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We have all heard the familiar horror story about a precious pet ruining a piece of much loved furniture. You come home from a long, hard days work, set down your things, and what do you see? Rex is resting innocently atop a mound of stuffing next to your shredded couch cushions. Unfortunately, it is difficult to imagine the multiple pet versus furniture disasters that may occur in our homes until after they have actually happened. Provided below is a brief description of several ways to protect your various home furnishings and potentially prevent future damage.

Of course, sweet little kitties and cute little doggies are the main culprits when it comes to furniture damage. The most prominent issue with cats is their tendency to scratch, scratch, scratch! Cats love to dig into resistant material because it sharpens their claws and stretches their bodies. Upholstered couches and chairs are usually the first type of furniture that comes to mind, however, permanently upholstered furniture is not the only kind subject to those mischievous kitties. My cats have jumped from the counter to the table and scratched the finished wood surface in an effort to steady themselves.

The most effective way to deter cats from scratching is by placing sticky tape over top of any surface you want to remain scratch free. Essentially, it is a form of training because they learn to avoid the areas where the tape is placed. Most pet stores sell a clear, barely visible, double sided sticky tape. Place the tape on couch corners, chair corners and any other material covered furniture like futons and bean bags to prevent your cats from ruining the materials. Aside from the scratching, if you simply prefer that your cats not roam the top of your counters and tables, they will no longer want to once they realize they are covered with that annoying, sticky tape!

Unlike scratching, it is basically impossible to prevent peeing, slobbering and shedding common to both dogs and cats alike. Of course, we can train our animals not to jump up onto our furniture, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. To protect upholstered furniture from pee and slobber, scotchguarding may be the best option. Otherwise, you might end up like Grandma with plastic covering over all of your furniture! In terms of bedding, Pillows Plus makes a terry cloth like material mattress cover that goes on like a fitted sheet. A waterproof layer protects against spills, urine and sweat while the natural, 100% all cotton surface is breathable and washable. Another option, is the Night Watch soft vinyl mattress cover. Unlike the Pillows Plus, which will have to be removed every time you flip your mattress or an accident occurs, this vinyl protective cover can stay on all the time and doesn’t have to be removed for cleaning. It protects from spills and stains, combats allergies, keeps your mattress clean and fresh and easily wipes clean with a damp cloth.

The final issue to address is how to deal with the constant shedding of your furry friend. As a preventative measure, the best thing to do is brush your cat or dog outdoors AT LEAST once a day. If you have a particularly fluffy cat or dog who sheds a lot, I would recommend brushing even more often. There are also all sorts of foods and supplements you may want to consider to help reduce shedding from the start. In terms of hair removal, vacuuming and lint rollers are truly the two best options. Otherwise, consider putting some decorative throw blankets on top of your couches and chairs to trap the hair and then throw them in the washing machine.As a pet owner and a pet lover, the ideas outlined above are a few of the methods I have come across that are helpful for creating harmony among your furniture and animals. Every pet and every household is different, so be sure to find a combination of methods that is perfectly suited to your situation.

Posted on May 8th, 2008 by jen
Filed under: Futon News