Do Cats Scratch Velvet? Vet-Verified Facts & Scratching Advice

We’ve all been sitting on the couch while watching TV, only to hear the sound of fabric ripping. You’ve probably done everything in your power to stop your cat from clawing your furniture to no avail.

However, some pet owners say that cats won’t claw up velvet. So how true is this? Do cats scratch velvet? The fact is, most cats don’t scratch velvet because it doesn’t provide enough resistance when they pull. We’ll discuss why velvet doesn’t tempt cats, give you a few fabrics cats don’t claw, and more, so join us.

Do Cats Scratch Velvet?

Cats target fabrics with elevated and loose weaves and adore scratching materials with loose threads, so silk, tweed, and linen are horrible choices for cat owners. Velvet, however, has a very small and tight weave, and your cat likely won't scratch it because they will not enjoy it. But all cats are different; while most cats don’t enjoy clawing velvet, yours might.

Which Other Fabrics Will Cats Not Claw?

So, we know cats don’t enjoy clawing velvet, but what if you don’t want a velvet couch? Are there other fabrics you can get that your cat won’t scratch? Yes, there are several materials that most cats won't scratch.

You can buy furniture made of faux suede and microfiber. They have short and tightly packed weaving and aren’t enjoyable for your cat.

How to Stop a Cat From Clawing Furniture

If your furniture isn’t constructed with one of the claw-repellent fabrics, you probably don’t want to buy new furniture. So, what can you do to stop your cat from clawing the furniture you already have? Let's start with what not to do.

Do not declaw your cat; it is a drastic way to prevent them from scratching furniture. The surgery to declaw your cat involves amputating the bottom part of its toes, which leads to permanent pain for the rest of their life. The pain can cause behavioral issues and make your cat aggressive.

You also shouldn’t use deterrent sprays composed of harmful essential oils. The sprays may keep your cat away, but if they touch the chemicals from the diffuser or sprayer, they can ingest them while grooming. Felines don’t possess the liver enzymes to metabolize essential oils like peppermint, birch, wintergreen, or pine oil; therefore, essential oils are toxic for cats.

The best way to keep your cat from scratching your furniture is to redirect them to something else to scratch. Get them a scratching post and place it close to their favorite scratching spot. Make sure they can see the post from where they scratch, and if they scratch the furniture, make a loud noise, like clapping your hands.

This noise will jar them out of the instinct to scratch and hopefully motivate them to move over to the scratching post and run their paws along it. When you see your cat use the post, give them a treat. Over time, they will realize they will be rewarded for scratching on appropriate material.

One of our preferred scratchers, the Hepper Hi-Lo Modern Cat Scratcher, is a surefire way to keep your kitty out of trouble (or at least away from scratching the things they should not!). It's not only stylish, but it's functional as well. It's made of sturdy cardboard with a durable plywood and metal frame and can be set up in three different ways – high, low, or lower. The different positions encourage maximum engagement, exercise and stretching, and of course, intense scratching (they can throw their whole body into it). 

With the Hepper Hi-Lo, your cat gets to have a blast scratching like a maniac, and you don't have to worry about them causing so much chaos or scratching your stuff. There are even replacement cardboard pieces available, so you really can let your cat go to town on this, and know that it will be long lasting. Click here to learn more about this awesome scratcher.

At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

Additionally, you can cover the areas they like to scratch on your sofa with double-sided sticky tape, as cats do not like that texture. Check out our post DIY Couch Protector Ideas to find what works best for you.

If your sofa is too damaged to repair or beyond protection and you are thinking about replacing it, consider the less scratch-resistant materials and fabrics next time you pick up a new sofa.

Conclusion

When cats claw your furniture or any other fabric they can get their sharp claws into, it may seem like a never-ending task to get them to quit. However, felines are unlikely to scratch velvet, microfiber, ultra suede, or faux suede furniture. You can also use physical deterrents like aluminum foil, scratching posts, and furniture covers to keep your cat from clawing up everything you own.

Never yell at or hit your cat for doing what comes naturally; it’s best to find a way to deter the cat from clawing the furniture instead. You can contact your vet for recommendations if your cat's not responding to your redirection attempts.

Featured Image Credit: FotoMirta, Shutterstock