BS: Leather loungeroom furniture

Subject: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: JennieG
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 01:59 AM

Himself and I are looking at buying new loungeroom furniture - most likely a couch and two armchairs. The current set which we have had for several years hasn't been a great success, the fabric is some sort of polyester which is a cat hair magnet, and on one of the chairs (not mine, I hasten to add) the fabric has split in a few places. We have never had leather furniture but are leaning towards a 3-seater couch in beige, with two deep chocolate-coloured arm chairs. Is leather easy to look after? what about the cats? they aren't furniture-destructive and we don't want them to start now, does leather have an attraction for kitties?

We have decided we can treat ourselves to something comfortable for our declining years.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 02:15 AM

From the experience of friends.. not personal... I believe that if you buy leather furniture, it is best to pay the price... ie good quality leather rather than the easily available cheap stuff which can lose its colour and deteriorate much quicker than the high quality stuff. It does need occasional feeding to keep it supple but takes very little general care otherwise. I am no expert.. this is just what I have picked up through friends having problems (or not) with theirs.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 08:53 AM

Your skin will stick to it in warm weather, and it's cold in cool weather. Go sit in a leather jacket to get the idea.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: 3refs
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:20 AM

Not sure that telling some of you I'm a fan of leather is a good idea. I had leather in my Caddy and two Vetts. I just loved it. If given the choice(and wallet)I'd even have a leather toilet seat(just for me)!

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 11:08 AM

I mean, "sit ON a leather jacket."

I don't mind leather, mind you. I just don't want to stick to what I sit on.

3refs, you've done it now. I hate to think of what's going to be said about you and your leather fetish. 8-)

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 11:13 AM

When they got married my daughter and son in law were given a used leather sofa. They loved it and raised three kids in its environs. Since then, they've had it re-covered, again in leather.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 12:58 PM

What about CATS? Do cats wreck leather sofas? Family of mine also have leather, and it's limited their pet options as she's concerned that a cat would ruin it.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 01:09 PM

Georgianslver gives good advice; good quality leather is expensive, but it will last. I have a large Victorian armchair, the leather becoming 'holy' after 100-150 years. My favorite chair, I had it recovered with good leather. If taken care of, it will last well into the next owner's life after I am gone.

I prefer leather for car seats.
A friend has a cushioned leather toilet seat- Like 3refs, I am tempted.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: frogprince
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 01:30 PM

"Your skin will stick to it in warm weather"
"When they got married (they) were given a used leather sofa"
If my wife and I had had a leather sofa when we got married, I'm afraid we would have spent a lot of time stuck to it.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 02:39 PM

Fabric rips are at least sewable. Leather is MUCH more difficult to fix.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 04:33 PM

Rapaire is correct...IF you decide on leather, you will no doubt also end up with some sort of fabric to cover it in hot weather.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 04:39 PM

Hmmm- nudist alert?

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 04:53 PM

Georgiansilver is right on higher end leather for another reason. The poorly tanned leather being purchased from China, for example is causing chemical burns and allergic reactions in some people in the UK.

Re catlatteral damage. A cat is gonna do what a cat is gonna do, regardless.

So go with what YOU want for your "reclining" years.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 04:59 PM

My cats prefer leather to any other scratching material. Someday when I am felineless (right, Mary) I'll have a red leather sofa.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: JennieG
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 12:30 AM

Thanks for the thoughts folks. Sins, one of the colour choices was red.....bright fire engine red....either in the sofa, or the side chairs, or both. We didn't succumb, we aren't red people, but it might have been a different story had one of the choices been lime green........

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Gurney
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 01:57 AM

Cats scratch leather even when they are not trying to! The landing after the jump does it.

You should use a leather treatment several times a year. Not too onerous.
We cover our leather suite seats in winter.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Peace
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 11:49 PM

Remember not to 'pass gas' on a warm summer day . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 11:51 PM

I cover my sweet seat in winter too!

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Janie
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 12:13 AM

Leather and scratching cats do not go well together. Of course, undeclawed cats and any kind of upholstery do not go well together. Seems it is necessary to make a choice.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: 3refs
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 12:48 AM

Leather, with just a little vegetable oil(or Johnson's Baby Oil), will provide memories that will last a life time. Cleans up easy. Enough said!

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Anne Lister
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 11:54 AM

We have three leather sofas and we love them. Our previous cat, Cleo, hated them and wouldn't go near them - maybe because they were new then and had more of a smell. Our current cat, however, adores using the arm pieces as a scratching post and has pretty much destroyed one, while the others are severely punctured.
If anyone has any brilliant ideas about how to put the cat off the idea of sinking her claws into our furniture we'd be happy to hear them.
But I'm not sure any other fabric would have fared any better ...

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: Gurney
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 11:03 PM

Oh God, Rapaire, too much information!   
Leading to FAR too much speculation.

Subject: RE: BS: Leather loungeroom furniture
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 11:43 PM

First off, make sure you have sisal scarth pads for your cats. They sell the fancy scratching posts, most of them covered in upholstery or carpeting and then expect cats to NOT use ANY of the same kind of material when we tell them they are GOOD to use it on their designated posts. Good grief, as Charlie Brown might say.:-) My cats are ecstatic with corrugated cardboard scratchers similar to THESE.

Also, you can use training mats as shown on THIS PAGE.

Or, check out your local pet supply store. They should have similar items available.

I don't know about cats and leather as I don't buy leather products, but I think any of those items would help set the allowed behaviour standards for your relaxing years.:-) Have fun and enjoy...be the Alpha Feline!**bg**