December 2018 - Comfort Works Blog & Sofa Resources

Gift shopping for more than one person simultaneously can be a challenge, even more so when you’ve got picky, design-conscious family and friends to impress.

If you’re feeling a little nervous about buying a gift for someone with a sharp eye for gorgeous design, you can breathe a little easier―we’ve done the legwork for you by scouring the web and shortlisting our favourites.

The result? 10 beautifully-designed gift ideas that will knock some hard-to-please socks off.

Let’s go shopping!

1. Ugmonk Gather Modular Organiser, $149-$199. This sleek, wooden workdesk organiser is designed with the minimalist in mind. It comes as a basic set that contains a base with small and large trays as well as a pen, phone and post-it holders. You can also opt for the extended set that comes with a coaster plus holder, and a headphone stand.

2. Polder’s Old World Market Petite Artisan Spoons, $69. These exquisitely handcrafted spoons can be used for serving or eating. Each spoon is carefully carved by the Polder family on their farm in Virginia and is guaranteed to add a touch of rustic charm to any thoughtfully-curated kitchen.

3. Tuft + Paw Rifiuti litter box holder, $499. For the design-obsessed home owner, nothing disrupts a perfectly-crafted aesthetic faster than an unsightly cat litter box. The perfect solution is this clever, discreet litter box holder that’s disguised as a Scandinavian-style cupboard, where your feline friends can ‘go’ in complete privacy.

4. Fred Brew Whale Tea Infuser, $14. Super fun to use for the tea lover and easy to clean. When the mood for a steaming hot cuppa strikes, all they have to do is fill up this adorable, food-grade silicone whale with tea leaves, submerge it in hot water and wait for a couple of minutes it work its magic. Next: Have a whale of a tea time!

5. Away The Daypack, $145. If you’re looking for the best-looking backpack around that also pulls its weight in the functionality department, this is it. Its clean, minimalist exterior is designed to please the eye, while its spacious interior accomodates more than you’d expect, thanks to multiple compartments that can securely hold everything a traveller needs, including a 13″ laptop.

6. Comfort Works Savannah Saddle leather sofa slipcover, from $479. Give someone you love the gift of a seriously sexy sofa upgrade with this super-snug slipcover. Made to fit like a glove for a sleek, classy look, you can also add custom touches like piping, tufting buttons and legs. To keep the Savannah Saddle leather pristine, all they’ll have to do is wipe it clean.

7. Diptyque Figuier candle, $65. If there ever was a candle designed to be a work of art, the Diptyque candle would be it. Hand-poured in Paris and made with the highest-quality, nature-sourced scents (you won’t find synthetic fragrances or potentially harmful chemicals here), the Diqtyque candle in Figuier (along with the rest of the brand’s scents) has a cult-like following who adore its intoxicatingly rich and milky yet fruity aroma.

8. Onsen Towel Set. The best part about wrapping up a soul-soothing shower? Wrapping yourself in a lusciously-soft towel after. Which is why the Onsen Towel, with its gorgeous waffle weave that’s made with premium cotton gets our vote as the perfect gift for the discerning home owner. We also love that it’s super absorbent, quick to dry and lightweight.

9. Collapsible Wooden Armrest Tray. Shopping for someone who loves nothing more than spending the evenings in with the TV remote? This armrest tray will help keep them nourished and hydrated with more peace of mind than having food and drinks perched precariously ON their sofa (Read: Stain alert!).

10. Everlane The Form Bag, $235. This versatile, classic staple is made from Italian leather, can be worn on the shoulder or strapped as a crossbody bag, and is roomy enough to hold everyday essentials in addition to a 13″ laptop―perfect for the busy person who’s style conscious in and out of the house.

There you go: The 10 amazing gifts we’d get for the design-obsessed people in our lives.

If you found this post helpful, tell us: Which gift would you get?

Cats don’t know – or care, for that matter – that they aren’t supposed to shred your couch or shed all over the cushions. To them, everything in the house is cat furniture.

So how do you protect your upholstery from your beloved feline? While a stern “no” isn’t likely work like it does with canines, a slightly more strategic approach can help you protect your couch.

Try these seven proven methods for protecting your favourite sofa from your cat’s fur, dirt, and claws.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Make the scratching post more enticing
Provide plenty of alternative lounging options
Optimise the litter box area
Groom your cat regularly
CBD oil
Vinyl nail caps
Make the sofa cat-proof

1. Make the scratching post more enticing

cat-scratching-post — Image credit: Unsplash

Scratching is normal and healthy cat behaviour. It’s how they mark their territory, remove the dead outer layer of their claws, and stretch their legs and feet. It’s important they have a scratching post for them to use or they will use your couch instead.

