How to cover up an oddly shaped sofa?
August 31, 2015 7:30 AM Subscribe
We recently moved into a new (to us) house and purchased this sofa. Well the cats immediately thought it was their new scratching post and started to tear up the sides and back. This is my first brand new couch ever and I’d like it to last a while. Plus it wasn’t cheap.
I threw some sheets over it but they were too thin and didn’t match anyway. So I purchased 3 of these sofa covers and figured I could modify them to fit but it looks sloppy and I hate it. This is what it looks like with the modified covers. The arm flaps don’t cover the very place the cats like to scratch and one of them has figured out how to tunnel underneath an open space. This defies the other purpose of keeping cat fur off the sofa. I cut off two of the arm flaps from the middle section to cover the side they were tearing up the most but it also looks crappy.
Any ideas on how to cover an oddly shaped couch? I went to this custom Ikea slipcover site but some of them cost more that the sofa did!! Ideally it would look neat and have a nice print as well as cover up the areas that they may be attracted too. Oh and I used the spray that is supposed to deter them from scratching but they said fuck that shit.
Bonus points for ideas on paint colors also deep or bright that wouldn’t clash with a print. I hate beige.
I threw some sheets over it but they were too thin and didn’t match anyway. So I purchased 3 of these sofa covers and figured I could modify them to fit but it looks sloppy and I hate it. This is what it looks like with the modified covers. The arm flaps don’t cover the very place the cats like to scratch and one of them has figured out how to tunnel underneath an open space. This defies the other purpose of keeping cat fur off the sofa. I cut off two of the arm flaps from the middle section to cover the side they were tearing up the most but it also looks crappy.
Any ideas on how to cover an oddly shaped couch? I went to this custom Ikea slipcover site but some of them cost more that the sofa did!! Ideally it would look neat and have a nice print as well as cover up the areas that they may be attracted too. Oh and I used the spray that is supposed to deter them from scratching but they said fuck that shit.
Bonus points for ideas on paint colors also deep or bright that wouldn’t clash with a print. I hate beige.
Double stick tape for the cats. When we get new furniture I wait to see where the cat will scratch and then I put some double stick tape, the next time he tries to scratch he is an uncomfortable surprise.
At first he would do it a couple times but now he only has to touch the tape once and he never goes back to that spot. I can pull the tape down after like a week. Our new couch is a year old now with no scratch marks and no tape on it.
I used double stick duct tape to be specific since it is wider. They sell strips at pet stores but they are way more expensive. May not work but cheap so worth a try.
posted by magnetsphere at 8:01 AM on August 31, 2015 [4 favorites]
At first he would do it a couple times but now he only has to touch the tape once and he never goes back to that spot. I can pull the tape down after like a week. Our new couch is a year old now with no scratch marks and no tape on it.
I used double stick duct tape to be specific since it is wider. They sell strips at pet stores but they are way more expensive. May not work but cheap so worth a try.
posted by magnetsphere at 8:01 AM on August 31, 2015 [4 favorites]
Pull the blue from the cover for your walls. It will tone down the pattern and warm up the room.
Your first problem is that you have a cat on your couch. The cat clearly rules the house. It needs a designated area that it can be in and it needs to learn that people furniture are for people only. An untrained pet isn't a pet, it's what will eat you if you die in your sleep. Crate it if you have to but get it to understand that it is not the ruler, you are. Be firm and consistent. It is scratching the furniture because it believes it to be in its territory. You have to redefine the cat's territory to one room.
posted by myselfasme at 8:09 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Your first problem is that you have a cat on your couch. The cat clearly rules the house. It needs a designated area that it can be in and it needs to learn that people furniture are for people only. An untrained pet isn't a pet, it's what will eat you if you die in your sleep. Crate it if you have to but get it to understand that it is not the ruler, you are. Be firm and consistent. It is scratching the furniture because it believes it to be in its territory. You have to redefine the cat's territory to one room.
posted by myselfasme at 8:09 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
The cat clearly rules the house. It needs a designated area that it can be in and it needs to learn that people furniture are for people only. An untrained pet isn't a pet, it's what will eat you if you die in your sleep.
Not that your cats won't eat you if they have to, but cats don't actually scratch literally everything in their territory. They pick places to mark. Former strays and indoor/outdoor cats are notoriously difficult for this sort of thing, but if you have exclusively indoor cats what I have is a sloped cardboard scratching box in the living room, since my cat clearly wants to be scratching in the living room. On a very regular basis, she gets catnip applied to the scratching box. Aside from some toys that have catnip in them, she never gets loose catnip, anyway, anywhere else. She gets praise and, when I have them handy, treats for scratching on the box. She gets a sharp "no" for doing it anywhere else, but it's been years since I saw her do more than a pay-attention-to-me stretch. I have been doing this my whole adult life. I have never had any scratching problems, my cats live on the furniture like people, and I've never had a declawed cat who didn't come to me like that.
You don't win with cats by ruling them. That's dogs. You win with cats by making sure you and the cats both get what you want.
As far as odd-shaped furniture goes, I have had some good luck making covers look MUCH better by using unobtrusive safety pins to gather up excess fabric.
posted by Sequence at 8:31 AM on August 31, 2015 [4 favorites]
Not that your cats won't eat you if they have to, but cats don't actually scratch literally everything in their territory. They pick places to mark. Former strays and indoor/outdoor cats are notoriously difficult for this sort of thing, but if you have exclusively indoor cats what I have is a sloped cardboard scratching box in the living room, since my cat clearly wants to be scratching in the living room. On a very regular basis, she gets catnip applied to the scratching box. Aside from some toys that have catnip in them, she never gets loose catnip, anyway, anywhere else. She gets praise and, when I have them handy, treats for scratching on the box. She gets a sharp "no" for doing it anywhere else, but it's been years since I saw her do more than a pay-attention-to-me stretch. I have been doing this my whole adult life. I have never had any scratching problems, my cats live on the furniture like people, and I've never had a declawed cat who didn't come to me like that.
