Whatever they may say, our pets are family too! And as pet owners, we’re no strangers to the occasional muddy paw print, or a suspiciously tooth-shaped mark engraved into the leg of a once-pristine chair. As an internet poet once said, it’s all just proof that a dog (or any other fuzzy pet) lives here. Boundaries look different for every pet-friendly family, but if you’re the sort who doesn’t mind the occasional fluffy sofa companion, we think you'll like our list of ten steps you can take to keep your sofa in top condition.
1. Keep those claws trimmed
Claws are very valuable to your pets and are inherent to the territory of animal ownership. This doesn’t mean they can’t be inconvenient at times, and they might occasionally do a little damage to your sofa if left to grow too long. Catching their claws may cause scratches in leather or loose threads in fabric, leading your sofa to become worn faster than anticipated. This can be mitigated by ensuring your pet’s claws are kept to a safe length. This won’t just benefit your sofa, but your pet, too, as claws kept to a safe length mean comfortable movement for your companion. Cats will love a something to scratch, and dogs can wear their claws naturally through outdoor walks. Sometimes our pets need some assistance from a groomer, or, if you’re competent, a safe, sterile claw-trimmer with a guard.
2. Make use of blankets
Blankets can be an easy way to preserve your sofa if a pet is older and unlikely to chew it, or younger and supervised. Cover the designated area with an easily cleaned blanket and invite your pet to snuggle on that area specifically. Before long, your pet should come to associate the blanket with comfort and will seek to lie on it without needing to be commanded. This will not only protect your sofa from fabric wear or scratches in leather, but also discolouration and odour. These blankets can be good for travelling, too, as your pet will find comfort in the scent and texture of surroundings on longer journeys. Just be sure to wash the blanket regularly to keep your sofa smelling new.
3. Consider a pet spray
For many, a pet spray may be the preferred choice. These sprays can deter your pet from approaching the sofa, discouraging the marking of territory or scratching. It’s important to patch-test these sprays before committing to covering your sofa, however; find a barely noticeable area on your sofa that can be easily covered if the spray doesn’t agree with the material and leave to sit for several hours. If you’re dealing with very young pets, certain pet sprays can encourage them to go where you mark with the spray, meaning that you won’t have to tamper with your sofa directly to train them away from it.
4. Keep playtime at ground level
If your pet has a rush of energy then they might want to play, and a sofa makes a fun playground for an animal. Leaping and bouncing off the cushions at significant speed will make it challenging to watch where their claws are going. Keeping play with your pets on the floor or outside is one way to keep your sofas safe from unnecessary wear and tear, but will also prevent the potential for accidents where height is involved. If pets are redirected away from the sofas from an early age, they should come to understand where this behaviour is welcome and where it is not.
5. Provide stimuli at all times
If left without sufficient stimulation, pets may find an alternative means of entertaining themselves. Your sofa might start looking like a wonderful scratching post, or a cosy, oversized chew toy if they have none available. To pre-empt this, make sure your pet has several varied toys available, including puzzles that encourage your pet to work for rewards. Cats may favour a scratching board to sink their claws into, but of course, nothing will beat interaction and play with their favourite human.
6. Make their bed desirable
Much like we have preferences for the design of our bedrooms, your pets will notice the difference between a bed they tolerate and a bed they love. Enriching their spaces with comfortable textures, padding and a toy or two will make all the difference to whether your pet enjoys their bed or not. While it may not deter them from your sofa entirely, it will certainly make it less appealing when faced with great alternatives.
7. Clean regularly
Fur and odour can prematurely dim the experience of your sofa, so staying on top of your cleaning will combat this. This can be done at your convenience, whether you prefer to clean every other day, week or month. Wiping down the leather or vacuuming the fabric of your sofa will help you protect your sofas from staining, smells and gradual discolouration. After all, a clean home is a clean mind – not that your pets will spot the difference!
8. Purchase care products
Commonly available through furniture retailers, sofa care products can prove useful for the longevity of your soft furniture. This may take the form of a leather conditioning kit, or a fabric spray. For example, when purchasing a warranty with your sofas through NCF Living, you can receive a stain-guard kit to preserve the quality of your sofas for longer. These care products can help you protect your sofas from additional pet damage, acting as both proactive and reactive solutions.
9. Supervision
Without supervision, it’s entirely possible that your pet could decide that despite their toy collection, your sofa is the most irresistible option. Difficult though it may be, supervision will likely be the safest bet to ensure your sofa stays in top condition. Energetic behaviour can be calmed if you’re present, and you can monitor both your pet and the sofa in the same moment. Alternatively, zoning your home could prove beneficial; if your pet is trained to remain in particular areas of your home in your absence, they will be less likely to approach your sofa in the first place.
10. Training early
Not every pet owner has the luxury of time. Training from early life stages to leave soft furniture untouched may not be possible for every pet owner, but it could be the best option early on if you’re particularly keen to keep those sofas immaculate. The adage “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is not always true, however; perhaps your older pet is receptive, and this may still be on the cards for you. Reward your pet where necessary, and follow expert advice on how to deter pets from considering your sofa as their real estate.
The most important thing to remember is that pets may be loveable, but they're still animals. Try as they might, they don’t always understand why certain behaviours aren’t allowed, and some miscommunications might occasionally occur. Consequently, being proactive about your furniture maintenance can help to avoid many problems down the line – and save your pet from a lecture!
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