If you have pets, Cozey's strongest fabric recommendation is Aquaforte Velvet. We developed its dense construction with pet ownership in mind, and it combines resistance to scratching, easier hair removal and excellent stain resistance. Chenille is another good option, particularly if you prefer a textured fabric that helps conceal pet hair and minor wear. Not every Cozey fabric performs equally well with pets, and understanding those differences can help you make a better choice.
What a pet-friendly sofa has to handle
A sofa shared with a dog or cat takes three kinds of wear that most upholstery is not designed around: claws, moisture and hair. Check how the fabric's surface is built, how it responds to a spill, and whether hair lifts off or works its way in.
Weave and surface come first. Looped, ribbed and open-weave fabrics leave fibres exposed that a claw can hook and pull. No fabric is claw-proof or scratch-proof, so treat construction as a way to limit snags rather than a guarantee against a cat that scratches on purpose.
Stain behaviour is the second check. On a stain-resistant fabric, a spill sits on the surface long enough to blot away instead of soaking straight in, which matters for water bowls, muddy paws and the occasional accident. Stain-resistant does not mean stain-proof.
Cover care decides how clean the sofa can actually get. Surface cleaning handles a single spill, while a removable, machine-washable cover handles the hair and odour that build up over months. Pet damage usually lands on one seat or one arm, so a modular sofa that lets you replace a single module keeps one bad afternoon from costing you the whole sofa.
Which Cozey fabric to choose for pets
The table ranks Cozey's indoor fabrics for pet households. The pet suitability ratings are Cozey's own product assessment, not independently standardized ratings. Martindale cycles measure resistance to repeated rubbing and wear. A higher number does not automatically mean better resistance to claws, pilling or stains.
| Cozey fabric | Martindale cycles | Pet suitability (Cozey's assessment) |
|---|---|---|
| Aquaforte Velvet | 200,000 | Excellent |
| Chenille | 48,000 | Good |
| Corduroy | 15,000 | Good, with limitations |
| Performance Plain Weave | 90,000 | Moderate |
| Performance Basketweave | More than 100,000 | Moderate |
| Performance Natural Weave | 18,000 | Moderate |
| Aquaforte Regular | 78,000 | Poor |
| Textured Weave | 54,000 | Generally not advised |
| Bouclé | 15,000 | Generally not advised |
Outdoor Acrylic is available only on Cozey's outdoor furniture, so it is not an option for an indoor sofa.
Aquaforte Velvet: best overall for pets
Aquaforte Velvet was developed particularly with pet owners in mind, and it is our first recommendation for customers with dogs or cats.
- Dense, thick construction gives claws fewer places to catch, and it resists scratching better than our other indoor fabrics.
- Lower static than many fabrics means less pet hair clings to the surface, and fur is less likely to become embedded, so hair is easier to remove.
- Excellent water and stain resistance.
- Our highest abrasion resistance (200,000 Martindale cycles) and our strongest resistance to visible pilling.
- An ultra-soft, buttery feel.
Chenille: best textured alternative
Chenille's nubby, fuzzy texture is good at visually concealing pet hair, small marks and minor damage. It performs very well against pilling and reaches 48,000 Martindale cycles. Claws can occasionally catch the fabric, so it is not as scratch-resistant as Aquaforte Velvet.
Corduroy: good alternative, with limitations
Corduroy can conceal pet hair effectively, depending on colour. Its ribbed structure is more vulnerable to snagging and damage, and it reaches 15,000 Martindale cycles.
Performance Plain, Basketweave and Natural Weave: moderate suitability
Cozey's Performance Plain Weave, Performance Basketweave and Performance Natural Weave have a more open weave that can trap fur between fibres. They are also thinner than some alternatives, which makes them more vulnerable to scratching. We do not position them as our top pick for pets.
Fabrics we generally advise pet owners to avoid
- Aquaforte Regular: excellent stain resistance, but its directional weave can catch claws and trap hair. It is a different fabric from Aquaforte Velvet, so don't assume the two perform alike.
- Textured Weave: the open, thick weave catches claws, retains fur and is more susceptible to pilling.
- Bouclé: the looped structure can catch claws and trap fur, and it has relatively poor stain and pilling resistance.
For the full comparison across every Cozey fabric, see the guide to sofa fabric types. To see how Aquaforte and our performance weaves differ, read what performance fabric is and how it works.
Fabric colour and pet hair
Colour can matter as much as texture when it comes to how visible pet hair is. Colour affects how visible the hair is, while fabric construction affects how easily it can be removed.
- Match the sofa's colour as closely as practical to your pet's fur.
- Light or warm-toned fabrics generally conceal light or golden fur better.
- Darker colours generally conceal dark pet hair better. Brown and other dark shades also hide ordinary dirt.
- Dark furniture can make light-coloured pet hair more visible, so a dark sofa is not automatically the easy choice with a pale dog or cat.
Order a free swatch and hold it against your pet's coat before you decide.
Removable covers and what you can wash
Cozey's covers are a real advantage with pets, but what comes off depends on the collection.
- [Ciello](/collections/ciello) and [Gaia](/collections/gaia): removable fabric covers across the upholstered components, so you can refresh or replace covers without replacing the whole sofa.
- [Atmosphere](/collections/atmosphere) and Cassini: fabric covers are fully removable and replaceable, and they can be cleaned individually.
- [Neptune](/collections/neptune) and Orian: the cushion covers are removable and machine washable, but the upholstery on the arms and bases is fixed. Care for fixed upholstery according to its own cleaning instructions rather than treating it as a removable cover.
To wash a removable cover, use cold water and a mild, fragrance-free detergent, lay it flat to air-dry, and never tumble dry. Put it back only when it is completely dry.
If a pet damages a cover, you can replace that cover rather than the whole sofa, or swap in a different colour or fabric where your collection supports it. Replacement covers can be bought separately for compatible collections, and availability depends on the product and generation. Contact Customer Happiness to check what fits your sofa.
Which Cozey sofas suit a home with pets
Choose your Cozey fabric first, then the sofa. Ciello, Gaia and the Neptune Sofa Bed have removable, washable covers (on Neptune, the cushion covers) and are offered in Aquaforte. Neptune is a modular sleeper sofa with hidden storage options. Ciello can be configured with a Storage Ottoman module, which gives leashes, brushes and toys a place off the floor.
Atmosphere is a fully modular sofa that Cozey labels family and pet friendly. It is made with OEKO-TEX certified materials, its covers are removable and washable, and it is offered in Performance Chenille and Performance Textured Weave. You can start with the configuration you need now and add modules later, for example after a new pet arrives. Individual modules can be bought separately, so a damaged seat or arm can be replaced on its own.