Which furniture covers are useful with an American Shorthair at home?

Frankly, I'd recommend covers made of tightly woven, smooth fabric like microfiber or canvas-anything with a "slick" finish. American Shorthairs shed like crazy, but their claws don't snag as easily on those materials, so you're less likely to find a shredded sofa after a good scratching session. Don't bother with plush, looped fabrics; they're basically invitation mats for fur and claw hooks.

My old sofa was a scratched-up wreck until I switched to heavy-duty cotton canvas covers with a tight weave. My American Shorthair, Smudge, loved kneading on them before naps, and the fabric held up to her claws without pilling or snagging. Plus, the cotton was breathable enough that she didn't get too hot in summer, and a quick shake outside got most of the fur off before guests came over.

Go for quilted or padded furniture covers with a thick backing - my American Shorthair loves to burrow and knead, and those heavy-duty quilts stop claws from poking through to the actual sofa. They’re also a lifesaver for trapping that constant fur fall, and you can just toss them in the wash without a second thought.

Start with something machine-washable and heavy - think denim-weight or duck canvas with a waterproof backing. My American Shorthair likes to claim my couch as his nap zone, and those cheap stretchy covers get destroyed within weeks because they bunch up under his weight and don't block his claws from digging in. I use a two-layer system: a fitted microfiber base cover for fur trapping, then a thick quilted cotton topper that I can swap out weekly. The key is getting covers with elastic straps that anchor around the legs of the furniture - prevents that frustrating peeling back when the cat launches off the armrest.