7 Best Cat-Proof Couches, Tested and Reviewed by Our Team’s Felines

OLIVIA HANSON FOR RD.COM OLIVIA HANSON FOR RD.COM

Best overall

Pottery Barn York Slope Arm Slipcovered Couch

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There’s a lot to love about the Pottery Barn’s York slope arm slipcovered sofa, especially for those with pets or children. Not only is the silhouette incredibly versatile with various design styles, but the sofa is totally customizable in terms of width, cushion type and material. Because this sofa features a slipcover, you can remove and launder most of its material quite easily. Our tester, Olivia Hanson, agrees.

Hanson, who shares her home with a Siamese cat and a giant Maine Coon cat, has replaced her fair share of furniture thanks to her serial scratchers. “While the two are complete opposites in terms of size and personality, they’re both guilty of ruining previous furniture of mine with their claws in a matter of weeks,” she writes in her full Pottery Barn York sofa review. Since the Pottery Barn York Sofa features washable and replaceable slipcovers made of strong performance fabric, Hanson decided it was worth a try. She wasn’t disappointed!

According to Hanson, this couch is supportive yet comfortable, thanks to its down-blend fill and soft fabric. “You can choose between bench, two-cushion and three-cushion styles and two cushion fill options. There are also hundreds of fabrics and colors for a truly personalized feel,” she says. “But the shining feature is that it has removable, washable and replaceable slipcovers for easy cleaning and to keep your couch looking like new.”

Hanson has enjoyed relaxing on this couch. “The down-blend fill is comfortable enough to both sit and sleep on it for hours. That comfort doesn’t take away from its support, though. It feels high quality, and like it’ll stand the test of time. The same goes for the fabric. It’s soft enough against the skin while also being incredibly durable,” she says. But the same can’t be said for her Maine Coon’s lounging. “Oliver isn’t as much attracted to sitting on it, which is a major benefit for me (because less pet hair cleaning),” Hanson says. Unlike Oliver, her Siamese cat, Coco, loves the new couch, but she finds it easy to remove the hair with her ChomChom roller.

While Pottery Barn furniture doesn’t come cheap, Hanson believes that this couch is worth the price. Especially because she can easily remove, wash and replace the slipcovers as needed. “It’s a big investment upfront, as many couches are, but there’s a reason for it. Its quality construction makes me confident that it’ll last for years to come,” she says.

MIRANDA MANIER FOR RD.COM MIRANDA MANIER FOR RD.COM

Best budget

Wade Logan Barrientez Upholstered Sleeper Sofa

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Finding the best cat-proof couch doesn’t have to break the bank, and that’s apparent with the Wade Logan Barrientez upholstered sleeper sofa. It’s a versatile couch that offers significant under-seat storage, doesn’t cling to cat hair and is a cinch to clean.

Miranda Manier, associate editor, spent several months sharing this couch with her cat. According to Manier, this couch was easy to assemble, thanks to its hook-and-eye connectors that slide into each other. And while she notes that it’s not especially soft or padded, it’s ideal for small spaces. “This couch is a great fit for a small apartment, not only because it can double as a guest bed, but it also has really significant under-seat storage,” she says.

After assembling the couch, Manier’s cat immediately decided to claim it as her own. “My cat likes to walk along the top of the couch or crawl underneath when the bed is pulled out,” says Manier. “She loves to curl up in the corners by the armrests, and she’s a big fan of scratching up the arms.”

Manier was pleased by how easy it was to keep this couch clean. “The couch is pretty good about not clinging to cat hair. I’m able to brush it off easily,” she says. And while her cat doesn’t have any hairball, vomiting or bathroom issues, Manier has had to clean up enough of her own spills to know that stains are easy to remove from this couch.

This couch, which is made with a linen blend fabric, may hold up well against stains and cat hair, but scratching is another story. According to Manier, her cat scratches the arms of this couch constantly, and it shows. But other than the arms, Manier says that the rest of the couch has held up quite well. “I would say it’s a decent value. It’s not a huge couch, and it’s not extraordinarily comfy, but it’s big enough for me and a couple of guests,” says Manier. “It’s a great guest bed option for small spaces, and the storage is unmatched.”

