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Cat Proof Desk Chair (Keep it Safe & Stop Ripping)

If you have a desk chair that your cat is continuously damaging the chances are you are looking for an easy way to cat-proof it (Click here to see my best solution, on Amazon #Ad).

Why do you need to cat-proof your desk chair?

The mesh and foam padding of most desk chairs can prove irresistible to cats, who are well-known for scratching just about everything EXCEPT the scratchpad you spent big on for them.

What you will need to cat-proof your desk chair

Description	Image	My Rating
01. Claw Withdraw Scratching Spray (My Best) Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad
02. Cat Furniture Shields Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad
03. Double Sided Tape Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad

So, now you know why you need to cat-proof your desk chair. Keep reading to learn how to cat-proof your chair, why your cat is destroying it, if it’s worth reupholstering it, and so much more.

Why cats are tempted to claw at desk chairs

Where there’s furniture, you can close to guarantee that your cat will be tempted to claw at it. This can give way to some hairy situations for cat-owners; almost every cat-owner will have at some point had their couch, sofa-chair, bedframe, or just about anything scratched by their cats.

Having a healthy and long-lasting desk chair is essential to anyone working from home for prolonged periods of time – cat-proofing it will ensure your desk chair lives a long, scratch-free life.

What is a desk chair?

A desk chair, also called an office chair, is a chair designed specifically for working at a desk. It is created for maximum comfort, durability, and practicality. It often will have a swivel function, adjustable height, and wheels. Some will also have an adaptable height.

The best desk chair to use would be one that provides lumbar and headrest support and would have foam padding and mesh. These also happen to be the ones made of material most attractive to cats.

How can you cat-proof your desk chair?

How then, can you protect your desk chair (which is not cheap) from the mercy of your cat’s claws? Here are some tips:

01. Use Cat Scratch Spray

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You can use cat scratch sprays (Click here to see the reviews, on Amazon #Ad). These sprays are an effective option to discourage your cat from scratching your desk chair.

The best ones use invisible protection and could be what saves your desk chair. It’s important to know, however, cat sprays don’t work for every cat. If the spray seems ineffective on your cat, there are plenty of other ways to cat-proof your chair, so keep reading!

02. Furniture Shield

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A furniture shield coats your furniture with a layer of protection against cat scratch marks. You can try this one (Click here to see the reviews, on Amazon #Ad) (easily found on Amazon), which is also a reasonable price, provides clean protection, is tough and flexible, and will be the first point of resistant between your desk chair and your cat’s claws. It’s also recyclable!

03. Double-sided tape

You can go DIY and take things into your own hands with nothing but some tape. A way that you can keep your chair fashionable but also cat-proof is by using double-sided tape (Click here to see the price, on Amazon #Ad). The tape will produce an uncomfortable but perfectly safe sensation, and your cat will be deterred from scratching the chair.

All you need to do is just stick a fair amount of double-sided tape onto your leather, mesh, or fabric chair. Once your cat tries to scratch the chair once and is unsuccessful, they will likely lose interest entirely and not return to it, at which point you can take off the tape.

04. Reupholster your chair

There are certain fabrics that cats naturally tend to avoid scratching. A good way to go about cat-proofing your chair is to reupholster it with a cat-repelling fabric. For instance, they don’t tend to like velvet, velour, or microfibres. Any fabric that is very tightly woven or not rough enough will be disinteresting to cats. See what works for you.

05. Place a blanket over the chair

If nothing else, a blanket can work quite well as a protective layer. Cats don’t tend to go for scratching blankets, so it will be an effective way to protect your chair.

Why do cats destroy desk chairs?

Sometimes it’s hard to think that your cat isn’t doing it just to spite you, especially given the fact that you’ve provided a perfectly good scratchpad (Click here to see the price, on Amazon #Ad) for them. However, there are various reasons as to why cats don’t tend to stick to scratching just one thing, but rather seem to be scratching every bit of fabric they can find.

The reason they do this is because they don’t only scratch for comfort, but also to mark their territories. If they’re feeling threatened, they will scratch. If they see that something is new and smells foreign to them, they will scratch.

They are also looking to sharpen their claws – if their scratchpad is too old and blunt, they will seek out new things, such as your desk chair, to be their next prey.

Is it worth getting a chair reupholstered?

