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bpath

I love my cats, I love my cats, I'm going to strangle my cats

7 years ago

Took the microfiber Sure-Fit slipcovers off my two chairs today. Microfiber, because cats dont like to scratch it, right? Right. They like to sneak UNDER the slipcovers for the much-more-satisfying upholstery.




Comments (35)

  • 7 years ago
  • 7 years ago

    They have a variety of scratching posts, though not that one. I put Sticky Paws on a new piece, they just scratched where the tape wasn't. Yes, I clip their nails.

  • 7 years ago

    Holy $***. Did you not know this was happening until you took the slipcover off?

  • 7 years ago

    I don't know why he likes that one so much. It is one of the cheaper ones and I don't use the catnip that comes with it. It is from China and I don't trust the companies. He is getting a new one for Christmas.

  • 7 years ago

    Sneaky little jerks. Aren't they lucky they're cute?

  • 7 years ago

    Bunny, I did not know! They must do it at night? I moved all the furniture to vacuum, damp-mop, get the corners and all, and while I usually just vacuum the slipcovers I took them off to wash, only to find THIS disaster. And because I moved the chairs, I saw the stuffing that had fallen under them.

    I've been a bad housekeeper the last year or two, with all that's been going on with my parents, and this is just one more result of it all. I'm debating whether it's worth reupholstering (I have a guy) or if I should just get new. But what would I cover them with? And these are so comfortable. I just hate furniture shopping (yes, I blaspheme, too).

  • 7 years ago

    I don't use the catnip now, because the jerk eats the catnip and cardboard if I use it and barfs it up.

  • 7 years ago

    I have the matching furniture. Good thing I love them

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Oh jeez, that's really bad. I'm fortunate to have had good results with Sticky Paws. The arm is a classic spot, but along the skirt? Maybe the piping sets them off.

    My cats tell me that's like Michelangelo.

  • 7 years ago

    Localeater, ha ha!

    We adopted the cats from a home where the elderly homeowner had passed away, the caregiver couldn't take them to her next assignment, and the daughters couldn't take them. The recliner chair in the corner looked almost like this, so I was fore-warned. But they were sooooo sweet! Hmmm, not feeling the love today. One is right now pawing at me to jump on my lap and get me all furry. Grr.

  • 7 years ago

    Bunny, the Sticky Paws DOES work, except where it isn't. Think I can get the whole chair upholstered in Sticky Paws?

    Oh, and I won't upholster in microfiber because their paws get caught in it and snag.

    Well, looks like were are all set for the next "this is why we can't have nice things" thread!

  • 7 years ago

    Sherry, I think the cats are getting that scratcher for Christmas...along with a lump of coal.

  • 7 years ago

    Oh, bpath, I'm so sorry! What sneaky little buggers. I have microfiber covered furniture that is 9 or 10 years old, and still looks pretty good, except the one corner that the really strong cat with enormous claws likes to use. It's starting to show its age.

    Sherry, those cardboard things make a huge mess! At least they do in my house. I have a sisal scratcher that our smaller cat loves, but George (the big strong guy) only gnaws on the corners.

    Donna

  • 7 years ago

    Oh yeah, HUGE mess! I had rather vacuum cardboard than look at destroyed furniture. Of course he doesn't like the ones that do not make a mess..... You can turn them upside down and beat on the floor to get more out when vacuuming. I also turn over in the tray to make it last a little longer.

  • 7 years ago

    OMG, but I agree with Fori -- almost art. Take it a half step further and you might start a new trend in fringed furniture. Not to make light, but there is nothing you can do at this point. My son had a roommate with 2 wild cats who did dastardly things to furniture. Sorry for your discovery.

  • 7 years ago

    Sisal post. flffbrtt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will not touch it. The one that is the sandy, stone one, nope.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I would not reupholster. I'd keep slipcovers and maybe patch the rough spots with fabric tape if they don't lay flat.

    I agree with Fori. If you get new I think they will just do it again. I keep slipcovers on all the time, I don't think there is anything wrong with doing that.

  • 7 years ago

    Holy smokes. Thanks for reminding me why I didn't get another cat when mine died. She was a sweetheart and only scratched a tree outside. I knew I'd never be as lucky to find another one like her.

  • 7 years ago

    Oh no! I think I'd do more than strangle the thing! Can you close doors, probably not if it's a living room.

