Short answer: Our own assessment is that Aquaforte Velvet is the most durable sofa fabric for pets in our range. It has the highest Martindale result we publish (more than 200,000 rubs), a dense surface that gives claws fewer places to catch, and strong stain resistance. Performance Chenille is a good second choice, and the rest of our fabrics come with real limitations in a home with animals.
A rub count measures how well a fabric survives repeated rubbing, which is wear from sitting. It does not measure what a claw does to the surface, how a fabric handles a spill, or how much hair it holds on to. Below, we explain how to read the numbers, compare our fabrics honestly and cover colour and cleaning.
On This Page
- What a Martindale rub count tells you (and what it does not)
- Our fabrics compared for homes with cats and dogs
- Aquaforte Velvet: the one we rate best
- Performance Chenille and the textured options
- Stains, spills and pet hair
- Which colours hide pet hair and daily marks
- Cleaning and covers
- Our recommendation
- Explore our sofas and fabrics
What a Martindale rub count tells you (and what it does not)
The Martindale test rubs a fabric against a standard abrasive until it wears. A higher number means the fabric lasts longer under that rubbing, so it is a useful measure of everyday seat wear. In our range, the numbers run from 15,000 to more than 200,000.
Claws are a different kind of damage. A claw hooks and pulls individual threads, so the surface structure (looped, ribbed, open or dense) matters more than the rub count. A fabric can score well on Martindale and still snag, and a fabric with a modest score can be tough on claws if its surface is tight.
That is why we treat the rub count as one input and add our own pet assessment. The pet ratings in this article are our own assessment, not an independent test, and no fabric is claw-proof or stain-proof.
Our fabrics compared for homes with cats and dogs
Our fabrics compared for homes with cats and dogs
| Fabric | Martindale rubs | Our pet assessment | Main point for pet owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaforte Velvet | More than 200,000 | Excellent | Dense surface, strong stain resistance, hair is easier to remove |
| Performance Chenille | 48,000 | Good | Textured surface conceals hair and small marks, but claws can occasionally catch it |
| Corduroy | 15,000 | Good, with limitations | Conceals hair in some colours, but the ribbed structure is more open to snagging |
| Aquaforte | 78,000 | Poor | Excellent stain resistance, but the weave can catch claws and hold hair |
| Performance Fabric | 48,000 | Moderate | More open, thinner weave that can trap fur between fibres |
Textured Weave and Performance Textured Weave (54,000 Martindale rubs) are not rated for pets. Regular Aquaforte (78,000) and Aquaforte Velvet are different fabrics, so do not assume they perform alike.
Aquaforte Velvet: the one we rate best
We developed Aquaforte Velvet with pet owners in mind. Its dense, thick construction leaves claws fewer places to catch, and it has lower static than many fabrics, so hair clings less and is easier to lift off. It also has excellent water and stain resistance and an ultra-soft, buttery feel, which answers the common worry that a tough fabric has to feel rough.
You can find it on our Orian, Atmosphere, Ciello, Gaia and Cassini sofas in Aqua, Chocolate and Crumble. One honest limitation: colour contrast can make fur visible, so pick a shade that sits close to your pet's coat.
Performance Chenille and the textured options
Performance Chenille (Good). The nubby, fuzzy surface is good at hiding hair and small marks, and it resists visible pilling well. The trade-off is that claws can occasionally catch it, so it is less scratch-resistant than Aquaforte Velvet. Our chenille colours include Sage, Espresso, Bordeaux, Cobblestone and Carbon.
Corduroy (Good, with limitations). The ribbed surface can conceal hair, depending on colour, but it is more open to snagging and reaches 15,000 Martindale rubs. Choose corduroy for its look if the animals in your home are gentle on furniture.
Stains, spills and pet hair
Stain behaviour is the second thing to check after claws. On a stain-resistant fabric, a spill sits on the surface long enough to blot away instead of soaking straight in, which helps with water bowls, muddy paws and the occasional accident. Stain-resistant does not mean stain-proof, so blot quickly and follow the care guidance for your fabric.
Hair is the third. A smoother, denser surface such as Aquaforte Velvet has lower static, so hair clings less and lifts off more easily, while looped or open weaves can hold on to it. If hair is your main concern, the fabric you choose matters as much as the colour.
Which colours hide pet hair and daily marks
Colour decides how visible hair and marks are, while the fabric decides how easily you remove them. As general advice, match the sofa to your pet's coat as closely as practical: a warm tan or light neutral conceals light or golden fur, and a darker shade conceals dark fur. A dark sofa makes pale hair more obvious, so dark is not automatically the easy choice with a white dog or cat.
In our range, that points to a few starting places:
- Light or golden fur: Crumble (Aquaforte Velvet), or Frost (chenille on Cassini and Atmosphere).
- Dark fur: Chocolate (Aquaforte Velvet), or Carbon and Cobblestone (chenille on Atmosphere).
- Mixed or unsure: mid-tone neutrals and textured surfaces tend to blend hair and small marks better than very light or very dark plain fabrics. A free swatch held against your pet's coat tells you more than any list.
For more on picking a shade, see our guide to how to choose a sofa colour.
Cleaning and covers
Cleaning decides how clean the sofa can get over years. On our Ciello, Gaia, Atmosphere and Cassini sofas, the upholstered components have removable covers, so one damaged cover can be washed or replaced without replacing the sofa. On Neptune and Orian, the cushion covers are removable and machine washable, but the upholstery on the arms and base is fixed.
To wash a removable cover, use cold water and a mild detergent, lay it flat to dry and put it back only when it is fully dry. For the full steps by fabric, read how to clean your sofa. For a wider look at washable options, see our guides to washable sofas for pets and kids and pet-friendly sofas. If you want the full fabric breakdown, read our sofa fabric types guide and what performance fabric is.
Our recommendation
- Cats that scratch, or dogs and cats together: Aquaforte Velvet in Crumble, Chocolate or Aqua.
- You want a textured look and hair concealment: Performance Chenille, knowing that claws can occasionally catch it.
- You love a ribbed look: corduroy, with a calm animal and a bit more care.
- Pet-free or low-risk home, or a light colour: regular Aquaforte or Performance Fabric (rated Moderate) suit the look, but we rate them lower for pets.
- Unsure: order free swatches and test them with your own pet hair and daily mishaps before you commit.
Explore our sofas and fabrics
Product specifications can change. Check the current colours and details on the product page before ordering.