Buying new furniture for a household with cats/young kids

We want to buy den furniture for our new home... specifically a sofa/love seat for the den. I currently have a 2 year old leather sectional that got CLAWED badly and my cats for the most part, only have back claws. Overall it's easy to clean though Just the constant jumping the cats do has scratched it up. It looks horrible and the thing isn't quite paid off yet, but fortunately it doesn't fit right in the new den based on where DH wants the TV - we need 2 separate pieces. We decided well, maybe microfiber would be nice and nothing expensive since we know the kids and cats will do their thing and in a few years we will again be replacing these pieces.

So we are thinking of a tan or brown microfiber set from Bob's discount stores (my parents and IL's both have very nice microfiber sofas from there). New concern... CAT HAIR and overal cleaning issues. Nice thing about leather is that the cat hair does not stick to it. I do have a Dutailier glider in my DD's room and the cushions are microfiber... the cats love it, but it never scratches and my DD has gotten sick on it and with a quick steaming with my rug and upholstery steamer I've gotten it clean. I also find cat hair doesn't cling too badly to it... frequent lint roller and regular vacuuming keeps it in good shape. But I'm not sure if this is always the case with microfiber.

Question is... anyone have recommendations from their own experieces as far as what to look for or stay away from given these circumstances? I know things will spill on these pieces and my cats may hang out on them, although we are trying to create a "cat den" in the basement, but I can't say they'll never venture upstairs.

Re: Buying new furniture for a household with cats/young kids

I would do leather :)

Re: Buying new furniture for a household with cats/young kids

I have two very furry cats, one with mostly white fur.
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have NEVER had a problem with our brown microfiber couch. idk what it is, but her hair really doesn't stick to it, and she sheds like a wildebeast.

the other kitty that goes on the couch, he HATES the way microfiber feels against his fur. I know this sounds ridiculous, but i'm not even kidding - he'll jump up on the couch, and if there's no blanket there for him to lay on, he'll stand there and stare at you as if to say "get me a blanket, person!" and as soon as you put the blanket there, he curls up and goes to sleep.

We don't have kids yet, but I have a messy DH, and microfiber really does clean well!

HTH!

Re: Buying new furniture for a household with cats/young kids

Re: Buying new furniture for a household with cats/young kids

Posted by OneOfEach

Posted by speakthetruth

I would do leather :)

Same here. From someone with 2 kids and a 75lb dog-- my microfiber lasted 3 yrs and I had to dump them for leather. Between the dog hair and the spitup marks--it was a mess. The babywipe theory didn't work for our specific microfiber, it wound up leaving watermarks which made it look even worse

Message edited 11/1/2010 4:21:41 PM.

Re: Buying new furniture for a household with cats/young kids