Living with pets? Here's how to protect your furniture

As a pet owner, how often have you hesitated to buy new furniture because you're worried Fido or Fluffy might ruin it? 

Or maybe you're an animal lover who dreams of having a pet but can't bear the thought of scratched sofas or fur-covered chairs.

Furniture, after all, is an expensive prospect, but if either of those scenarios describes you, Magaly del Castillo, an interior designer with La-Z-Boy, has good news: There's a chance you can have your pet and your nice furniture, too. You just need to buy the right kind. 

How to find the right fabric for you

There are several things to consider when looking for a sofa that won't fall prey to your feline's tomfoolery or your puppy's pee-pees. First — says del Castillo — the fabric. You want something tightly woven with microfibre filaments blown into it at the end of its production to further protect against spills and stains while making the fabric impervious to nails, whether those of a cat or a dog. 

"You want that very tight threading," del Castillo says. "And La-Z-Boy was the first to put in their mix the iClean fabric.” iClean fabrics help deter accidents from staining your furniture upholstery. This is thanks to La-Z-Boy meticulously testing their fabrics for seam separation, pilling and at least 8 other different ways.

She says polyester is No. 1 for fabric, and olefin is also good — "anything that has an oil base will be long-lasting."

La-Z-Boy product testers ensure their fabrics undergo 50 cycles of fraying and flagging before approval. 

Leather is another excellent option; del Castillo reminds pet owners looking for a pet-friendly sofa. It doesn't collect fur, for one thing, or if it does, it's easily Swiffered off, and it tends to be very durable, especially if you invest in leather from La-Z-Boy's various collections. She also recommends the Trouper Furniture Family from La-Z-Boy because a colleague has a set, and after four years of living with two cats, she says it remains completely intact. 

One further tip del Castillo offers: When leaving the house, put a blanket you've used on the sofa. 

"Animals often have separation anxiety, so if you leave something with your scent, they'll find that and lay on it," she says, adding that that further protects the sofa. 

Stain-resistance and other virtues

The microfibres blown into the iClean fabrics create a barrier that repels spills, so you can easily clean them up before they become stains. That can be anything from muddy paw prints to puppy-training accidents. For water repellency, La-Z-Boy insists its products have an 80 per cent or higher rating. 

Many iClean fabrics also have antimicrobial properties that protect against mould, mildew and odour-causing bacteria, and they have fade-resistant properties to keep your sofa looking as good as it did when you bought it. 

While these fabrics are known for their durability and cleanability — they must rate 4/5 on the cleanability scale — there is no compromise in the luxuriousness of their feel. Some are even made of recycled water bottles, making them an environmentally friendly option. 

Updated looks

Pet-friendly sofas don’t have to be outdated or unattractive. Del Castillo notes that La-Z-Boy designs furniture for a wide range of customers, including those who prefer a more modern and stylish look.

"It's a very modern Scandinavian look," del Castillo says, "very clean, very minimalist — not poofy. " 

She says she thought it was for older people before she started working at La-Z-Boy, picturing something like Marty Crane’s beat-up olive green and brown recliner from Frasier. 

"But it has absolutely changed," she says. "And every six months, we update our colours and styles depending on what's working." 

What to look out for when mixing pets and fabrics 

Even the most effective pet-friendly fabrics can't stand up to the most destructive pets, del Castillo says. "It depends on the animal and also their weight," she says, recalling a friend who had two Maine Coon cats who were rambunctious and liked to jump onto the back of the sofa, inevitably inadvertently scratching it with their back claws. 

If you have a piece of furniture they particularly like to scratch; you can ask your vet or pet store for pet deterrents to spray on the pet-attractive furniture. Some will work with your particular pet, and some won't. 

Save on furniture and design your dream space

CAA Members can save up to 10 per cent in-store at La-Z-Boy, which offers a free design service.