- 2 class="western"> (1)
- 2 class="western"> (2)
- 2 class="western"> Anticipate the materials (3)
- 2 class="western"> Cover rather than rescue (4)
- 2 class="western"> Divert to better preserve (5)
- 2 class="western"> (6)
- 2 class="western"> A question of smell (7)
- 2 class="western"> Educate to last better (8)
Not all sofas are created equal when it comes to sharing with an animal. Your taste for chic upholstery may be no match for the exquisite sensation your pet will have from destroying it. Don't be naive, zero risk does not exist. You will therefore have to take responsibility for your choice of sofa and for any mischief caused by your little companion.
However, techniques exist to limit damage and allow living beings and charming furniture to coexist harmoniously.
By opting for an easy-care sofa, you will be one step ahead of future accidents. Waterproof coatings have several advantages: they can be wiped clean with a sponge if there is a stain, urine or drool. And you can easily vacuum up pet hair and other allergens.
Synthetic materials are ideal for this, they are easy to clean and are economical. On the contrary, unprotected natural leather will give you a cold sweat when your pet comes friendly to prowl around.
Good to know: Concerning the sofa legs, choose them according to their solidity and their resistance to fangs. Do not hesitate to replace small light wooden legs with metal legs. They will thus be much more durable (the same for our rodent friends).
Having a removable sofa cover as well as a second cover will allow you to better control the hygiene of your furniture. And to avoid irremediable loss in the event of a Machiavellian attack. If your sofa cover cannot be machine washed, consider protecting it from the start.
For this, many home accessories will help you: blanket, quilt, oilcloth, and other fabrics. The advantage of this technique is to avoid irreversible damage to the sofa, by applying a layer of preventive protection. Cover your sofa, taking care to secure the sides as best as possible to prevent them from moving with the slightest heroic dive.
It is also possible to make your own cover product to best adapt to the dimensions of the sofa, individual needs and the general aesthetic of the room.
Please note: Don't forget to shake the materials regularly, maintain them and air the sofa.
Don't be surprised if your tender feline passionately shreds the side of your new sofa. Consider providing him with a cat tree designed for this purpose. Likewise, your dog will have every reason to take possession of the sofa if he does not exclusively have a basket or other soft object to rest on. Please note: Never neglect your pet's sources of attraction otherwise you will see him torturing your sofa to combat boredom.
Our animals have a very developed sense of smell, which can have a great influence on their behavior. If certain smells attract your animals, others on the contrary will tend to scare them away.
By spraying catnip spray on canine furniture, you will encourage him to favor these spaces. Conversely, a few drops of repellent on the four corners of the sofa can dissuade the animal from rubbing against it.
Good to know: Also note that it will generally be easier for a young animal to integrate into a new environment while respecting the furniture, rather than making an animal who has been there for a long time accept a new sofa with unfamiliar odors.
The best way to preserve the condition of your sofa is to prevent your pet from accessing it. Make him understand that the sofa is reserved for you, but that his basket is all his. As with the dining room table, if you don't say "no", you are giving him carte blanche to do as he pleases.
If you want to share the sofa with him, you will still have to teach him that certain behaviors are not allowed (examples: scratching or biting).
Note: A spray of water can help you dissuade your pet from doing certain stupid things, a spray on the nose will make him understand that he is not on the right track. Finally, keep in mind that accidents happen. Our pets are full of surprises, but that's also why we love them so much.
