Pet-Friendly Sofas: What Are the Best Sofas for Dogs and Cats?

As every pet owner knows, our furry friends can be excellent companions for us, but not so much for our furniture. From paw prints to scratches and pet hairs all over the upholstery, there’s a lot of potential damage and mess that a cat or dog can cause, even completely unintentionally. To save you the stress of seeing your brand-new sofa bed ruined by your beloved pet, we’ve put together a short list of things that can help you choose a pet-friendly sofa and keep it in perfect shape for years to come.

Things to Consider When Buying a New Sofa for Your Whole Family (Including Pets)

What Is the Best Type of Upholstery for a Cat- And Dog-Friendly Sofa?

While some pets shed less than others, unless you have a hairless cat or dog, you will see pet hair around the house throughout the year. Of course, it’s possible to limit this issue by regularly grooming your furry friend, but it’s also a good idea to pick a type of upholstery that doesn’t trap hair and, therefore, is much easier to clean. This means that, in the case of fabric coverings, tightly woven fabrics are a much better choice. Additionally, as there are no loose threads, the risk of snagged upholstery is much lower. It may also be a good idea to consider synthetic materials instead of natural ones, not only because they tend to be cheaper but also because they are often more resistant to wear and tear.

Leather sofas are another popular option among pet owners. Leather, faux leather, and especially pigmented leather are durable, easy to clean and can be quite stain-resistant. Muddy paw prints can be easily removed with a wet wipe, and pet hairs will not stick to the upholstery. Sounds like the perfect solution? Well, almost. It has one drawback: leather is quite prone to scratches, which makes regular trimming of your cat’s or dog’s claws a necessity.

What Is the Best Colour for a Pet-Friendly Sofa Bed?

The answer here is a bit tricky because it depends on your pet. Darker upholstery is generally considered a good choice for households with pets and kids because it copes much better with stains (just imagine the horror of seeing your white sofa covered in muddy paw prints!). However, it’s not the best option if you have a light-coloured dog or cat. Their hair will be instantly visible on the fabric, and the same holds for dark-coloured fur on light-coloured upholstery. Looking for a stain-resistant fabric in a similar shade seems to be the optimal solution.

What Size Should a Pet-Friendly Sofa Be?

The rule is simple: the bigger your family is, the bigger your sofa should be. However, with a pet-friendly sofa, it’s not as easy as simply adding another seat. Buying a 3-seater sofa instead of your current 2-seater will be enough to accommodate a cat or a small dog (e.g., a Maltese or a pug), but if you have a large dog such as an Akita or an Afghan Hound, you’ll need to look for something bigger.

Is the Fabric Easy to Clean?

When it comes to pet-friendly upholstery, for your own piece of mind, you may want to discard any type of fabric that requires professional cleaning or dry cleaning only right from the beginning. Unless your pet is well-trained and not allowed on the sofa, it’s not a very practical option. If you don’t want to worry about stains, look for stain-resistant upholstery or a sofa bed with removable and washable fabric covers that you can simply put in the washing machine every time you want to refresh them.

Useful Tips for Keeping Your Sofa in Good Condition if You Have Pets

• Start house training your pet right away. Yes, your puppy or kitten is incredibly adorable, but while it’s tempting, you really shouldn’t let them run around the house doing whatever they want just because of their cuteness. Your dog will not understand why chewing a cushion or a sofa leg a few months ago was fine, but now it’s suddenly a problem. As a pet owner, you are responsible for teaching your pets how they can and cannot behave in your home, you cannot expect them to figure it out on their own.
• Groom your pets regularly. If your cat’s or dog’s claws become too long, they can scratch the upholstery even unintentionally. Keeping your pet’s claws trimmed is an easy way to protect your sofa. And remember about regular brushing to get rid of loose hairs before they have a chance to end up on the fabric.
• Clean your dog’s paws after every walk. This is especially important on rainy days. Muddy paws make no difference to your dog, but they definitely will to your sofa and to you. You can easily avoid unsightly and difficult-to-remove stains by keeping a handy cleaning kit by the front or garden door and cleaning your dog’s paws before going inside.
• Use blankets and throws to protect the upholstery. Blankets can be a fashionable accessory, with the right design, they can enhance the style of your sofa, and, most importantly, you can easily replace a blanket with another one when you get bored with the pattern or want to wash it. This is also a great option if your pet has its favourite spot or only gets on the sofa to curl up next to you and spends the rest of its time somewhere else.
• Treat stains right away. Some stains are more difficult to remove than others, but as a general rule, it’s always easier to get rid of them right away than when they’ve been left to dry out and get deeper into the fabric. That’s why, especially if you have a dog or a cat, it’s always a good idea to keep a stain remover suitable for your type of upholstery at hand.

What Is the Best Type of Sofa for a House With Pets?

Considering all of the above, you may be asking yourself: Is a leather sofa more pet-friendly than a fabric sofa? In reality, both can be a great choice as long as you choose the right type of fabric and the right colour. However, it’s also worth pointing out that with the number of various sofa beds available nowadays, looking for a pet-friendly sofa will not limit your options in the slightest. Check out our wide selection of high-quality sofas, sofa beds and corner sofas and find the perfect one for your family and your pet!