Pets and nice furniture can live together. The trick is choosing a fabric that shrugs off claws, sheds fur easily and cleans up after the occasional accident. Here's what to look for, and what to avoid.
What makes a fabric pet-friendly
A tight, flat weave
Claws catch on loops and loose threads. A tightly woven fabric with a smooth, flat surface gives claws nothing to grab, and fur brushes off rather than working its way in. Hold a sample up to the light: the less you can see through it, the tighter the weave.
High durability
Pets jump on, scratch at and sleep on the same spots every day. Look for at least 30,000 double rubs, and more for big dogs. See double rubs explained.
Easy cleaning
Muddy paws and accidents happen. A fabric with cleaning code W or W/S, or one that's bleach cleanable, is far easier to live with than code S or X. See upholstery cleaning codes.
Stain and odour resistance
Performance fabrics resist spills, and some, like Crypton, also resist odours and moisture soaking into the cushion. That matters with accidents. See Crypton vs. performance fabric.
The best fabric types for pets
Microfibre and microsuede. Very tightly woven synthetic fibres that resist claws, release fur easily and wipe clean. A long-time favourite for homes with dogs. Shop microsuede.
Performance and Crypton fabrics. Engineered to resist stains, and often moisture and odours too. Shop performance fabric or Crypton.
Tightly woven synthetics. Polyester and olefin weaves with a smooth surface hold up well and are easy to clean.
Canvas and denim-style weaves. Sturdy and casual, good for slipcovers you can remove. Shop canvas and denim.
Leather and faux leather. Fur and dirt wipe straight off, though claws can scratch the surface.
Bouclé and other looped fabrics. The loops are irresistible to cats and easy for claws to pull.
Loose, open weaves and slubby linens. Claws snag the threads.
Silk and delicate fabrics. They mark, stain and tear easily.
Chenille with loose pile. Soft and cozy, but the pile can be pulled by claws. A tightly woven performance chenille is a better bet.
Velvet, with a caveat. Short, dense velvet has no loops for claws to catch and many people find it works well with cats, but it shows fur and can mark. Choose a performance velvet if you want one.
Choosing a colour
Pick a colour close to your pet's coat. Mid-tones and heathered or textured fabrics hide fur and everyday dirt far better than solid black or bright white. Small patterns also disguise wear between cleanings.
Living with it
Keep a lint roller or rubber pet brush nearby for quick fur removal.
Use a washable throw on your pet's favourite spot.
Blot accidents straight away: don't rub, and follow the cleaning code.
Vacuum weekly with an upholstery attachment so grit doesn't wear the fibres.
Order free samples and test them: drag a key across the surface and see if it snags, and see how easily fur brushes off.
Common questions
What is the most scratch-resistant upholstery fabric?
Tightly woven microfibre and microsuede, along with dense performance weaves, resist claws best because they have no loops or loose threads to catch.
Is velvet good for cats?
Often, yes. Velvet has a short, dense pile with no loops, so claws don't catch the way they do on bouclé or loose weaves. It does show fur, so choose a colour close to your cat's coat.
Which fabric is easiest to clean with dogs?
Fabrics with cleaning code W or W/S, bleach-cleanable fabrics and Crypton or other performance fabrics are the easiest to keep clean after muddy paws and accidents.
Shop the fabrics in this guide
Charlotte upholstery fabric by the yard, priced in CAD, with free samples.