  • 7 years ago

    I have 4 sisal scratching posts in my LR/DR. The cats tear those things to shreds. I've become adept at stripping old sisal and recovering them with new, thereby saving a buck or two, but inevitably I have to replace the whole post. Without the posts, they would dismantle my house.

  • 7 years ago

    All I can say is WOW!! And I guess that I sure wouldn't get anything reupholstered - better to just cover it up.

  • 7 years ago

    That is heartbreaking! So sad for you.

  • 7 years ago

    My last new sofa came at a very inopportune time. I was going on travel and didn't have the time to "cat proof" it (although I now strongly doubt those 2 words ever belong together). So, I left it securely wrapped in its plastic covering while I was away 5 days with a daily pet sitter on duty. I came home on the weekend looking forward to the unveiling, which was ruined by the stink of cat pee after removing the plastic kitty had tunneled under. Yep, between two cushions and the back. Stanley Steamer was able to get the odor out, but the sofa decking always had the stain. Luckily the upholstery fabric was very dark, so any stain couldn't be seen. However, by this point the cat was convinced it was her domain and she proceeded to scratch the front of one arm. After the cat left this world, I was able to use the fabric from the back of the sofa to redo the arm and replace the back with the same color fabric. I am now and will remain cat free after 40+ years of loving co-habitation with my former feline owners.


  • 7 years ago

    If it's any consolation, you have very intelligent kitties! To do the nasty out of plain sight is pure genius.

    I need to get some Sticky Paws. Charlie recently decided he liked my new chair more than just for lounging. The aluminum foil I'm using right now leaves a lot to be desired visually.


  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Well, Sticky Paws isn't much of an aesthetic improvement over foil, especially when it grabs the cat fur wafting through the house. And I need it to come in butcher-paper rolls, not duct-tape-width rolls!

  • 7 years ago

    Thinking I might as well just buy another scratching post. It's not like there's a shortage of them in this house, but none in the living room anymore. Heading to Petco on Friday.

  • 7 years ago

    One trick is to place the scratching post RIGHT BESIDE the furniture the cat is destroying. Try to attract the cat to the post through catnip, etc.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    And rub the post with catnip. This is our favorite post. It’s tall enough that they get a good stretch and no wobbling, even when my 20 pounder uses it.


    Amazon

    Bpath, I’m sorry but I hooted before I caught myself. That really is a sign of cat genius to reach under the slipcover.

  • 7 years ago

    Cattyles, that looks good, it even mimics the shape of the chair corner. Maybe I should drape a slipcover over it to make it even more enticing, since he/she seems to like that lol!

  • 7 years ago

    Oh bpath! I really am feeling your pain! I put some SureFit throw covers over my new sofas to dissuade my cat and have caught her going underneath them as well. I put throw pillows all around the bottoms before going to bed to try and keep that from happening in the night. But, I couldn’t have a house without kitties.

  • 7 years ago

    Oh no! When you put the slip covers back on either safety pin them down along the bottoms or use stick on velcro.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I feel for you bpath. They can be such little stinks. Some of by cats never scratched a thing, but into adorable Siamese tore into everything. I tried catnip on scratch posts, catnip on cardboard -- you name it.

    I see a couple of solutions. Along the artsy lines, you could take some strands of yarn and attach them to a sort of header to hold them together and then I fix that to the areas that are already gobstoppers (I spoke the word gouged up, but out came gob stoppers – whatever they are). Then the cats can just enjoy the rest of their days playing with already cut sections of yarn and he could be a conversation piece. Yes, another conversation piece.

    Or you can take something like plaster of Paris or wax and form a sort of shell over that area - like a cast, but in color. You can paint it or add different colors of wax or clay. I just saw one of these amaryllis bulbs in a clay-like "pot" molded over the bulb. It looked great. I bet something like that could actually look kind of cool along the edge of your couch -- like a molded pottery patch.

    Then there is another solution.

  • 7 years ago

    For the chair, or for the cats? Not the cats, that would just get blood on the carpet. Already had that problem, when one was accidentally locked out on the porch, and in trying to get back in pulled up the carpet and cut her paw on the tack strip. Little red trail led across the kitchen tile and up the carpeted stairs, on to DS's comforter.

    They are so lucky they are cute.

  • 7 years ago

    Cattyles, that's the one I got at Petco. They both went up to it right away. Hopefully, it does the trick.

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