You don't win with cats by ruling them. That's dogs. You win with cats by making sure you and the cats both get what you want.
As far as odd-shaped furniture goes, I have had some good luck making covers look MUCH better by using unobtrusive safety pins to gather up excess fabric.
posted by Sequence at 8:31 AM on August 31, 2015 [4 favorites]
Sequence beat me on preview, including that dog-thinking won't work. Double stick tape the trouble areas for now, and provide the cats with some sort of nearby alternative. If they like scratching the armrest, look for a horizontal scratching surface with a similar texture -- in other words, a rope-covered post may not work. I like using catnip spray because it lasts longer, is more intense, and makes no mess. If you think getting under the slipcover is part of the fun, they might also like some sort of 'hiding' toy, also catnip-bombed. (I have one who loves to roll around in and under paper.)
Trimming their claws can also be helpful -- they're also less likely to split a claw, get it stuck in something, etc. Some cats will let you do it yourself, but it might be worth it even if it's a vet trip. We DIY, but I know our vet charges $10 if there's no other reason for the visit.
Also...squee to your photo! Black cats are so awesome.
posted by gnomeloaf at 8:49 AM on August 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
Trimming their claws can also be helpful -- they're also less likely to split a claw, get it stuck in something, etc. Some cats will let you do it yourself, but it might be worth it even if it's a vet trip. We DIY, but I know our vet charges $10 if there's no other reason for the visit.
Also...squee to your photo! Black cats are so awesome.
posted by gnomeloaf at 8:49 AM on August 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
Do not try to dominate your cats; you might "win" but you'll end up with a sad, scared creature that will give you guilt instead of joy. And it will still scratch things when it thinks you won't know.
There are ways to train cats. I taught a kitten to play piano keys on command once. But he did it because he loved it. He also loved rolling over!
I've also taught kittens to scratch on command, on a surface that I wanted them to use, for treats. It was harder than teaching the piano thing, but the way they'd scratch a little then look at me for approval/a treat was just hilarious!
Anyway, here's a book on that.
posted by amtho at 8:59 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
There are ways to train cats. I taught a kitten to play piano keys on command once. But he did it because he loved it. He also loved rolling over!
I've also taught kittens to scratch on command, on a surface that I wanted them to use, for treats. It was harder than teaching the piano thing, but the way they'd scratch a little then look at me for approval/a treat was just hilarious!
Anyway, here's a book on that.
posted by amtho at 8:59 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
We were able to successfully train our cat to stay off the couch (and off kitchen counters and the dining table). It involved immediate loud noises whenever she went one of those places. But probably more importantly we always made sure she had other comfy places she was allowed. We had a fleece lined circular bed sitting high on a stool with a great view through a window (we placed a chair next to it she could use to get up onto her bed). Cats also get bored of sitting in the same place so introduce some variety. Since scratching is the problem you're trying to solve, make sure to provide scratching posts the cats do like; you may have to try a few kinds.
I won't say it was 100% successful; after a few years she would occasionally lay on the couch but jump off right when I opened the front door. I was onto her though because she'd leave behind some fur and a warm spot.
posted by JenMarie at 9:55 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
I won't say it was 100% successful; after a few years she would occasionally lay on the couch but jump off right when I opened the front door. I was onto her though because she'd leave behind some fur and a warm spot.
posted by JenMarie at 9:55 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also: you can attach just about anything to your couch with upholstery pins (less expensive ones exist). I've used laser-cut wooden panels and blank coasters of different shapes from a craft store and pinned them to the most scratchable/unprotected parts of the couch (some tiny holes were drilled in the wood), and it actaully looked kind of cool.
Here's an example of the kind of laser-cut wood I'm talking about; I can only find frames online, but the store (Michael's or AC Moore, I'm not sure which) had 8x10" continuous panels which were continuous and prettier; I got six and put three on each side of the couch (the couch back was against the wall).
However, if your cats are the kind to work the pins out with their teeth and then eat them, or if your couch is leather (so that holes would show), this might not be for you.
posted by amtho at 10:02 AM on August 31, 2015
Here's an example of the kind of laser-cut wood I'm talking about; I can only find frames online, but the store (Michael's or AC Moore, I'm not sure which) had 8x10" continuous panels which were continuous and prettier; I got six and put three on each side of the couch (the couch back was against the wall).
However, if your cats are the kind to work the pins out with their teeth and then eat them, or if your couch is leather (so that holes would show), this might not be for you.
posted by amtho at 10:02 AM on August 31, 2015
The double-sided tape works quite well. Having a cat tower (climbing/scratching zone) also helps redirect them to exercise elsewhere. As well, using Soft Paws (soft plastic nailcaps) can be a great help and often a combo of the tape and the caps deters them from trying it again on a particular area; your vet can usually apply the caps if you're not used to handling the cats' paws.
posted by Nyx at 10:28 AM on August 31, 2015
posted by Nyx at 10:28 AM on August 31, 2015
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posted by xingcat at 7:46 AM on August 31, 2015 [1 favorite]