Our cats view our rush chairs as a scratch post. We bought replacement chairs in a different material and gave the rush ones to the cats.

I know our cats would have a party with the chairs. No, I would not use those. I do like the blue, though!

If you find a chair you like, you can hopefully recover the seat if need be.

My cats would be in scratching post heaven. Because that's what they'd think I bought for them.

I have some wicker furniture. OMG. Talk about in love! They scratch and scratch. It's how they strengthen their muscles and trim their claws. It's cat nature.

However, I won't be buying wicker again.

My rugs are also rolled up. They think carpet is a huge scratching post, too. Given the fact so many are covered with carpeting? I can see it. My other cat just sees carpet as a giant litter box. Nooooo...

I'd try something else, or make a cushion blocking the rush from them. Kinda defeats the purpose.

Christine

Yes on the blue.

Cats? Hmmm. I think you can outsmart them. Before you bring the chairs in, attach some sachets of mothballs. Keep your nose plugged and the sachets filled until the cats believe the chairs are evil.

Maybe get just one to test it out. And put out one of those cardboard messy catscratchers too.

On cats and scratching: we discovered by accident our foster cat's favorite scratching material - and he can't hurt it! We put Waterhog mats from LL Bean in front of all our doors:

• 
  = :-)

Honestly, the mat isn't least bothered by his attention, no snags, nothing visible at all except bits of shed claws. Since he's been working on the mats, he leaves everything else alone. He did have a go at the new rug and scraped up a pile of fuzz, but it evidently wasn't as satisfying as the mats because he hasn't bothered with the rug since the initial trial. He's even leaving the bathroom bath mats alone. Woo hoo!

Great tip Suzannesl, I'll have to get one of those waterhog mats.

Lottie, if your husband needs a chair back I bet comfort is of utmost importance for him. My friend had a swivel upholstered chair that was so comfortable. It had comfort in the lumbar area. I really focus on comfort when I buy chairs and will sit in dozens and critique each one. We used to have a shop in Des Moines that had game room furnishings. They had a million counter and bar height stools. Take a look for stools in that type of shop before making your decisions.

suzanne-def going to look into the LL Bean mats. Enduring thanks for the game room furnishing tip-I'll see if there is one in our area. All the chairs I've tried in the furniture-dinette stores are around 200 to 300.00-too pricey for us at this time.

Everyone above-thanks for confirming what I thought-Rush and cats do not mix. Really like the chairs but I've learned my lesson-it's not all about what you love!

How about the Shaker chair below? It has tape instead of rushing and they are well within our price range. Has anyone sat in one? I'd love to try one and see if they are comfortable but they are in the Gaithersburg Maryland area and the chairs are not refundable.

Open to suggestions for comfortable,cat proof chairs that will fit in the small space between my peninsula and dining area. My DH is against stools-but I could prob. order two stools and two chairs. He does not need a big chair-he's quite slim. :)

I'm going to look into those mats too - my one cat is shredding the rug in the entry way.

As to bar stools and cats - mine think they are raised beds.

In my experience, cats view stools as personal thrones and wicker/rush as a superb scratching material. Unless you can over the seats with a thin cushion or plastic I think you are setting yourself up for some major conflict.

Love the picture! Beautiful cats. I'm sold-no rush seats. Back to the drawing board. Chair suggestions for small space?

Please don't use mothballs. Mothballs containing naphthalene are toxic to cats, and dogs too.

We have several Waterhog mats and our cats have never used them for scratching.

We have two cats who are not shy about scratching just about any surface in our home. We have stools similar to those I've linked below, with the cushion on top. The cats do sit on the cushions, but leave the rush seats alone.

Here is a link that might be useful: possible counter stools

I had no idea that kitties like to scratch rush seats.
It has been a long time since I have had a cat. I miss my
Lucy.
Anyway, I had rush seat kitchen chairs that I covered
with fabric. Could you cover them with batting and fabric?
I think the cats need a cushioned place to sleep.
: )

If covering the rush is too challenging, and trust me it
can be. Maybe one of these could work.

Covered rush with fabric

Pottery Barn

These below are from Target

And I had to post this cute image. Not my dog
but I know this dog must be loved.
~boxer