NINA DERWIN FOR RD.COM NINA DERWIN FOR RD.COM

Best velvet

Interior Define Maxwell 3-Seat Sofa

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Sharp claws and a long, thick coat make Zola, the feline owner of our tester, Nina Derwin, a worthy adversary for any couch. But after purchasing her first home, Derwin didn’t want just any old couch. She wanted something that could stand up to her 13-year-old cat and still enhance her new living space. Her research led her to Interior Define’s Maxwell 3-seat sofa.

Interior Define makes quality sofas for anyone with cats, dogs or kids. The modern-meets-mid-century home goods brand takes pride in designing family-friendly yet interior design-worthy pieces of furniture for everyone. They even offer several kid- and pet-friendly fabrics, including nine cat-friendly options. The Maxwell 3-Seat Sofa, one of its bestsellers, is an excellent option for anyone desiring a velvet couch, as the Performance Plush Velvet is the perfect intersection of luxury and functionality.

The Maxwell can be completely customized to suit your needs and preferences. There are more than 150 upholstery options, more than 35 leg varieties, multiple lengths and depths for each piece, and various seat cushion fills to choose from. According to Derwin, having a vast array of choices can make it more difficult to make a decision. “I knew I wanted performance velvet because of all of its cat-friendly benefits, but there were so many colors that I found it hard to decide,” she writes in her Interior Define Sofa review. “I’m only 5 feet tall, so choosing the standard depth was easy. The legs, however, were an entirely different story. I don’t think I’ve ever paid much attention to couch legs, but suddenly, I was faced with more than a dozen options.”

Once she settled on her dream couch, Derwin placed her order and waited for delivery. Since each couch is custom-made to order, the standard delivery window is 10 to 12 weeks. “From the day I ordered my couch to the day it arrived was almost exactly 10 weeks,” writes Derwin. She was pleasantly surprised when the couch arrived fully assembled, except for the legs, which the white-glove delivery team attached once they got the couch inside. Derwin was immediately impressed by its soft-to-the-touch feel, chic design and bright white color. She was delighted to find that the couch was as comfortable as it was beautiful. Zola seemed to agree and immediately curled up in a ball right in the center of the sofa’s middle seat cushion. She hasn’t strayed far from it since.

After weeks of watching her cat lounge and knead at the new couch, Derwin believed it was only a matter of time before she sunk her claws into it. Thankfully, she was wrong. “I am truly surprised, yet impressed, that the performance velvet is living up to all of the ‘cat-proof’ hype,” she writes. “If she’s tried it even once, I haven’t noticed. There’s not a claw mark on it, and I am optimistic it might stay that way for the foreseeable future.”

Derwin, who settled on a bright white couch, was also surprised by how easy it was to keep clean. “All of the visible cat hair comes off in just one swipe of my reusable lint roller or one pass with my Tineco pet hair-friendly vacuum cleaner,” she explains. That’s because the performance velvet material she chose has short threads and a minimal pile, which means it releases pet hair easily instead of trapping it the way many other materials do. Not only that, but it’s also stain-resistant and liquid-resistant, making it easy to clean should there be any hairballs or accidents.

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Best for small spaces

Burrow Block Nomad Sofa Sectional

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Product testing manager Annamarie Higley is mom to Winona, a mostly white cat who lives to scratch. Direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand Burrow takes making cat-proof couches so seriously that they even 3D-printed a claw and ran it against the fabric thousands of times to ensure it is both scratch- and stain-resistant. Higley had to see if it could stand up to Winona and ordered the Burrow Block Nomad sofa sectional in dark gray fabric with walnut legs and square armrests. She notes that the chaise can be installed on the right or left side, or it can be removed altogether and replaced by a third standard cushioned seat.

Higley found that assembly was straightforward, and this couch took between 60 and 90 minutes to build. However, she did struggle with the lever system that clamps together pieces like the backrests and armrests. “It’s a good concept, in theory, but a remarkable amount of force is required to lock them in, and my boyfriend pinched himself a couple of times in the process,” explains Higley.

