Cats are always entertaining, jumping, pouncing, and lounging around the house. With their antics comes a desire to scratch, wreaking havoc on your furniture and surfaces.
If your cat enjoys tearing up the corners of your armchair, clawing at your table legs, or getting in a good stretch at the expense of the side of your couch, you have options. You can find a variety of cat furniture protectors designed to protect your décor from the damage of cat claws. Whether you need to protect a few spots or have a seriously destructive cat, here are our seven best cat-proof furniture pieces. Our picks come from reviews from cat owners like you.
Hepper Cat Furniture Protector is the best overall cat-proof furniture piece. Made of tough vinyl material, this thin furniture protector can be used on any surface to protect against cats biting and clawing, including cabinets, table legs, couches, and chairs.
Each pack contains two ultra-thin, transparent vinyl with 10 twist pins to secure the vinyl to fabrics. With the extra-large design and customization, you can use both pieces to protect multiple furniture pieces. The only downside is that it’s available in just one size and a 2-pack, so you may have to buy more than you need to protect small furniture pieces.
Pros
Durable
Thin and transparent
Can be customized to the size you need
Cons
Only available in one size
You might have guessed, this is our own product – but we love it so much we just have to share it, and hope you get to own one too!
2. Precious Tails Cat Scratching Sofa Guard Vegan Leather Furniture Protector – Best Value
The vegan leather adds a luxurious touch to the furniture protector, and the sisal fiber cover encourages scratching that keeps your cat engaged without destroying your furniture. It also wipes clean for easy maintenance. This furniture protector is ideal for couches and chairs but only covers the sides. It won’t protect your entire couch or other furniture, such as table legs or ottomans.
The Sofa-Scratcher Furniture Protector Squared Cat Scratching Post protects furniture while giving your cat an ideal scratching space. This scratching post is set at a 90-degree angle to protect the corners of furniture and comes with a low-profile base that slides under your furniture pieces quickly and easily. The surface is covered in contoured, sisal-covered panels that are fun for your cat to scratch and relieve pent-up energy.
Many cats that scratch go for the corners and bottom of furniture, which is exactly what this scratching post protects. It comes in a variety of colors, including ivory, beige, black, gray, brown, and moss (light green) to coordinate with your décor. Keep in mind that this protector only works for the corners of seating and similar furniture pieces—it won’t protect other surfaces.
CLAWGUARD Scratch Barrier & Dispenser Protection Tape is a versatile solution that’s perfect for kittens. The protective tape can be cut to size to fit multiple furniture pieces, including couches, chairs, table legs, and more. All you have to do is remove the tape liner and stick it to the surface you want to protect.
This tape leaves no residue behind when you remove it, so you don’t need to worry about damage to your furniture. Another benefit is that it protects your cat from splinters or injuries that may happen during aggressive scratching. However, it’s not recommended for antique or fragile furniture and may remove paint. Always test before use.
Sticky Paws Furniture Strips offer a quick and easy solution for destructive cats. Cats dislike the feeling of the sticky tape, so they learn not to claw or paw at your furniture. The medical-grade adhesive strips can be applied to furniture, countertops, screens, carpets, or other surfaces to discourage scratching. The strips leave no sticky residue, so they won’t damage your furniture.
When used as directed, the strips are harmless to cats and safe for your furniture. However, keep in mind that these strips may damage wood finishes, painted surfaces, leather, vinyl, microfiber, and wallpaper, so always spot test before use. They also won’t work with stain-repellent or non-stick surfaces. Sticky Paws shouldn’t be ingested. Some reviewers said their cats were able to remove the tape as well.
Stelucca Amazing Shields Cat Scratch Deterrent is a quick solution to destructive scratching and clawing. These transparent cat scratch pads discourage scratching and protect the fabric on your couch, chair, or ottoman. The extra-large sheets can be cut to fit the furniture easily.
To install, all you have to do is peel the backing from the pad and stick it to your furniture. These come with twist pins to secure the pads as well. It’s thick enough to prevent scratching but flexible enough for corners and awkward shapes. Note that these pads are not intended for faux or real leather as they can damage the upholstery. They’re only available in full sheets.
The Navaris Cat Scratch Mat Sofa Protector is designed to cover the sides and bottom of your furniture to protect it from clawing cats. One half of the protector features sisal and the other side has fabric that tucks over the armrest and beneath the seat cushion, offering full protection for the areas cats enjoy the most. The mat can be secured to the sofa legs with the attached hook-and-loop fastener.
With this protector, your cat can go to town without ruining your upholstery on the couch, sofa, or armchair. It also comes in a range of attractive gray and brown colors that blend in with your décor. You can also choose between configurations for the left or right side of your furniture. Several reviewers mentioned that it’s difficult to attach and secure to their furniture, however.
Pros
Covers corners and bottom of furniture
Sisal and fabric
Range of color and configuration options
Cons
Difficult to attach and secure
Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Cat-Proof Furniture Piece
Cats can do a lot of damage to your furniture. Sometimes, a corner protector isn’t enough to tackle scratching, clawing, fur, and accidents. Along with furniture protectors, there are some furniture options that offer a safeguard against destructive cats.
Leather: This is the best choice to protect from cat scratches, spills, or furballs. Leather is easy to wipe off and doesn’t hold stray hairs, not to mention that it’s a snap to clean if your cat coughs up a hairball. It will take damage from constant scratching, however. You may want to combine leather seating with some of the cat-proof furniture protectors to keep your home looking nice.
Faux leather: Like real leather, faux leather is easy to clean. In fact, it may even be easier since it’s not as temperamental as real leather—you can use just about anything on plastic. It’s also easy to wipe down and doesn’t attract hair. The downside is that faux leather will show scratches, so it’s best to combine faux leather with furniture protectors or deterrents.
Velvet: When it comes to standing up to clawing and scratching, velvet is about as good as it gets. It can tolerate a lot of abuse without showing the damage. The downside is that velvet is difficult to clean, and cat hair will stick to it.
Microfiber: If you prefer fabric for couches and chairs but you don’t like velvet, microfiber is a good option. Microfiber comes in a variety of colors, styles, and sizes, so you can either buy seating made of microfiber or a high-quality microfiber cover. It will hold up to moderate scratching, but it does attract hair. It’s also difficult to clean unless you get a washable furniture cover.
Combining cat-friendly fabrics with furniture protectors is likely your best option for keeping your furniture safe from destructive cats. With one of these options, you can use a corner or side protector, tape, or a corner scratching post to protect the areas your cat scratches the most.
You should also provide your cat with scratching posts, scratching mats, or cat trees with scratching areas. If your cat has its own space to release energy and get some exercise, it’s less likely to take it out on your furniture.
Or, if you're thinking of getting your cat something a little different, that entices play and looks like a modern piece of furniture in your home, you might think about giving our Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher a try! Its curved design targets a full range of motion, and with three height configurations and a durable design, you can be sure your cat is getting the exercise, height, and adventure they naturally desire.
Click here to learn more about our innovative, functional, and funky, Hi-Lo cat scratcher.
Conclusion
Living with a cat comes with some concessions, including choosing the right furniture and cat-proofing to protect both your pet and your décor. Based on reviews, our top pick is Hepper Cat Furniture Protector, which attaches to virtually any piece of furniture to protect against clawing.
