Our pets are the loves of our lives—it goes without saying. 💛
But, if we're being 100% honest, they can also present "unique decorating challenges" when it comes to maintaining your home's pulled-together look.
As a fellow pet parent, I know the pain all too well.
From torn sofa armrests to chewed table legs, fur babies can do a serious number on furniture and decor.
If keeping an eagle eye on your pet is becoming near impossible, and the thought of waking up to more damage makes your stomach churn, don't go anywhere.
We're sharing seven ways to pet-proof your furniture and highlighting why these steps matter—even when you're on a budget!
What kind of damage can dogs and cats do to furniture?
Those little paws and oversized personalities? They're why we can't have nice things! 😅
For the uninitiated, let me give you a rundown of the havoc they can wreak on home furnishings:
⚡ Unsightly grime: Dirty paws track in mud, dirt, and debris that end up sullying carpets, couches, cushions—and beyond.
⚡ Scratches galore: Cats are notorious for shredding fabric, piercing through leather, and scratching wooden furniture with sharp claws.
⚡ Bite marks: Dogs, especially rambunctious puppies, love to sink their teeth into furniture legs, pillows and padding, leaving behind tattered—nay, ravaged—pieces.
⚡ Stains and smells: Pets of all ages can have accidents that stink up and tarnish upholstery, fabrics, and flooring. But wait, there's more! Slobbery pup kisses may melt your heart, but when drool mars delicate fabrics? It breaks the heart. 💔
⚡ Shedding: Endless tufts of fur quickly (and mercilessly) get embedded into every nook and cranny of our furniture. Scratch that: Our homes, period!
Why protecting your furniture matters (even on a budget)
Protect your treasured pieces now, or pay the price later. Because leaving things status quo when you have pets leads to:
😲 Unattractive interiors: Damaged furniture is an eyesore. It lends a tired, "ruff", and neglected look that clashes with your desired aesthetic.
😵 Lingering smells: They make a home unliveable, render pieces unusable, and are an embarrassment, frankly.
😑 More work: Damage compounds over time. Meanwhile, cleaning, concealing, and correcting mishaps becomes more challenging!
😭 Rapid devaluation: Scratches, stains, and odours lower the quality and value of furnishings.
💀 Costly repairs: Reupholstering, sanding, and refinishing require experts and these days, that costs a pretty penny—if repairs are even possible.
The basics of furniture protection
We won't keep you waiting: Here are seven foolproof ways to protect your investments from sassy pets.
🚪 Keep dirt out: It's easier said than done—unless you've got the Grubby Paw Door Mat! With millions (not a typo) of rapid-drying, textured microfibre chenille "noodles" that soak up more water, mud, and dirt than competing products, you'll leave filth exactly where it belongs: Off your furniture.
🦴 Provide pet-appropriate alternatives: Give pups squeaky, rope, puzzle, or treat-dispensing toys and teething chew sticks. Buy at least two types of scratching posts, trees, or mats for kitties.
🐾 Regular grooming: Clip and buff nails down as needed so they aren't too long or sharp. Groom your pet daily using our gentle (for all fur babies) Grubby Paw Grooming Mitt. You'll enjoy quality time while effortlessly capturing excess pet hairs before they entrench themselves elsewhere.
🐕 Get enough exercise: Tired dogs are good dogs. With enough activity (physical and mental), your fur baby will be way too pooped—and happy—to be interested in table legs.
🛏️ Invest in pet beds: The right pet bed, sized and shaped to fit your pet's build, with season-appropriate fabrics, and engineered for furry comfort (nesting, burrowing, and curling into), can be more inviting than your sofa, armchair, or bed.
🪑 Cover up: Stock up on PetLab's stylish, durable, and doggy-loved Grubby Paw Throw Blanket. You can use it anywhere your fur baby likes to lounge that you'd like to keep fur-, dander-, stain-, odour-, and dirt-free! The non-slip, 100% waterproof backing keeps the throw blanket in place while shielding delicate upholstery, expensive mattresses, and sensitive fabrics from all kinds of wetness.
✨ Swift clean up: Messes are inevitable. How quickly you react and the products you use influence the outcome. Over 200,000 pet parents can't be wrong: PetLab's E.N. Zyme Urine Stain & Odour Remover is your cleaning kit's MVP and an all-around "saving grace".
Hindsight's 20/20: If you aren't proactive, you'll wish you had a time machine or a fatter wallet. Luckily, pain-free and budget-friendly furniture protection solutions are just a click away. Shop your must-have products today. No regrets—guaranteed!
