I'm getting a new couch, will my pets destroy it?

tealowl · March 2014

Today I'm picking up a new to me couch!

Currently I have a beat up old leather one thats pretty uncomfortable. You can feel the wood in it, the padding is just shot. They only reason I've kept it is because I have two dogs and a cat, and I haven't wanted a fabric couch for that reason.

One of my dogs lays on top of the couch, so theres an indent where he sleeps. I don't want that to happen on the newer couch.

It's a dark brown microsuede? I have no idea what that means or how to take care of it.

I've been putting their blankies and comforter on the floor lately to try and train them to lay on the floor and not the couch for the last week, I'm not sure what else I can do?

Is there something I can put on top of the newer couch to keep Charlie off the top of it?

Also, I'm worried my cat will start to claw it. He normally just claws his scratchy post. Since the couch isn't carpet like material, I think he will leave it alone, otherwise I'm going to have to put something on the sides to deter him.

Tips appreciated!

tealowl · March 2014

PS - I also want to try and not have to buy a couch slipcover, because they are so expensive and never seem to look nice.

alygoo615 · March 2014

I've heard aluminum foil for when you're not home... can you keep the pets out of the room when you're not there?

We used to let it dog on the couch but changed our minds when we moved. She's allowed on our laps, or we put her bed on couch. Otherwise, she's not allowed on. Ever.

cakebatter27 · March 2014

You will just have to be persistent in keeping them off. When we got a new leather couch and love seat last summer we knew the 3 dogs would want at least one. After all we let them on the old ones. We covered the 2 seater with a blanket and they're allowed on it. I do know the one is on the regular size couch when we're not home because I see long white hair. I haven't caught her in the act though.

I've never heard of the foil!!

abunai523 · March 2014

I second the aluminum foil trick. They also hate sticky things, so some wide strips of tape, sticky side up will deter as well. If the cat starts to scratch, that's where the tape should go for a while.

Also, a high-powered squirt bottle should be your best friend for the next few weeks.

likeanoldtimemovie · March 2014

Just get rid of them. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR LYFE FOR THEM.

(Kidding. OBV.)

LuluPMW · March 2014

Eek. Microfiber.
Eek. Untraining pets.

You might want to try a comfy pet bed with a used clothing item of yours, not just their blankets on the floor.

MrsWallick · March 2014

I've heard aluminum foil works and also balls of clear packing tape. Did it work for me? Nope! My cat played with both. For the dogs, we do let them on the couch but only when they are invited. They know to not jump up unless I tap on the couch first. I've never had a problem with my cat clawing my microsuede couch. It's a great material for pets and has lasted us a while, even with my bad kitty. You can clean it with just about any fabric safe cleaner.

pantherRN · March 2014

A squirt bottle and new pet bed helped us!

tealowl · March 2014

I've heard of the foil trick, so I think I might try that or some double sided tape on top of the couch for awhile and see what that does.

I'm ok with them laying on blankets on the couch, just not on top of it anymore.

I COULD gate them in the kitchen when I'm gone, since we will have more gates put in anyway for the baby....

This should give me a good reason to trim my cats nails, because he just LOOOOOVES it when attempt that on him.

tealowl · March 2014

My friends mom is selling me the couch and she said I could use Scotchguard spray for stains, but then someone else told me Scotchguard is bad for couchs?

tealowl · March 2014

Luckynumbers81 said:

Question for you: you said the couch is new to you, do you know if the previous owners had pets? DH says that if they smell other animals on the couch they may be more likely to want to claim it as their own. Just a sort of related thought...

Nope, they were pet free! The couch is in such great condition, and she sold it to me for $50. I just have to re-screw a leg back on it and it's good as new!

TallMomma29 · March 2014

We have a micro suede couch and the biggest problem pet wise is that one of our dogs loves to lick his paws while on the couch and over time the couch looks stained/matted in spots from the licking. :-( If any of your pets are frequent lickers I would definitely recommend keeping the couch covered with a blanket (particularly when you are not home. You can always tell the pets no when you are home). We have another couch that is a different fabric and the licking doesn't cause stains/matting.

dobbyisfree · March 2014

We dont keep my animals off the furniture so I cant help you there, but neither cat tries to claw the microfiber at all. Biggest issue we have is just fur everywhere...

alygoo615 · March 2014

Amazon sells these over priced plastic things with spikes on them. When I say spikes I don't mean sharp, just uncomfortable for them to walk or sleep on. I used them when I got my new couch and then again to get them to stop peeing on the patio outside.

I didn't like how much they were but they got the job done.

I think I just searched for humane training tools.

