cat-proofing (ha) an upholstered bench

October 6, 2019 8:39 AM

I have a very nice piano bench which I use daily. Our cats also use it daily and have done an impressive job of ripping apart the upholstery. I'm getting it reupholstered, understanding that nothing will be impervious to cat claws what are my longest lasting best looking material options? Suede? Rawhide? Microfiber?

(Note, it pleases me when my cats are happy, and I'm not interested in doing anything to deter them from their blissful enjoyment of my piano bench, whether we're talking ssscat, tin foil, packing tape or "training" tips. They are very good roommates and sometimes when I get up, one is lying purring on the piano bench and I know that everything is good in the world)

posted by arnicae to Grab Bag (10 answers total)

Is putting a thick wool blanket, small carpet, or some throw pillows over it when not in use an option? I've never had a piano bench that isn't wood topped, but it works for cats on sofas and chairs. Our last cat was perfectly happy laying on pillows on chairs, which were easily removed when people wanted to sit in them. It also kept the fur at bay.

Both leather and most soft fabrics have failed for me in the past. But, every cat is different.
posted by eotvos at 9:09 AM on October 6, 2019 [3 favorites]

Whatever fabric you choose, I would also probably invest in a heavy removable cover that can be more easily replaced than the upholstery if overclawed. If the upholsterer can't do this, it would probably be a pretty simple/inexpensive job for a seamstress or home sewer.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:27 AM on October 6, 2019 [3 favorites]

Does your bench have a storage box built into it? Maybe you could use a cushion that you store in there and take out when you're ready to play instead of using something that's permanently attached. Otherwise, I think cats don't like scratching microfiber as much as other things.
posted by pinochiette at 9:48 AM on October 6, 2019 [1 favorite]

Microfiber has been, in my experience, pretty resilient but an absolute fur magnet. Smooth leather is not much help, although a heavier full-grain leather will last a lot longer than cheap thin leatherette. I second the blanket idea - that'll be nice, replaceable, and washable.
posted by restless_nomad at 11:09 AM on October 6, 2019

My cheap microfiber couch has been excellent against cat usage. They don’t actively scratch it but the day to day regular cat use as a sleeping surface? Couldn’t tell. (The sick cat puking on it however is a different story but not the one you asked for!). Meanwhile these same claws have destroyed through regular use everything carpeted or made from MDF or wood in my house as well as multiple desk and dining room chairs. With 3 cats i’ll always buy microfiber until proven otherwise.
posted by cgg at 11:46 AM on October 6, 2019

Here's an idea: Reupholster the bench. Build a box the size of the bench. Put the box upside down on the bench. Upholster the outside of the box. The upholsterer could probably do all of this.
Take the box off when you want to play the piano or when company comes over.
posted by H21 at 12:57 PM on October 6, 2019 [1 favorite]

I don't know if they make it anymore, but olefin is indestructible. We had a couch that lasted through 3 cats and 2 kids for 20 years, then went to college with one of the kids.
posted by Enid Lareg at 1:16 PM on October 6, 2019

Tretford carpet is expensive but highly cat resistant and possible to tack on a bench as upholstery, since the raw edges don't frey.
posted by hotcoroner at 2:09 PM on October 6, 2019

Leather is a cat magnet most of the time (my boy is absolutely insane for leather and has destroyed everything). Anything with a heavy weave is also attractive to them. When I was asking an upholsteror about what to choose to re-cover the leather dining chairs he'd mauled, she said that one of the few things that doesn't seem to attract cats much is a velvet or velveteen finish--so that might mean a suedelike finish could work, especially if it's faux. I didn't actually ask her about that, but might be worth a try.
posted by emcat8 at 4:30 PM on October 6, 2019 [1 favorite]

My cats scratch on pretty much everything because I am a lazy cat owner but the fabric that seems to show their shenanigans the least is the textured/patterned (re)upholstery fabric on my antique chairs. I wasn't the one who had them reupholstered so I can't tell you much about the details, but it's this sort of thing. Basically I think you want something that is woven, and a somewhat coarser weave--not a super tight weave like microfiber--so it will show the claw punctures less. An upholstery grade chenille might also work for that same reason, although it would likely show butt marks after a while.
posted by drlith at 6:21 PM on October 6, 2019