Covering or repairing cat damage to couch

June 15, 2019 10:45 AM

Remember the couch that I carefully purchased that color coordinates so well with our cats? Well, the cats have enjoyed the couch a bit too much, and we didn't act in time to prevent lots of couch damage. How should we repair and/or cover over this, and prevent further damage? Ideally, we'd like to return it to pre-scratch condition, but I realize that may not be possible.

I've seen a few plastic covers, but those won't hide the damage. Ideally, I'd like to buy covers that cover the entire arm area in a fabric that complements the rest of the couch -- is that a thing? (I keep not seeing it in my search attempts.) Thanks!

posted by slidell to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

Not as good as new, but much better than I had expected: stretchy slipcovers are now available that look vastly better than the old non-stretchy slipcovers, and don't cost too much. They feel nice and soft and are good for protecting against cat scratching. (You can buy matching separate cushion covers if you have more than one seat cushion and don't like the fitted-sheet look of the single cushion seat cover over them.)
posted by chromium at 11:58 AM on June 15, 2019 [2 favorites]

First step is to buy a couple of proper scratching posts for your cats (sisal is best!).

Second is to train them not to use your couch as a scratching post. Double sided tape, punishment, sharp words, internet shaming etc...

Otherwise there is no point in fixing your couch.

I'd just get some heavy material in an accent color to cover the damaged ends of both sides of the couch. You aren't going to be able to hide the repair so you might as well make it a feature. You can hold the material in place with upholstery pins so it wouldn't even be a difficult fix.

You could also go the visible mending route if that's okay with your aesthetic
posted by srboisvert at 3:50 PM on June 15, 2019 [3 favorites]

Sofa scratcher
posted by i_like_camels at 7:06 PM on June 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

So my cat took that Sticky Paws tape as a challenge and worked out how to pull it off with his teeth. What is working, oddly, are those microfleece blankets laid over the parts he scratches (this can require creativity and will look like, well, your couch wrapped in blankets). He doesn't seem to want to dig his claws into those for some reason.
posted by emjaybee at 10:54 PM on June 15, 2019