Do Cats Ruin Velvet – Protecting Your Furniture

There are plenty of fabrics on the market, some of which are great for homes with cats and others that are not. One of the most popular fabrics currently is velvet. Recently, velvet couches and chairs have taken the home decor world by storm. It is not very hard to understand why; they look beautiful, luxurious, and timeless. But do they live up to the hype if you have pets? Or will they be another furniture regret once your cat finds it? Do cats ruin velvet?

Typically no, cats do not ruin velvet. However, while cats may not scratch velvet, it may not be the best fabric choice since it can easily attract fur.

So now that you know that velvet is a fabric that your cat most likely won’t bother to scratch, you may be wondering how it will hold up in terms of attracting cat hair. Just because your cat hasn’t ripped up the couch doesn’t mean you necessarily want its hair all over it either.

Is velvet good for cat hair

Velvet has a luxurious look that can improve pretty much any room in a home. Since it is a fabric that most cats won’t even try to scratch, it’s a natural choice for cat owners. But what about cat fur? Will fur cling to velvet and ruin that luxurious look?

Velvet consists of woven material that is cut to very short lengths that presents a short-pile style. While this is part of the reason that cats are not drawn to scratch the material, it can increase the likelihood of fur clinging to the furniture piece in question. You may have to decide if a couch that will be resistant to scratching is more important than a couch than one that may attract hair.

How do you get cat scratches out of velvet

Attempting to prevent messes or scratches on velvet is always easier than cleaning something up after the fact, just like any other type of furniture. It is recommended on velvet furniture that owners spray Scotchguard on their piece to help protect it from daily wear and tear. Also, putting in a bit of time to keep it clean regularly can go a long way. 

But, things happen. Life happens. Even if you have taken the proper precautions, you can still end up with a less-than-perfect piece of furniture.

On the off chance that your cat does choose to scratch your velvet furniture, there is hope that you can try to get it out. You will need a natural-bristle clothes brush. 

Take the brush and make very gentle strokes back and forth on the fabric. This motion works because it brings the two sections between the scratches back together and improves the appearance of any gaps. Be sure to do this softly; if you brush too harshly, you can create more marks. 

Another benefit of this method is that it can also assist with cleaning the couch as it will bring any loose dirt or dust to the front, which you can then quickly sweep up with a vacuum.

If you are looking to clean your velvet furniture piece, simply grabbing some rubber gloves and a rubber brush that has been sprayed lightly with water can be all you need to get rid of unwanted pet hair. While this method is effective, it won’t prevent hair from ending up on your furniture, which means that you will probably have to repeat this process fairly regularly to ensure that your furniture stays fur-free.

Is velvet cat-friendly

So, bottom line: is velvet cat-friendly? It is if you’re willing to put in the work of cleaning up some cat hair now and then. You can have the beautiful, timeless velvet couch of your dreams and your loving furry friend all at once with just a little bit of time and maintenance.

But ultimately, the answer to this question will come down to each cat owner’s priorities. If they’re willing to put in the time to routinely clean off fur, velvet can be cat-friendly. If not, they will probably want to look for another fabric for their furniture and home.

What fabrics do cats not scratch

If you find yourself in the second group and decide that while yes, it’s nice that cats likely won’t scratch velvet, but you also don’t want the burden of having to clean off your sofa every day or so, there are other fabric options out there. Believe it or not, some fabrics are the best of both worlds, likely leaving behind no scratches and no hair.

If you’re looking for more pet-friendly fabric options, try one of these:

• Synthetic Polyester
• Synthetic Rayon
• Synthetic Nylon
• Synthetic Acrylic
• Microfiber
• Faux Suede

Final Thoughts

Sometimes our perfect pet and our perfect home don’t always go together. Finding beautiful furniture that will look great and withstand a house with a pet can be quite the challenge. 

As far as fabrics go, velvet can be a viable option as it is made of low-pile, woven material that typically doesn’t interest cats and keeps them from scratching. Even if your cat decides to claw your sofa, there are simple remedies to help bring it back to its original state. One potential drawback of velvet is that it can sometimes attract pet hair. While you will have to clean it off every few days, it is relatively easy to clean by simply using rubber gloves and a rubber brush.

Suppose you decide that velvet furniture with a cat is too high-maintenance. In that case, you can always opt for more pet-friendly fabrics like synthetic polyester, rayon, nylon, acrylic or microfiber, and faux suede. These are both resistant to hair, and cats tend not to scratch them. You can also find these fabrics on some of the nicest furniture pieces on the market too, so you don’t have to sacrifice your perfect design to keep it safe.

No matter what fabric or furniture you choose, the most important thing is to create a welcoming home that both your pet and your family can enjoy and relax in.