Getting a new leather couch-worried about clawing

This spring,when our addition is finished I'm getting a leather couch and loveseat.I have wanted one forever and it is very expensive. Anyway, I have two four month old kittens that RIGHT NOW are not scratching things.I keep their nails short,etc. What I am really worried about is that they will fall in love with my couch and tear it up. Is there anything I can do to help assure that they might leave it alone? We have an open floor plan so I can't lock them away from the couch. My friend recommended declawing so that I woudln't have to worry,but I don't want to do that. But I want my nice beautiful couch too.Is there a way to keep the claws and the couch safe?
Thanks.

there are several threads on the site regarding soft paws. they are little plastic tips that adhere to the cats' claws and prevent them from being able to claw anything.

check out
www.softpaws.com

Duh, I never even thought about soft claws.Sorry. I haven't read up on them much so I'll have to check it out. Are they easy to find or is it mail order? How long do they last? My kittens are used to me playing with their paws and making their claws come out so that I can trim them so HOPEFULLY it would be easier to put the soft claws on them. Oh, how much do they cost? Are they pricey?
Would you start using them now or wait till they start clawing things,if they do? They claw their post a lot but not furniture,YET.
And I also "bragged" that they were leaving the tree alone......not anymore! I caught them half way up it and the decorations were falling -little farts!Oh well, we'll make it to Christmas.I've now put a couple chairs around it so if it falls it can't completely fall and hurt them or anything else.

I've never actually used them as I only have junky furniture that I don't care about my cats clawing. I browsed the site a little bit and they were selling 40 tips for $17.95 (each set lasting 4-6 weeks), but they may be a different price at petsmart or petco. The site also said most people only apply them to the front claws as opposed to all four. If you don't care about your cats clawing your current furniture, I'd wait until the couch arrives to buy some. They'll probably only prevent your cats from climbing your christmas tree, not jumping on it. I'd check through some previous posts, several members have given soft paws rave reviews.

I had posed the question to an owner of a small furniture store. He said to scratch the leather samples with your fingernail. If the nail leaves a mark-do not get that brand/type of leather. Some of course are better than others.
One of my friends has 3 cats and a leather sofa and hasn't had any problems so far (she has had the sofa for a few yrs).

When Rosie was an only cat she caught the side of my leather suite several times, but she's never touched it since i got Sophie, and Sophies never even bothered

Originally Posted by MeowsersMom

The site also said most people only apply them to the front claws as opposed to all four.

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If you're worried, I'd put them on all four-- I used to just do the front paws, but I got tired of Alcott ripping holes in my clothes and furniture when he braced himself and jumped. Since thats accidental and probably very difficult to train out of a cat (as opposed to training them to use a post) I'd start out with all four paws covered.
You can also get soft paws on ebay for a lot cheaper-- there usually aren't as many colors available, but its about 5 dollars or so less.

I have leather couches...my cats run around like mad..but yet, they don't scratch up the leather at all. I attribute this to tons of scratching posts and regular nail clippings.

Katie

Originally Posted by smokiethecat

This spring,when our addition is finished I'm getting a leather couch and loveseat.I have wanted one forever and it is very expensive. Anyway, I have two four month old kittens that RIGHT NOW are not scratching things.I keep their nails short,etc. What I am really worried about is that they will fall in love with my couch and tear it up. Is there anything I can do to help assure that they might leave it alone? We have an open floor plan so I can't lock them away from the couch. My friend recommended declawing so that I woudln't have to worry,but I don't want to do that. But I want my nice beautiful couch too.Is there a way to keep the claws and the couch safe?
Thanks.

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I'm a bit confused - if the cats are not scratching up your furniture now why do you think they are going to scratch up your furniture in the spring? The suggestion of having scratching posts available for them is a good one. If they are trained to use the scratching posts now, I can't see that they would switch to your leather sofa in the spring.

I'm so glad you are not declawing. Perhaps your friend is not aware of what declawing entails and it would be good to educate her so she never had any of her kitties declawed.

Keeping their claws clipped and supplying them with scratching posts should keep them away from your furniture. My best friend bought a ragdoll a few years ago and also had leather couch and chair. They were going to declaw and I talked her out of it and recommended they get a couple scratching posts. They got the posts and did not declaw thank goodness.

Thank you for the replys. I think I will wait until we get the couch before I put any on. They aren't scratching now,but being kittens,who knows if they may decide to start. Or maybe the leather will attract them and it will be an expensive couch and I'd hate to see it ruined. Thanks for letting me know that they last 4-6 weeks. If I do both kitties,front and back...it would be about 20 dollars a month. Thanks for the idea to look on ebay. My kittens weren't jumping on the dining room table till recently either,so I just worry that they may decide to start scratching too....or they may not.Just wanted to be safe in case. Thanks for the idea about checking the couch with my fingernail....I guess some would be less scratch prone than others. I'll have to buy some more scratch posts to put in the new addition to keep them busy.Plus,I have bought them a cat tree for Christmas!
Oh, last night they came into bed with us again and didn't get right in my face and purr like a chainsaw! They snuggled up and went to sleep.What good little babes!!!!

Originally Posted by smokiethecat

Oh, last night they came into bed with us again and didn't get right in my face and purr like a chainsaw! They snuggled up and went to sleep.What good little babes!!!!

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Sounds like they are growing up mom!

I think if you have the scratching posts you will be fine - I know my friend's cat never touches her couch.