Slipcovers are stylish and a salvation for this cat owner

If you have a cat, you’ll want something for it to scratch on other than your upholstered furniture. My Fanny uses her two scratching post a lot. But the furniture still needs protection because Fanny will assault whatever is closest when she wants to scratch.

Sticky Paws, double-sided tape applied to furniture where a cat scratches, doesn’t deter Fanny. In fact, she will chew on it. Claw caps, which are like artificial nails, prevent damage from scratching, but affixing them to a squirming cat is an ordeal that requires help from another human. 

It took me a while to try slipcovers. I had an aesthetic dislike of them, thinking they are old-fashioned and frilly and don’t fit properly or stay in place. 

But I’ve been converted. Slipcovers are protecting my sofa and two upholstered chairs from Fanny’s claws. Their stretchy, smooth fabric must be less appealing to her than nubby upholstery because Fanny mostly leaves the slipcovered furniture alone. When she does scratch, the fabric isn’t shredding, but I wouldn’t care if it did. The slipcovers were so cheap — less than $50 total for all three — that I’d happily replace them. Maybe I’ll want to replace them sometime for a different look.

Fanny on the back of the slipcovered sofa

It’s surprising that such affordable slipcovers don’t look bad. The slipcovers on the two slipper chairs fit surprisingly well. The sofa cover has some wrinkles, but throws conceal them. Luckily, the color is a gray that matches the original sofa so well that when the slipcover rides up, it’s barely noticeable. 

The slipcovers have an informal vibe that suits me. Instead of being a last-resort compromise, they may enhance the decor.

Since I’d thought of slipcovers as outdated, it was surprising to find when I shopped that they are in style. Sales are strong not only for slipcovers to rejuvenate old couches but also for new slipcovered sofas, such as Ikea’s popular Uppland line. In contrast to the baggy slipcovers of old, today’s slipcovers are tailored and fitted. 

“These days, slipcovers are sporting more modern, simple silhouettes to accommodate in-demand contemporary furniture lines — the result is a fresh upholstered piece that embodies that cozy-modern vibe that’s been sweeping the design world,” says Apartment Therapy.

Slipcovers being in style, you don’t need the excuse of a cat to get them. Maybe your furniture has seen better days but you’d rather not pay to replace or reupholster it. Or maybe you have a new piece that you want to protect from damage. Maybe you want to change up your colors. Maybe you’re a clean freak; many slipcovers can go into the washing machine. 

Not surprisingly, the design websites recommend not cheaping out like I did. More expensive slipcovers will fit better, especially if they’re custom-made. Now that I know slipcovers are a deterrent to Fanny, I might shop for pricier ones next time.