Higley loves the way this couch looked in her home, especially since she had given up on her dream of owning a sectional due to the spatial constraints of her apartment. “I would recommend this couch to other apartment dwellers, too, because it’s incredibly reasonably sized for a sectional,” she raves. And while she admits that this isn’t a couch you can sink into, she insists that this couch is comfier than it looks. “The cushions, albeit thin, have quite a bit of give to them, so they’re pleasant, even for hours’ worth of sitting, and the angled backrests and cushions offer a decent amount of low-back support,” she explains. “Additionally, so much of why it’s comfortable to my boyfriend and me is that it’s spacious. We can comfortably lounge and laze on this couch together (with Winnie, too!), and there’s still room to spare.”

Speaking of Winona, who Higley affectionately refers to as a Certified Scratcher, it goes without saying that this Burrow couch was really put to the test. Winona religiously scratched the arms of this couch for months. While there was some wear and tear, Higley found that the damage was not nearly as noticeable of the damage that her last couch incurred. “I think the darker fabric, with its corrugation, helped conceal the tears, but the fabric did also just generally seem a bit more scratch-resistant than a standard couch,” she says. “It looks great still, especially after some sprucing, but a keen observer might notice the scratches on the arms and the sporadic cat hairs.”

Something you may want to consider before buying this couch is the fact that you’ll likely have to invest in a good pet hair remover. Although Burrow recommends a vacuum and a lint roller, Higley found that she was only able to remove about 90% of Winona’s white fur with her vacuum. “Winnie marks the corners of this couch a lot, so there’s a more significant buildup of hair on the corners and edges, and the fur is much harder to clean with the vacuum on those spots than, say, the cushions,” she says. The lint roller was ineffective when it came to removing stray cat hairs.

Another thing that really impressed Higley was how easy this couch is to clean. Over the course of several months, Higley had to spot-clean some sour cream and a hairball. “Super pleased with how this cleaned up. I could see the spot scrubbing off pretty immediately with the towel,” says Higley when describing the sour cream spill.

Overall, Higley deems this pet-friendly couch a worthy addition to a home or apartment. “Winnie was able to have her way with this couch a bit, but it still looks totally presentable, especially after I trimmed some of the frayed strands and used a fabric shaver over the area. And it still serves as an attractive statement piece in our living room,” she raves.

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Best leather

25Home Modern Leather Sectional

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Leather couches can be a particularly hefty investment, which is why it’s important you find the right one. We tested the 25Home leather sectional, and we can assure you that this is one purchase you won’t regret. Not only is it available in a variety of sizes and configurations, but it’s made of durable and puncture-resistant leather that stands up to even the most ardent scratchers.

Caroline Lubinsky, senior shopping editor, ordered the 100-inch right option for her second-floor apartment and couldn’t be happier with it. In fact, after a year, Lubinsky reports that the couch is adequately broken in and quite comfy. More importantly, it has held up well to a gray cat named Sprinkles. “Sprinkles has not punctured the couch with her claws, so it truly does stand up to the claim of being puncture-proof,” she says.

Additionally, Lubinsky points out that the coating used on the leather makes it incredibly easy to clean. After accidentally spilling her coffee on her new beige couch, she was able to quickly wipe it up without any remaining residue or staining. “I think this is an especially nice perk for folks who have messy kids or dirty pets because you can easily clean anything up without ruining the leather,” says Lubinsky in this review on the best sectional sofas.

The only thing you should take into consideration before buying this couch is the delivery. Lubinsky, who lives on the second floor of an apartment building, paid for white-glove delivery service, which includes delivery to floors one to three (higher floors are subject to an additional charge). However, the delivery person would not bring it up a flight of stairs. While Lubinsky was fortunate enough to recruit some friendly neighbors to help get it up to her apartment, the delivery process ended up being much more difficult than she had anticipated.