You may need to experiment with moving the scratching post around to find the most effective location. Preferably, the scratching post should be somewhere that your cat already spends a lot of time. You can also try creating a space for your cat that includes a comfy bed and cat toys that will encourage your cat to spend time there.

It’s important to find a scratching post that has a texture your cat likes. Some cats prefer felt or rope, while others prefer wood textures. Experiment with a couple different scratching posts to find the one they like best. Spray the scratching post with catnip once a day to entice them to scratch until it becomes a habit.

The most important factor for a good scratching post is that it’s stable. Avoid any posts that are moving, or that affix to something that moves (like a door). Your cat will try it once and then never again.

2. Provide plenty of alternative lounging options

If your cat has deemed the couch as their primary spot to sprawl out, you may need to provide them with some of their own furniture to lounge in. Try to identify what attracts your cat to your sofa and then get cat furniture that they will like even better.

For example, if your cat likes high places and is constantly climbing onto the back of your sofa, a tall cat tree or even installing a cat shelf might be ideal.

If your cat prefers to nestle within the soft cushions or under the throw, an enclosed or cave-like bed will offer even more solitude for your cat.

If the sofa is by a window and they use the sofa to lounge in the sunbeams, install a comfy cat couch by the window to give your cat better access to the sun.

3. Optimise the litter box area

Cat’s can be very fussy about where they do their business, and if their litter box is not to their liking, they may soil your furniture in protest. Make sure the litter box is big enough for your cat, and in a private, quiet place. Many cats prefer enclosed or concealed litter boxes. This variety of also helps contain the litter and reduces the amount of tracking across your floor your furniture.

Placing a large mat under the litter box can also help catch loose granules of litter. Lastly, you can consider using a heavier type of litter to further reduce tracking, but careful; if your cat doesn’t like the new litter, they won’t use it!

4. Groom your cat regularly

Use a tool with a stainless steel comb, like the Furminator, to effectively remove loose fur from their undercoat. Brushing your cat every other day can significantly reduce the amount of fur that ends up on your couch.!

A silicone pet brush or pet glove can also do wonders for collecting loose hairs from your cat and furniture. The fur sticks to the rubbery surface making it very quick to wipe up fur from your sofa.

5. CBD oil

Excessive furniture scratching and furniture soiling can also be a symptom of high anxiety in cats, particularly when they are also displaying other anxious behaviours such as constant meowing, aggression, hiding, clinginess, or low appetite.

If you suspect your cat is displaying anxious behaviour, CBD oil might help. Administering CBD oil can be done with a dosing dropper when your cat is calm. If your cat is skittish, some owners find that wrapping their cat in a towel can help keep them calm and still while administering the CBD oil.

Keep in mind that although CBD is widely available in most US states, there are still some laws prohibiting the purchase and possession of CBD. Make sure you are clear on your state’s laws before pursuing this option.

6. Vinyl nail caps

Declawing your cat should never be an option. Declawing doesn’t just remove the claws; it amputates the last bone of every toe. The result is a higher risk of health problems, chronic pain, impaired balance, and can introduce whole host of other undesirable behaviours, like urinating outside the litterbox and hostility. The procedure is so inhumane it is banned in 22 other countries.

Try vinyl nail caps instead – these are soft covers that are glued over your cat’s nails. Your cat will continue their scratching behaviour, but the vinyl covers will prevent any damage to the furniture. The caps naturally fall off after four to five weeks as their nails grow.

The downside is that not all cats adapt well to them. They may also prove difficult to apply if your cat doesn’t like to have their paws touched. Your vet may be able to help you apply them, but keep this option as a last resort.

7. Make the sofa cat-proof

Lastly, if all else fails to prevent your cat from terrorizing the sofa, you can still change the sofa itself. Either by buying a different couch or making your current one cat-proof.

Cats generally like textured and rough surfaces where they can sink their claws in. Some people have advocated that double-sided tape is an alternative material you can apply to your couch that will discourage your cat from clawing, as they are put off by things that stick to their feet.

However it’s not the most aesthetic so if you’re not keen on the idea of DIY solutions, getting a fitted cat-proof slipcover might be an alternative. Other than being made from velvet which is less pleasurable to scratch, they are also too tightly knitted for cat claws to puncture. Plus they are machine washable for easy cleaning so it’s definitely an avenue to explore.

Overall takeaway

By using a few of the above strategies, training your cat to leave your sofa alone is entirely possible. Keep in mind that it may take time for your cat to learn which furniture is theirs and which is yours. But with a little patience and consistency, your cat and sofa can have a harmonious existence together.

To learn more about how we can help to cat-proof your sofa, read up on our washable claw-proof velvet slipcovers below:

Discover cat-proof slipcovers