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As a cat owner, I know that it is hard to protect the furniture in our homes from getting destroyed by our little mischiefs.
This is especially true for our favorite pieces of furniture, as cats love everything that we love and use most often!
A recliner, for example, is a very cozy thing to have at home and relax in it while reading a good book, enjoying a movie or simply drinking your favorite drink in it and chilling.
But nothing is perfect in this world so here comes our favorite little pet with its claws and determination to leave its “signature” on the very same recliner.
Check my research on recliner safety around cats (this post here is all about recliner covers when you already have a recliner)
So how to cat proof a recliner and what can you do about this issue?
The most common problem is a cat scratching the recliner which inevitably leads to its fast destruction.
To stop a cat scratching the recliner here are some good tips:
- A scratching post near the recliner may help, although you may need additional protection like a cover
- You can get a cardboard scratcher as some cats really like the ability to shred it to pieces so their attention is not on the recliner
- From time to time pour some catnip on the scratchers so the cat is drawn to them instead of the recliner
- Trim regularly your cat’s nails
- Get a high-quality cat bed so your cat will love sleeping in it and avoid your recliner
- Get a good quality cat scratch proof recliner cover
So what I would strongly suggest is to use a cat spray deterrent. The reason for this is that recliners can be very dangerous for cats, even deadly. To keep a cat from trying to go under the recliner when it is reclined it’s a good thing to use such a spray.
This cat spray deterrent works automatically, by detecting when your cat is near and reacting/spraying. It frees you from always checking on your cat if it is in the danger zone and allows you to relax more. The spray is odorless and harmless and would definitely keep cats away from a certain spot.
You can place it at the feet so that your cat doesn’t come near the opened recliner.
Another great way to deter a cat from going near/under the recliner is to get an electronic cat repellent mat to teach your cat not to go near the recliner.
I have focused on finding some good cat proof recliner covers so check the selection below.
By the way I have a good post on why do cats scratch furniture, so if you are interested you can check it.
Best Cat Proof Covers For A Recliner
Ideally, you would want a recliner covers with all these benefits:
- scratch proof
- waterproof
- non-slip
- machine washable
- hair resistant
That is the most ideal combination but most of the covers lack one or two features so you must decide based on their descriptions below which one is the best fit for your needs.
The best choices out there for such a recliner protector are the ones selected below, chosen after much research and investigation.
Cat Friendly Recliner Cover
This is a nice recliner cover on a budget that will protect from cat scratches. As you can see it is full coverage which is the best choice for cat owners as cats are unpredictable and you don’t know which part of the recliner will catch a cat’s attention.
The material is a knitted Jacquard polyester(Jacquard is actually a type of weave), 85% polyester and 15% spandex to be specific. It can be stretched, it is soft and durable and great for protection from:
- spills
- stains
- pets
Besides the protection part, it is also very aesthetically pleasing and it will be a great way to renew an old recliner on a budget or protect a new recliner from pets.
The slipcover can be washed in a washing machine which is very important if you have pets at home and from what I’ve read the fabric doesn’t pile easily.
What I really love about this slipcover is that it is wrinkle-free.
The best thing is the fact that is great both for keeping cat hair away and protecting from cat scratches. Here is what one pet owner said about having this furniture protector with a house full of pets.
If your cat has been using your recliner as a scratching post then putting on this cover will probably stop this behavior – many cat owners have experienced this according to their reviews.
Overall this is a great protective cover that is both functional and good looking and not expensive on top of it. If you want to keep your recliner looking new for as long as possible this is one of the best solutions out there. It has been animal tested and proven very good.
Full Recliner Cover Made of Velvet
Velvet is one of those pet friendly materials that is cat claw proof. It cat take a lot of usage without showing it. It’s a soft and warm material, which also feels this way, that looks very luxurious and high style.
Velvet only seems soft and fragile but it has proven to be very durable fabric.
Velvet does attract cat hair but it will be fairly easy to remove it, and today there are all kinds of cat hair removal devices (I recommend this one – it is very effective and cheap).
Now stains are not as easy to remove from a velvet surface so beware of that.
From the reviews, most people have been very pleased with this cover and especially the fact that since they bought it their cat hasn’t scratched the recliner. Here is just one of those statements.
I guess a cat would prefer to nap on such a soft material instead of trimming its claws on it, and I just read a review stating the exact same thing.
Another great thing is that if you have an old recliner that is a bit worn out this cover will make it look brand new.
Overall this velvet recliner cover is a very good solution to the cat scratching your recliner and it is also reasonably priced.
Pet Proof Recliner Cover – Oversized One
What is really good with this particular cover is that it covers a good amount of the recliner so it will be almost fully protected from scratches. As the material is thick it will also be suitable for dogs as well (for cat owners who also have a dog this is really solid protection for the recliner).
As you can see this is a pet recliner cover that stays in place, you will not have problems with a constant slipping of the cover which can be so annoying.
Waterproof Recliner Cover For Cat Owners
This cover has everything a cat owner would need – and I love things for home that are specially designed for pet owners. Here are all the great benefits of this product:
- The price point is great (go check it)
-
Very easy to put on
-
Variety of colors and it is reversible
-
Stays where you put it (except on leather)
-
Easily removable and washable
- Protects from cat scratches as it is thick material
- Water repellent, very useful if your cat jumps on you and you spill whatever drink you’re holding at the moment and protects from dirty little paws
- Keeps cat hair off the recliner (you may need to clean the pet hair from the cover though but that is certainly much easier than cleaning it from the recliner)
- Machine washable and dryer friendly – easy maintenance which is so important for cat owners
- High-quality microfiber chair cover
- Awesome side pockets for all your chair accessories
- It is long enough to cover the footrest
I don’t see anything lacking in this product, pet owners have loved it, it has awesome reviews and it is just a perfect cat proof chair protector. For total protection, you can check the below described full coverage chair covers.
It will prolong the life of your recliner or sofa by reducing the wear and tear. It’s a great way to preserve an expensive piece of furniture for little money.
Furniture Protector From Cat
Another thing you can use to protect your recliner from cat scrathes is cat proof couch tape like this one:
Once a cat chooses a spot for scratching it is very hard to re-train it. So the best way to do this is to make the place unattractive for the cat to keep its nails in good shape.
You can use scent cats dislike but to be absolutely sure your furniture is protected I highly recommend an anti-scratching furniture protector like these shileds. This is a very efficient and fairly cheap way to totally protect your expensive recliner.
These shields are transparent which means you can use them on all types of furniture, not just the recliner, and they are very easy to apply: you just remove the pad and stick the shield to the recliner and additionally secure it with the twisting pins that come with the shields.
Although the shields are big enough to cover a large portion of the furniture piece you want to protect, you can also easily cut them to fit smaller areas.
With these shields, your cat will have no choice but to walk away to the nearest scratching post to exercise its claws!
A Simple Throw Blanket Will Also Make A Cat Resistant Recliner
The only issue I see here is the slipping part but if you get a big enough blanket that will be ok and you’ll get to re-use the blanket in other places in your home.
Hello my dear reader, my cat always keeps me company while I write my posts, here she is on my working table, my best coworker ever 🙂
