How big a dog? Shade would be helpful I should think. I like Mesquite trees. I like hardscape for the civilized desert look so raised beds work to add interest, make gardening easier and generally dogs stay out of them. I like Pergola type deals too. A pondless water feature is very nice imo for a civilized desert look and the dog would always be able to have a drink. Some like to lay in them to cool off. For the ground I like decomposed granite. Dogs don't seem to mind walking on it and they don't seem interested in digging in it, but that depends on the dog. My dog likes to dig in soil with compost for the smell I think. Manure is like cat nip to them. No interest in dry clay covered with decomposed granite. Their feet don't get too muddy in it. Not really a desert look but fake grass as come a long way. My neighbor just installed some for her boxers. A cat friendly backyard is one a cat never goes into imo. Just because cats roam widely and generally it's just a question of time before a car, dog, other cat, or whatever gets them. But if you really want the cat outside I can tell you they love water features that attract birds. Cats love to kill stuff so that's always fun. Some cats like fish ponds, but others seem to show no interest. If you want more of a lush civilized desert look you can do bog beds which are basically small ponds filled with soil. Plants that like wet feet can then be planted. Very low water use and you get impressive plants and flowers with very little effort. Plants stay contained. In AZ I've tried Canna and sedges and both worked very well. There are others too.

I have cats and birds, but I provide lots of thick shrubs and small fruit trees, along with big shrub roses and herbs to give the birds some 'cover'. Cats like catmint, which will grow very well by squashes and melons. Along with radishes, catmint is supposed to bring in beneficial pollinators and help discourage 'bad' bugs. The kitties will probably enjoy it, too. If you don't want the cats too silly, don't break the catmint. Once the branches break, the cats can get a bit carried away and actually kill the plant. My cats also like pathways through the garden. They make them, themselves, often between the rose bushes and the herbs I have growing in front of the, to discourage the deer. Any cool, shady spot is fun for kitty, too :) Oh, and there are lists of toxic plants for cats, dogs and horses on the Internet. I'd consult that, too!

Congratulations on your new baby! I know about this problem very well. The best fabrics for cat houses (I intended that...) is a hard smooth cotton chintz. Next best is cotton velvet, and then microfiber/ultrasuede. Anything coarse with a large thread is doomed. Goodbye, beautiful linen....! As noted, leather holds up well with proper care. You can use Sticky Paws double-sided adhesive strips to keep her from getting in the habit of working on the spots you most want to protect, but it may not be safe for good leather. The label will tell you. Cats like edges and corners best. Get your vet to show you how to clip her claws correctly, and then get in the habit of keeping them trimmed. She'll still need to scratch, but not with such sharpness and frequency. When you catch her scratching the wrong thing, very gently take her little feet and move her to the thing you want her to use. Some people say shout "NO!" - but I can promise you that it will only make her avoid you and not care what you want. The gentler you are with her, the more she will cooperate with what you want. And lower your standards a little bit! Cats are cats, and declawing is really ten little amputations of the last joint of their fingers. They need to scratch to work the muscles of their shoulders and front legs because they are climbing animals and need to be strong. Some cats who have been declawed are fearful and tend to bite, because they know they can't use their natural defense of climbing to escape. (Way more than you asked. It's my character flaw....)

Thanks for all the suggestions! They mainly attack my plants at night, and since my apartment is small I can't really keep them out of the room when I'm not around. My plants are on a windowsill, so they get trampled when moths show up. @Photo Synthesis, that's too funny about not wanting the cords once they're dead. They're no fun once they stop fighting back lol. That's my fear about fake plants too, one of my cats just loves chewing on and eating plastic. I'd rather keep replacing plants that are beaten up and munched on than dealing with the vet bills from a stomach full of plastic. The funny thing is, I have a small balcony garden and the cats don't bother my rose or tomatoes at all. Even the little catnip and catmint garden doesn't take quite the beating any indoor plants get. I've seen the feliway sprayers that are compressed air with a motion detector, so that might have to be what I try next. I also thought about this air cannon thing called the Airzooka that got lost in a move a few years ago that scared the bejeezus out of my mom's cats. If I could find another one that might scare them off permanently. Either way, lots of good ideas to try before throwing out my succulents. Thanks again everyone!