Good call on that. I forgot about those. They also have things at office stores for office chairs to glide on carpet. They're clear plastic on one side and have the spikes on the other side. And the spikes aren't going to injure the dog, they're going to deter.

tourqeyes · March 2014

Bubble wrap I have heard works wonders with dogs on furniture (no personal experience though).

ETA: And what we do to keep Moose off our furniture is we line DS's toys up on it so he can't get on there.

1982Babies · March 2014

I have plastic TV trays I put on the furniture when not in use. Sure, it's tacky, but with an 85# dog and new furniture, it's worth it. I also keep the chairs and couch covered with linens for hair (cats) and myself (because nothing makes it to my mouth, apparently), and for kids.

JayBzo · March 2014

We put our dog in a different room during the day, but while home she knows she is not allowed unless invited. We do let her on the couch on a blanket a lot so anytime the blanket is visible she thinks she is allowed. When we got this couch we decided she should not be allowed even though we did before, so all we do now is tell her to get down or no if we see her about to jump up. Her hair is SOOO bad it manages to get in to the cushion so that you can barely vaccuum it out - annoying. It is brown microfiber and the cats don't claw it so you should be fine too. The one cat does like to sit on it next to us, but I don't think he is doing anything to it and he doesn't use it if we aren't around. Mostly just stay consistent - have to say get down every time until they get it.. good luck!

tealowl · March 2014

alygoo615 said:

Amazon sells these over priced plastic things with spikes on them. When I say spikes I don't mean sharp, just uncomfortable for them to walk or sleep on. I used them when I got my new couch and then again to get them to stop peeing on the patio outside.

I didn't like how much they were but they got the job done.

I think I just searched for humane training tools.
Good call on that. I forgot about those. They also have things at office stores for office chairs to glide on carpet. They're clear plastic on one side and have the spikes on the other side. And the spikes aren't going to injure the dog, they're going to deter.

That's a great idea! My brother has one of those, maybe he'll give it up to me to cut apart and use.

mamakiss · March 2014

Our couch is a leather base with micro suede cushions, the only thing I've noticed is the dog hair sticks a lot more to the microsuede! My dog lays on top of the couch to look out the window all day and she hasn't scratched through it (yet?). I feel like it's a good choice for our 3-dog situation

zellatrix · March 2014

The cat thing I can't help with. We got a $2000 sofa bed given to us after a death in the family and she has clawed the shit out of it. I have seen these that I need to put on it (https://www.amazon.com/Two-inch-Cat-Scratch-Guards/dp/B005C4JZXM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393960063&sr=8-1&keywords=couch+protector+from+cats) and I keep putting it off and she keeps making it worse. She has never clawed our microfiber, though. It doesn't make the great threads like the other couch does.

As for the dogs, my BFF just bought a new leather couch and her two big dogs were used to running the house and sitting on not just the couch but also the back of the couch so it was pretty beat up. She got them new dog beds for the living room and has just been diligent about keeping them off. You might want to keep them gated out of that room when you aren't home until you are sure they are trained to not get up there.

One thing though, microfiber is the best couch covering I have ever had. SO cleanable. We've gotten juice, blood, red ink, etc out of it with just water and soap. If it leaves a water spot, you can get rid of that with a little rubbing alcohol. The bad thing is, pet hair sticks to it easily and is hard to get off.

ETA: We've even had a cat pee on it (she peed on it every day for a week and then ran away... I don't think she liked our house...) and got it out, believe it or not. I am a true believe in microfiber.

jnnfrrose6 · March 2014

We've got a dark brown microsuede(fiber?) couch. We bought it new and got a warranty type thing in case there were accidents. Of course, one of the dogs had one, so we were able to call the company up and they sent someone out to clean it. That was nice, but certainly not an every time solution.

I've also got a spotbot that I've used a couple of times when there have been smaller incidents, but I was just ok with the results. I finally did a little searching and saw mixed reviews on washing it myself and figured what the hell. I have washed the covers to my cushions a couple of times now in the washing machine and had absolutely no issues with it. Since it's microfiber, the wet spot doesn't soak through right away, so the cushions themselves have been ok, just the covers that need care. I turn them inside out and wash on a cold gentle cycle with gentle detergent. Tumble dry low and they come out like new.

Jiffy38 · March 2014

Our dog, in her old age, has decided to start jumping on the couch when we aren't home - no idea why, she's never been allowed on it before! We tell her to get off if we catch her - otherwise we put chairs from the kitchen table on the couch or pile up pillows in weird ways when we leave so she won't get on it. She won't jump on when we are home because we enforce that. The chair thing has been very effective - annoying to remember to put together but effective!

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