microfiber rugs are ideal picks for multiple reasons.
For one, the weave is often so tight that it discourages cats from scratching and snagging the rug.
But just because cats don’t enjoy scratching microfiber doesn’t mean they won’t love napping on it. The material is soft and fluffy enough for most cats.
The rug usually doesn’t hold much dander and dirt, either.
Read More: DIY Cat Scratching Post: 8 Out-Of-The-Box Ideas To Entertain Your Kitty And Save Your Furniture
6. The Choo Choo Console
I’m willing to bet your kitten loves knocking things over. I mean, most kittens do.
Now, there are a few routes to go down here:
- Spend ages trying to train your cat not to climb tables, consoles, counters, etc. (and probably fail in the end).
- Give up and hide your valuables away.
- Distract the kitty.
Does option no.3 sound enticing? If so, a feline-friendly design, like the Choo Choo console, would come in handy.
Cozy lining material, a discrete litter box compartment, and plenty of hiding space behind cane webbing—there’s lots for your cat to explore inside the console, so she won’t even think about jumping on the console!
That said, you still need to be careful with what you put on top. For instance, unattended, lit candles can be risky.
7. Pot-Post Combo
Cats need to scratch. They need to scratch to sharpen their claws, mark territories, and work their tiny muscles.
So, part of cat-proofing your home is proving acceptable scratch areas. And these areas don’t have to be an eyesore, either.
You could sneak sisal rope (typically used for scratching posts) into your furniture. The simplest option is to wrap up a plant pot in sisal.
For this approach to work, your pot needs to be heavy. Otherwise, the cat will knock it over while scratching the sisal rope, scattering dirt everywhere. No bueno.
A large majesty palm could be a decent choice. But no matter which plant you choose, don’t forget to check the toxicity. Some cats nibble on houseplants!
8. High Free-Floating Shelving Unit
Maybe you don’t want to wrap your pots with sisal rope and replace it again and again once it gets worn out. Or perhaps your cat loves climbing bookcases and shelving units.
Either way, free-floating shelves can save the day. The trick is to put the shelves away from climbable furniture and never leave anything dangling too low from the shelf.
9. Cat Tower Cubbies
Let’s get back to the sisal-integration idea for a moment.
You could redo parts of your kitchen cabinets with floor-to-ceiling scratching posts.
Fair Warning: I wouldn’t put it past a particularly stubborn kitty to ignore this scratching paradise and still sit on your counters.
10. Scratch-and-Snooze Bed Frame
If you don’t mind going big with the whole sisal-integration design concept, you can custom-build a bed frame with large scratching posts.
Raised bed frames with tunnels will keep your cat entertained longer, distracting it from valuables in your bedroom.
But, of course, you’ll have to put up with some sleep disturbances if your cat gets active at night.
Also Check: 7 Modern Cat Tree Designs Your Furball Will Love
11. Protective TP Covers
This protector is more of an accessory, but it’s still worth mentioning since lots of cats are vicious shredders.
TP protectors come in a whole lot of shapes and styles—fabric covers, plastic guards that go on top of the holder, and metal guards that go under the roll.
Any of them can save you the trouble of cleaning up a mess every time your cat wiggles her way into your bathroom.
Final Thoughts
Aside from choosing the right pieces, you could invest in slipcovers, invisible scratch guards, and calming pheromone diffusers (like Feliway and Comfort Zone).
A final word of advice? Trim your furball’s nails to protect your furniture (and arms!) from nasty scratches.
