short term decorating for cat lady

9 years ago

I'm not exactly a cat lady, but the cat is my number one consideration as I
decide what to do about my condo. Currently I have a leather couch and love
seat that have absolutely been destroyed by my cat (down to the stuffing in
some parts). I am planning on selling the condo and moving in with my boyfriend
in about a year or so. I will not be taking any furniture with me since he has
a fully furnished house. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

My instinct was to just live with the destroyed furniture until I sell, but
they are in such disrepair I don't know if I can live like that for another
year. I am thinking of getting rid of them now and buying a low cost sofa and
arm chair that I would sell or give away when I leave.

Any suggestions on what I should get? I will trim my cat's claws and attempt
to put on claw covers (I'm sure he won't take to them), but I don't want to buy
a whole new set only to have them destroyed within a few months again. I can no
longer invite anyone over because of the decrepit look of my space. Has anyone
found a good solution for this?

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Comments (12)

violetwest
9 years ago
slipcovers? linen sheets covered and tucked?

make sure your cat has acceptable alternatives for clawing; i.e., cardboard scratchers, sisal columns
User
9 years ago
It seems silly to buy new or even good condition used under the circumstances. I would run with Violets suggestion to just cover them and then use this next year to focus on training the cat to claw on things that are meant to be clawed. It's not easy to do, but it can be done if you are consistent in your training.
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mimivac
Original Author
9 years ago
Slip covers are a great idea. Thanks. lukkiirish, he is 15, so maybe too old for training at this point? He has beautiful sisal scratching columns that have gone totally unused. I even tried spraying them with cap nip and he only sniffed at it and walked away.
Olychick
9 years ago
Will slipcovers work on leather furniture? I'd think they would slip around all over the place. He may be totally unattracted to non-leather furniture, so another option would be to find an attractive couch on CL...they are so inexpensive sometimes for decent pieces. I'd just make sure it didn't come from another home with a cat, so your cat won't try to mark the new one as "his" rather than another cats. When you first get it, maybe spray it with an indoor cat repellent to increase your chances of him staying away.
gsciencechick
9 years ago
I have successfully used Surefit slipcovers. I recommend dark colors and ones with a high spandex count. Or, if you live near an Ikea, you could get an inexpensive Ikea sofa.
User
9 years ago
Well, 15 is pretty senior, lol. We had a cat we lost when he was 22, we had to do some training when he was 15ish, he was in a new environment and did fairly well but seniors can be tough for sure.
mimivac
Original Author
9 years ago
I will look into the Surefit covers, gsiencechick .

Glad you were able to train your 15-year old, lukkiirish. That's encouraging. My cat is very anxious (he seems to have an existential crisis every week) and hates anything new, but I will try.
carolv90
9 years ago
What has worked for our family and 4 cats is a double futon in a nice wooden frame. None of my cats have ever had any interest in scratching it. Previously my upholstered furniture was fair game and they made a mess of it. I do have a designated scratching post in a couple rooms, the cardboard ones. The futon isn't as comfortable as a regular couch, but I buy washable covers for it and it has served us well for the cats and also my son who is allergic to dust mites. Good luck with your pets!
User
9 years ago
I'd check craigslist for something cheap in the meantime. At age 15, I don't know if I'd try the claw covers/Soft Paws route. Every cat is different, but we tried it on our one cat when he was 5 and he chewed/tore them all off in about 1.5 hours. He was ok, but tearing at them like that isn't good.
missymoo12
9 years ago
Just a suggestion for your cat; try an actual wood log with the bark left on it. Several of my cats have preferred it over anything, including catnipped cardboard whatever. I found out by the cats choosing this on their own by pulling the firewood off the hearth. I finally just laid a few down on a boot tray wedged together so they wouldn't roll and the cats LOVED it. Even my old girl who has since died couldn't resist. Sprinkle some real catnip weeds over it and I bet your old guy will love it too.

When we moved to this little farmhouse we did not have a wood burning anything so the cats found my antique wood ammo box that I used as a magazine catcher. Now those old cats have died and the two new babies, 8mo, have found the ammo box and it is their scratcher. No furniture scratched up by the new guys.

I think they like things their claws will actually catch in. They are leaving scent that way and marking their place.

At least try this before you get new furniture.
Bunny
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Being a cat lady isn't necessarily based on the number of cats in the house. I have two and am an unapologetic cat lady. I dote on them. Despite being indoor-only, they don't scratch up the furniture, thanks to multiple sisal columns that they shred to death and the judicious use of Sticky Paws tape on furniture. I understand that your cat is 15 and may not be amenable to training. At 15, I wouldn't expect too much. I wouldn't bother getting new stuff, since you plan to move soon and not take it with you. I'd try slip covers or linen sheets as someone else suggested.
Errant_gw
9 years ago
What do you plan on doing with your cat when you do move?

short term decorating for cat lady

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