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Experts share their surprising and lifestyle-changing picks.

When your adorable pet loves your couch as much as you do, it may seem impossible to keep your furniture clean and intact, but that's just not the case. It's all in the fabric you choose—sure, some won't stand a chance against your cat's claws, but others won't show scratches so easily. You might want to rethink trading in your couch for a sleek leather sofa that can stand the test of curious claws. And there are actually plenty of fabrics that won't hold onto any weird odors your pup might leave behind, either. Some of them might surprise you, but these are the fabrics experts say are virtually pet-proof.

Woven fabrics—like some felts, chenille, herringbone, and other fabrics with visual texture or subtle patterns—are a good call when you've got pets, according to Lauren Cox, Design Program Manager at Havenly. "They have dimensionality, which means that they help to disguise stains and make pet hair less noticeable," she says. "They perform even better with pets if you opt for a mid-tone or darker hue, rather than a light fabric color!" Prints and patterns are also a good idea, for the same reason. "Multi-colored fabric patterns, versus solid color fabrics, are the best at hiding scratches," says Burnie Wright, Technical Specialist for ServiceMaster Clean.

Resembling velvet, velour is a knitted fabric made from cotton and polyester that won't tempt your furry friend. "It has more stretch than velvet and is great for dance and sports clothes, particularly leotards and tracksuits. A friend of ours mentioned that velvet is less appealing to cats,” says Tammer Hijazi, the cofounder and design director of Bower Studio. "So they upholstered their clean-lined sofa in a short-pile cotton velour from Kvadrat to protect it from the claws of their Bengal cat, Cleo." Hayslett looks for hard-wear-ing commercial fabrics with rub counts of 100,000 to 200,000, which hold up well to pets, and Ireland seeks out mohair for homes with cats, because it gives them the hee-bie-jeebies. His other tip: “Use solution-dyed acrylic car-pets if you have an incontinent dog; you can actually bleach it and it won’t change color."

If odor's a concern, try a low-pile fabric like microfiber or synthetic velvet. "Low-pile fabrics are best for preventing odors since there's less material to trap odors in the first place," Cox says. "Not to mention, they're often very tightly woven, which makes them easy to clean and nearly claw-proof as well." Debra Johnson, Home Cleaning Expert at Merry Maids echoes this sentiment. While she says it's best to prevent pets from scratching upholstery in the first place, Johnson notes that microfiber "holds up well to resist tears or pulls."

It might surprise you to see leather on this list, but it's surprisingly pet-friendly for a few reasons—it's easy to clean, and it wears minor damage well. "Leather, especially top-grain leather, is also a great option for pets because most spills or stains can be wiped right off," Cox explains, adding that leather also gets better with age. "Some leathers are more prone to scratches than others, but these scratches to the surface don't have to be a deal-breaker—think of it like your pets breaking in your leather sofa, like an old leather cigar jacket. These surface scratches and marks can really add character!"

With the exception of leather, Cox says that synthetic materials are "always preferred over natural materials when it comes to picking a fabric for your pet-friendly furniture." Think fabrics with high polyester, acrylic, or other synthetic material (like nylon, according to Wright) content. "They are often easier to clean and can stand up longer to everyday wear and tear," Cox says. "Always double check the cleaning instructions for your specific fabric, but most times, synthetic materials can be cleaned with an over-the-counter carpet or fabric cleaner instead of calling in the professionals." Johnson adds that these durable fabrics are "able to be wiped with a damp cloth for soiled areas, and pet hair is able to be removed with a dry microfiber cloth, pet sponge, lint brush or tape."

You may be hesitant to use outdoor fabrics on indoor furniture, but think about it—they turn your patio furniture into pieces that can withstand bad weather, so naturally, they can handle one dog or two. Cox specifically recommends Sunbrella fabrics for this. "Indoor/outdoor fabrics like Sunbrella are mold and mildew resistant and meant to stand up to the harshest of elements. No matter how rambunctious your pets are, outdoor fabrics are no match for them," Cox says. "As an added bonus, indoor/outdoor fabrics hold up well to scratches and claws, too."

Cox also suggests using fabrics from Crypton Home, which are made with built-in moisture-repelling, stain-fighting, odor-resisting properties. You can learn more about how they work on Crypton's website. You can also add an extra protective layer to your existing furniture—and not just in the form of a physical cover (though Johnson does recommend those too, especially in a canvas fabric!) either. "If you do have upholstered furniture, I would recommend a protectant, such as Scotchgard," says Wright.

Another thing to keep in mind? Any fabrics that are washable won't hold onto odors, but that doesn't mean you never have to worry about weird smells. "It is normally the padding under the upholstery that holds on to the odor," Wright explains, adding that it's worth consulting a pro to take care of this, should it become an issue for you. "There are professional processes for removing odor from upholstered padding. This is not something you want to attempt on your own."

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