Q. We were recently asked if there was a cat proof or ‘claw resistant’ velvet fabric for upholstery.
A. Some velvets are extremely hard wearing. However cats claws can act like knives and few, if any, fabrics are knife proof. So unfortunately no we do not sell cat proof velvets.
However the hardest finish would be one that is least affected by a claw. So at one end of the scale you might have a fine silk, easily torn, and at the other end of the scale a vinyl based finish would be quite durable.
So a cat proof sofa would probably be covered in a vinyl floor tile like material. It would be ‘cat proof’ but awful to sit on! So I would go with a compromise like a faux leather or keep my cat’s claws well clipped or create some alternate environment for the cat to exhibit its natural claw sharpening tendencies elsewhere. Good luck.
15 July, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I have an idea – I have noticed that it is very difficult to push a pin through polar fleece. Maybe the same would apply to cat claws. I’m trying to figure out slipcovers that my cats won’t destroy (what scratching post? furniture is so much more fun!) Anyway, I think this is worth a try. Polar fleece doesn’t wear, and washes well, too.
29 July, 2010 at 10:29 pm
I’ve been looking for a cheap grade of Kevlar, the material used in bullet-proof vests. Polar fleece has too much hair on it for upholstery and I bet cats would eventually scratch through it.
Strict discipline, a water pistol, and a nearby scratching-allowed post or cardboard scratching box are the ONLY things that really work.
When you catch a cat scratching, make a BIG deal out it WHILE it is happening. Try to zing ‘em behind the ear with a squirt gun at the same time. Then, when the cat stops, forget about it. Don’t lecture the cat; praise it for obeying.
Although you can make a dog guilty for things it hasn’t even done, you simply can’t make a cat feel guilty.