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Most comfortable

Albany Park Kova Pit Sectional

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If you want a couch you can really sink into, look no further than the Albany Park Kova Pit sectional. This cozy couch features oversized, cloud-like cushions that associate editor Emily Way describes as “sink-in-and-immediately-fall-asleep soft.” It also has multiple configurations. It can be assembled in the intended U-shape or as a longer couch. You can even add a storage ottoman to hold all of your extra pillows and blankets because, trust us, you’ll be spending a lot of time on this comfy couch.

This couch is offered in four different fabric types—velvet, soft bouclé, polyester and a stain-resistant and waterproof performance option—and 13 color choices. Way opted for the jewel-toned velvet fabric.

There are no in-home delivery options available, so Way had to enlist the help of movers to bring the eight sizable boxes up to her third-floor apartment. Two hours later, she had her couch fully assembled into a long L-shape to best fit her living room and was ready to dive in—though she wasn’t the only one. “The second I finished building it, my cats claimed it as their own,” writes Way in her detailed Albany Park sectional review.

According to Way, the velvet is pretty dense, which gives it a bit of a water-resistant finish. “I was even able to clean up cat vomit that sat overnight with nary a speck remaining, which in and of itself is miraculous,” she writes. That said, Way notes that the velvet material does little to repel cat hair. “My cats delight in spreading their multicolored fur all over this couch,” she quips. Fortunately, a few passes with a handheld vacuum once a week does the trick and keeps her couch looking brand new.

A year later, Way and her cats have spent countless hours lounging on this couch. She’s also moved, so she has had to disassemble and reassemble it. After all is said and done, Way insists that this cat-proof couch is worth buying. “This really is an excellent couch that has held up well against cat claws, spills and pet fur,” she says. Better yet, her cats don’t try to use it as their scratching post. “While this may not be the case for everyone, I’ve found that my kitties tend to avoid scratching on the velvet upholstery,” she explains, adding that this is likely not the case for their other available fabrics, particularly the bouclé, which her cats love to tear through. 

Allison Robicelli For Rd.com ALLISON ROBICELLI FOR RD.COM

Most durable

7th Avenue 4-Seat Modular Corner Sectional

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With four cats and a couple of teenage boys in the house, our tester, Allison Robicelli, has been through a lot of couches. She decided that it was finally time to invest in a couch that could meet the demands of her family and opted to test the 7th Avenue 4-seat modular corner sectional. And while this couch costs a pretty penny, Robicelli feels that it’s worth it.

She was impressed by this couch immediately after it was delivered, noting that in spite of its size, it was much easier to assemble than any couch she had ever purchased from Ikea or Wayfair. She and her son were able to assemble it themselves in an hour, though she adds that 7th Avenue will also coordinate assembly for an additional charge. Right away, she also appreciated the couch’s simple, utilitarian design, which makes it especially easy to style with blankets or throw pillows. But what really delighted Robicelli was how comfortable this couch is. “This is the most comfortable couch I’ve ever owned,” she raves. “The seats are not too hard, not too soft. I opted for extra-firm for the pillows, which meant the company sent me a bag of extra fill I could add myself as I saw fit. I used all of it, since I have large teenage boys and knew this couch would take a beating. Even with the fill, it feels durable, but not ‘hard.'”

This couch comes in three fabrics—textured weave, crossweave and performance velvet—and 10 colors. Robicelli opted for the performance velvet in cobalt blue. And while she admits that the couch is covered in cat hair thanks to one cat in particular, she is able to remove it quickly and easily, thanks to an inexpensive Amazon pet hair remover. Moreover, her cats sleep, play and scratch all over this couch, and after months of use and abuse, it shows no signs of wear. “There’s no trace of any damage—yet. You can’t see a single scratch mark or even pilling on the fabric where they’re trying to grab,” says Robicelli. “It’s been about two months, and it looks brand new.”

Robicelli’s cats aren’t the only ones who are rough on her couch. Thanks to her teenage sons, this couch has seen all sorts of spills. Luckily, Robicelli has been able to remove each of them with little more than a damp towel. “You can also remove the slipcovers and machine wash, but we’ve yet to face a spill that couldn’t be managed with spot cleaning,” she adds.

