Sheets and cats

When we recently moved, we got a new bed - different size than the last one. At first I just picked up the cheapest sheets. While they hold up good with cat claws, they are a tad "rough". I want something softer, but not delicate. After looking for sheets on the internet and Linens 'n Things, I am soooo confused! Not only are their thread counts out the wazzoo, but different kinds of cotton, terry, flannel (and quite a few more that I can't remember!)

Anyone have some hints as to what would be good without costing 2 arms and a leg?

Sorry - I buy whatever is on sale and doesn't have to be ironed. Flannel generally stands up well to cat claws, and is soft. I generally use that in the winter, and seersucker, which doesn't show the "pulls", in summer.

Seersucker? What is that like? I agree with you on the no ironing. I am a no ironing household myself.

I'm interested in this topic too, but not so much from the cat claw department but from the cat fur stickyness department. With six furbabies, the fur piles up quick everywhere in my apartment!

I have a futon in my living room which I cover with a fitted sheet. The fitted sheet on there now though I think has a high polyester or some other plastic content. I'm finding that plastic fabrics seem to attract cat fur and hold onto it forever! I think next time I buy a cover it will either be 100% cotton or something very very slippery like nylon so the cat fur just can't stick to it!

I'd love to hear how well flannel releases cat fur upon washing. I know fabrics like polar fleece almost act like a cat brush for me... attracting fur, then never letting it go, even after repeated washings!
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Seersucker is 100% cotton, with a sort of striped effect (smooth alternating with rippled). I've got plenty of pictures with JC on seersucker sheets, and will post one.
Flannel does hold cat hairs, but not nearly as much as polar fleece, and usually the dryer "catches" them. I've found the 100% cotton doesn't attract cat hair as much as synthetics, too. Anything acrylic is a cat-hair magnet.

Yeah I agree about acrylic! And the reason it is such a magnet is because it literally IS a magnet. I remember when I was really young doing this experiment with rabbit fur and an acrylic rod and the static it produced.... same thing happens with cat fur and acrylics!

I found the pattern to make those cat tents and other cat beds (ones shaped like a fish) and I've been preparing to make some for my little fur babies. My cats love Cream colored polar fleece... Don't ask me why, but the color of the fleece matters! Though they love it, I kinda don't want to use that when I make their beds because of the cat fur sticking issues. With black cats, their beds will look yucky real quick just like the white comforter I have on my bed now!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's found the plastic fabrics to be magnetic!
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We use flannel sheets year-round, yes even in summer in Dixie! We found out that they weren't any hotter than regular cotton sheets, and oohhh soooo soooft! Hmm, this thread reminds me, I have a set that have cats printed on them, hub doesn't like to sleep on them, says the cats scratch him , lol!

Ironing.....What's ironing JK I am allegic to the iron.....not! But in a way wish that I was. I use the flannel sheets and they are soooooo soft. Love them but as Jcat said they do hold the cat hair and dog hair too in my case.

I buy factory seconds, at places like Big Lots and Factory-2-U. Usually, a queen-sized sheet set costs me about $20.00. Right now, I have two sets that are almost three years old and they are in perfect condition. Both of them cmae from Factory-2-U. I bought a flannel set, at Big Lots and it was only $25.00.

The flannels are 100% cotton but the others are 50/50 poly/cotton blend. After a few washings, they're soft enough. Bill and I aren't really concerned about the cat hair.

Originally Posted by Monica's Six

Yeah I agree about acrylic! And the reason it is such a magnet is because it literally IS a magnet. I remember when I was really young doing this experiment with rabbit fur and an acrylic rod and the static it produced.... same thing happens with cat fur and acrylics!

I found the pattern to make those cat tents and other cat beds (ones shaped like a fish) and I've been preparing to make some for my little fur babies. My cats love Cream colored polar fleece... Don't ask me why, but the color of the fleece matters! Though they love it, I kinda don't want to use that when I make their beds because of the cat fur sticking issues. With black cats, their beds will look yucky real quick just like the white comforter I have on my bed now!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's found the plastic fabrics to be magnetic!