Reupholstering furniture can be a great thing to do. Firstly, it is an environmentally friendly option since you’re just revamping your furniture rather than throwing it away. Secondly, if you like the design of your chair (Click here if you also have a gaming chair), but not the material (or your material is not cat-friendly), it can be a great way to have your cake and eat it too.

However, reupholstering is not always the cheapest option. So, if you find yourself tight on money, reupholstering is probably not the best option, though it is one of the most long-term and efficient solutions.

How can I calm my cat down?

If you are keen to calm your cat down you are in the right place. Below I have listed some good options for you:

01. Pheromone Diffuser

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A pheromone diffuser is a great way to calm your cat down. It mimics a pheromone which makes cats feel protected and secure and will prevent them from needing to scratch or urinate out of territorial anxiety. This kit also has a refill option and will usually last you up to a month.

02. Be There for Your Cat

It sounds elementary, but many cats will have separation anxiety or attention deficits which will make them anxious. One of the most effective ways to calm down your cat is to be there for them, pet them, and allow them to feel safe and secure around you.

Why declawing your cat is NOT a good idea

Declawing your cat can be a traumatic and painful experience for them. Declawed cats tend to become more aggressive and anxious since their claws are their first line of defense. This will cause a myriad of other problems for you, such as having them hiss at you, being unfriendly, and urinating outside of the litterbox more often. Declawing a cat is so unnatural for a cat. Think of it like taking your own finger off. Don’t do it!

What material is naturally cat-proof?

A chair with velvet, velour, or microfibre fabric will be naturally cat-proof (what if you have a Mac keyboard on your desk? click here). There are also options such as getting a steel chair and simply having a removable pillow or cushion. Of course, this will not be as comfortable but will be more cat-resistant.

Should you clip your cat’s claws to help?

Trimming your cat’s claws (Click here to see if a clipper or grinder is better), as opposed to declawing (Can these cats live with normal cats OK? Click here) them, is actually a very healthy way to maintain their wellbeing. Taking just a little bit off the top every few weeks is very good for them. It can also save your furniture as they will have blunter and shorter claws. It’s a win-win for both yourself and your cat.

Does it hurt when you clip a cat’s nails?

Just a trim isn’t painful to them, but you need to make sure you’re using the proper method. Make sure you’re not cutting with a trimmer that’s too blunt, or else you risk splitting their nail, which will be painful.

What are the common problems cats cause to desk chairs?

There are several problems that cats cause desk chairs such as: scratch marks on the surface, tearing the cover material, degrading the overall look by soiling it, and dropping cat hairs all over it.

Scratch marks on the surface

If you have a desk chair with a hard smooth surface such as glossy wood, or plastic, any scratches are noticeable.

Some cats will choose to scratch these to claim their territory making it difficult to keep it intact.

Tearing the cover material

Even if you have a desk chair with material to cover it, it can still be damaged by being torn. In some cases this can look worse than a scratch on the hard surface beneath it.

Especially if you have a padded surface. Meaning, soft material with stuffed padding inside. When this happens it can leave the stuffing half=hanging out.

Degrading the overall look by soiling it

Other issues include your cat degrading the general look of the chair by soiling it. This can be a slow and subtle process. But, overtime it can make it look bad.

Dropping cat hairs all over it

If your cat is shedding it can leave a lot of hairs all over the place. Especially if it is a long haired cat. This can also be quite embarrassing if guests come round.

What are the advantages of microfiber desk chairs?

Microfiber material for desk chairs is beneficial for a number of reasons such as it being scratch resistant, known to be hypoallergenic, reppells cat hairs and it handles water well by keeping it on the surface layer.

For these reasons it is an option that some cat owners consider, when considering the material for their desk chairs. But, it is also useful for other things, such as cleaning TV or computer screens.

Can cats claw mesh?

Yes, cats can claw mesh. It is not easy for cats to do however. This is why you may see many cat carriers with plastic or metal wire to ensure they can’t get through.

Can you buff scratches out of leather?

Yes. But, you can only buff away very light scratches. Anything deep will not be removed in this way. For those light ones, you can often use some leather oil and a cloth and buff it out.

However, if you have a cat that keeps damaging your leather chair, then you will find it almost impossible to keep the leather looking good. Unless, you train your cat to keep away from it.

Why do cats pee on leather furniture?

Your cat may choose to pee on your leather furniture to mark its territory. This is quite common, especially with male cats. This is why some cat owners opt to neuter them.

However, other reasons could be because your cat is aging and finds it hard to get to the litter tray easily, or it has a medical issue, such as a UTI.