Overall, Robicelli feels that this couch is worth the splurge. “My cats and sons can destroy anything,” she says. “The last sectional I bought lasted only about a year before it looked like garbage. “Time will tell, but this seems to be a couch that’s built to go the distance.” And if her cats do manage to tear the fabric, Robicelli isn’t worried. “The slipcovers can easily be replaced, and their claws can only do superficial damage,” she says.

What to look for when buying a cat-proof couch

Couches are an investment, so there are a few things you should consider before making your purchase, especially when you have a pet in the home:

• Price: Start by figuring out your budget for a new couch. The couches on our list range from under $500 to several thousand dollars. If you want to be sure you’re getting the best deal possible, make sure you know the best times to buy furniture and take advantage of any sales.
• Fabric: Some couches have multiple fabric options. Consider a performance fabric or leather sofa that’s easy to clean. You can also look for couches with removable cushion covers or slipcovers that you can toss in the wash as needed. Additionally, consider buying a couch made of velvet, microfiber, or some performance fabric. These fabrics don’t have pullable fibers, which makes them better for cats who like to scratch.
• Size and configurations: Measure your space before ordering a couch to ensure it’ll fit. Not sure exactly what you’re looking for? Opt for a couch with multiple configuration options.

How we chose the best cat-proof couches

As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. For this article, we selected couches from reputable brands and sent them to the homes of our cat-loving editors and testers. Our testers assessed everything from the ordering process and delivery to assembly and comfort. They paid special attention to how well each couch fared when used as a bed and scratching post by their feline companions and how easy each couch was to clean.

After several months of testing, each tester provided detailed feedback on their experience. We used that insight to create this list of the best cat-proof couches.

FAQ

Why do cats scratch furniture?

According to Matthew McCarthy, DVM, founder, owner and veterinarian at Juniper Valley Animal Hospital, scratching your couch may be destructive and inconvenient, but it’s completely normal and performed for a few reasons. “It is a self-grooming behavior that helps to remove the old outer, frayed parts of their nails from their claws,” explains McCarthy. “Additionally, the stretching of the legs and trunk helps limber them up in preparation for hunting, even if the biggest prey they’ve seen lately was a dust bunny or an annoying red dot. Finally, it serves as an important means of communication for cats by leaving a visual and scented mark everywhere that they scratch.”

How can you keep cats from scratching furniture?

O’Callaghan recommends providing cats with appropriate alternatives, such as scratching posts or pads near the furniture they usually target. You can also make the furniture less appealing by using covers, double-sided tape or sprays that deter scratching. She adds that keeping your cat’s claws trimmed and offering regular enrichment and play can reduce their need to scratch furniture.

McCarthy says that plastic nail caps can blunt a cat’s scratching capability. “These caps, which are non-toxic if swallowed by your cat, typically need to be replaced every four to six weeks and may also require a trip to a groomer or veterinarian to be applied,” he explains.

What type of couch fabric is best for cat owners?

Some fabrics are more resistant to cat scratches. According to O’Callaghan, microfiber, microsuede and leather are generally better choices because they are less likely to snag or show damage. “Fabrics with a tight weave are also less appealing for cats to scratch. Avoid loose-weave fabrics like linen or tweed, which are easier for cats to sink their claws into,” she advises.

Why you should trust us

Here at Reader’s Digest, we love our cats. But spending hours cleaning up cat hair or constantly coughing up money for new furniture because of their scratching? Those are things we definitely don’t love. That’s why we’re constantly researching and testing things like the best vacuums for pet hair, pet stain removers, carpet cleaners for pet messes and cat-proof couches. When we find a winning product, nothing excites us more than sharing it with our readers. The best cat-proof couches that made this list have been tested by our editors and testers, all of whom have years of experience in the commerce space, and their cats to see how well they hold up to cat hair, scratching, hairballs and other messes. These couches are the best of the best and a smart buy for any cat owner.

To dive into why our furry friends do what they do, aka scratch at furniture, we turned to Eliza O’Callaghan, DVM at Small Door Veterinary, and Matthew McCarthy, DVM, founder, owner and veterinarian at Juniper Valley Animal Hospital, for insight.