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LOL! Jamie believes that every acrylic/fleece blanket in the house belongs to him, and complains if we use them on the beds or sofas. Not for "human consumption". He just loves them! And obviously they all are "cat-hair city", although I'm constantly washing them.

I have found that the only fur free material is 100% cotton. The Flannel sheets are so comfy though, if you don't mind a few cat hairs I would stick to the flannel. I am going to make my four some beds out of 100% cotton, but I bet they don't use them.

Regarding sheets.    QVC sells flannel sheets by Malden  Mills.     Walden, Mr. Tippins and Spook swear by them.   I use them all year.  They are the softest sheets ever.  Read the reviews.   Hope this helps.    .  I have the leopard and snowman sheets. 

Lauren

I've always loved cotton sheets - percale or flannel, but since I discovered 100% linen bedding I will never go back.  It's not cheap, but it lasts forever, so if you want to buy sheets you never have to replace, linen is the way to go. They are like you said, soft but not delicate.

Llinen is anti-static, so it actually repels cat hair. We have noticed a huge difference even though the cats are on the sheets a lot more (they love the fabric, too).  It's also very healthy for your skin, especially if you have issues like eczema, rashes, acne. It dries very quickly (much faster than cotton) because we all sweat at night so it keeps you cool. (Funny enough they are also cozy warm in the winter.) The fabric might look a little rough to the eye, but they are very soft on the skin and get softer every washing. In fact, they are considered at their best when they are 3 years old or older.

Lots of mainstream places are now carrying 100% linen bedding. Our cats don't sharpen their claws on the bedding, but they do knead on it. We've had ours for about 2 years now and there are zero pinpoint holes anywhere - maybe because the weave of the cloth is more open and the flax is so strong. My cotton sheets always got those little holes from the cats' claws.

Anyway, linen is kind of expensive at first, but like anything of good quality, it's nicer to use and is cost-effective in the long run since it doesn't have to be replaced often, if at all.

Hmmm, that's interesting, I've never thought of linen for bedding before. Linen always seems so scratchy, but I bet it would soften over time and last a long time. I have a linen skirt which annoys me because I hate ironing and you need to with linen. Don't think I'd bother with bed sheets though.

No, I wouldn't iron them either, natural linen looks beautiful. It's best for the fabric to line-dry and you end up with smoothed fabric if you do that. Even though they dry quickly on a line, I usually put ours in the dryer on low and that's ok, too. They look a little wrinkly at first but then smooth out once they are on the bed. 

It's actually very soft to sleep on from the first night, the fibers massage you. The fabric might look rough but it sure doesn't feel that way sleeping on it.

Linen repels radiation, too, and radon. Isn't that weird? Sounds like I'm making it up but it's easy enough to google. It's also used in bandages because it helps with the healing. Someone who is bed-bound won't get bedsores from 100% linen bedding. The list of benefits is long.

I took this picture of Tophel (rhymes with waffle) because he wouldn't leave the bed when we first got the linen sheets. 

That is really interesting!  Over time I'm becoming a sheet snob.    I like good quality sheets; flannel for winter and a smooth cotton for summer.  I'll have to look around for some linen sheets to see if I find a good deal at some point.  Over the last few years I've really liked the look of natural fiber fabrics.  I've had my eye on some curtains that are a linen look.  

I like good sheets. I may pay more, but they last a lot longer.

Right now we're still using flannel sheets and, unless we skip spring and go straight into summer, I'll probably continue to keep flannel on the bed for another six weeks or so. I hate being cold or even being chilly. (Last night was the first night in months that I didn't turn on the electric blanket.)

I like the microfiber sheets, personally.  The only thing I care about for my bedding is that it be comfortable to sleep on. I have microfiber blankets too, which I love. They are lightweight and warm.  None of it was very expensive either.

i like the jersey knit cotton sheets -- cool and comfortable.