Expert Tips: How to Fix Cat Scratches on Fake Leather

My friend's cats have a habit of rummaging through various items, often leaving scratches on her leather items. The recent target is her treasured faux leather couch. Now, while fake leather pieces seem great with their easy-to-maintain nature and their level of tear resistance, cat scratches on them are very unattractive. It makes sense why cats are drawn to leather goods; the scent of the leather, the feel of it beneath their claws, and their capacity to tighten their grasp all work together to make the “ideal” scratching post. Unfortunately, excessive scratching can damage leather, leaving an unsightly appearance. If you trace cat's claws on your faux leather, don't freight – there are a few things you can do to fix this problem. I will share a few solutions in this guide to help you fix cat scratches on fake leather. Fixing Cat Scratches on Fake Leather Fixing cat scratches on your faux leather pieces can be daunting, but you can do this using the right supplies and techniques. You would need the following items for fixing cat scratches on fake leather: Scissors Leather cleaner/wipes Leather conditioner Olive oil/saddle oil Leather glue or binder Sandpaper Leather filler Leather sealant and finishes Sponges So, how do you repair fake leather with cat claw marks? Here is a step-by-step process to fix all the marks and scratches off your faux leather crafts caused by felines. Step One: Determine the type of Scratch Although cat scratches on fake leather items are obvious and may appear extreme, it is best to analyze the extent of the damage. Minor scratches would require simpler solutions compared to deeper and more visible scratches. Severe claw damages may require you to fix the inner stuffing of the item along with the leather. Step Two: Clean and Condition the Leather Surface Get a suitable leather cleaner and wipe off the dirt and dust on the leather item. You can find an excellent cleaner from some leather repair kits. This action makes the scratches more visible; you can get some excellent leather wipes and clean the leather surface in circular motions. Before you start conditioning the leather, remove all stray fibers on the fake leather using scissors. I do not recommend the use of heat to loosen the strands on the scratched surfaces, as this can damage the fake leather. Now, apply a leather conditioner to the affected area of the leather. The conditioner prepares the fake leather item for other possible solutions to make the piece appear nice. You can find the best leather conditioner for cat scratches available in various stores. Step Three: Use Olive Oil or Saddle Oil to Fix Minor Cat Scratches Olive oil and saddle oil are top options for fixing cat scratches that appear to be minor. Here’s how to repair cat scratches on leather with olive oil or saddle oil. Kindly apply these oils evenly in small, yet effective circular motions on the affected surface using a cotton ball. Aside from these aforementioned oils, you can also use lanolin oil. But ensure you test this oil on an inconspicuous area to be sure it wouldn't cause a stain. Step Four: Apply Leather Glue or Binder for Deeper Scratches A thin application of leather glue can also help with cat scratches on fake leather, and you can apply some using a sponge. It keeps the punctured parts of the leather items together as the glue reconnects them. Many glue layers can help conceal these scratches effectively; you can apply up to 8 layers. Be sure to only reapply another layer only when the previously applied glue film is dried. Step Five: Smoothen the Glued Surface Using suitable sandpaper with a grit of about 1,200, sand the applied glue or binder in circular strokes. This action would help keep the glued surface smooth and allow the leather filler you want to apply to look less lumpy and bulky. Then, wipe the dust and sand particles off the leather surface. Step Six: Start Applying Leather Filler on the Scratch Apply leather filler on the smoothened surface, getting this filler on the affected leather in layers. Ensure that each layer you apply gets dried (leave it for roughly 20 minutes) before you place another. I recommend getting a soft filler for faux leather and apply it evenly on the scratches with a blunt knife or spatula. Once the filler gets dried, sand the surface to smooth and wipe off all dust and particles using a damp cloth. Step Seven: Recoloring If you are thinking of how to repair colored leather items without messing with their hues, consider using a leather dye afterwards. With the color changes the leather filler brings, it is imperative to recolor the leather. So, dye leather items that have been fixed with a matching shade - use a sponge to get the dye onto the area with leather filler and gently apply it. You can add some color sprays but allow them to dry completely. Then, seal the leather or apply a suitable leather finisher to fix the dye or color spray. How to Repair Scratched Vinyl Upholstery It is known that cats and vinyl leather items are no friends, and these felines can scratch and damage vinyl upholstery. However, you can fix vinyl furniture sets with cat scratches by doing the following: Cleaning the vinyl upholstery using a mix of water and isopropyl alcohol or a suitable cleaner Trimming the stray vinyl fibers Smoothening the area with scratches using a sandpaper Applying the repair solution from your vinyl repair kit Note: If you are worried and seek help repairing black leather vinyl items, you can easily get a suitable vinyl repair kit with a black dye. Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs How do you fix scratches on leather? The first step is checking the extent of the damage; try to determine if it is a minor scratch or something bigger. You can handle less severe damage with olive or saddle oil - apply some on the affected parts. However, it would help to get a faux leather repair kit for more visible scratches. Such kits contains leather glue or a binder, fillers, and leather patches. Join the frayed leather fibers using the adhesive and sand the dried glue's surface with sandpaper. Fill the holes using a suitable leather filler, and once done, leave it to dry. Smoothen the dried filler and apply suitable leather paint before sealing it with an excellent finish. Do cats scratch fake leather? Cats often scratch leather and they do that much more when they are not kept off the leather item. Despite the tear resistance your fake leather item may have, you can find feline scratches damaging them – I suggest you some precautions beforehand. What material should be considered for cats to sleep on? Felines love a cozy and comfortable place to sleep, and their sensitive nose leads them to choose bedding that smells natural. Thus, they would love to use beddings made of wool, cotton, and any unbleached material. Will cats scratch a leather couch? Cats are always busy digging their claws into various items and can easily leave scratches on leather couches - it becomes more prevalent with overgrown cat claws. While leather is a durable material, having cats around leaves your leather pieces vulnerable to their attacks. If you have leather furniture, you must put safety measures to prevent any possible scratches. What do cats hate the most? It is the nature of felines to stay off things that hold offensive smells; thus, one way to keep cats off is to place items that has a cat-repelling smell. Since their sense of smell is excellent, cats would often move away from items with such offensive smell. You can find many cat repellants in various stores; spraying or applying such on your leather items quickly keeps them off and likely prevents scratches. There are also some household feline repellants like lavender, peppermint, citronella, and lemongrass - cats won't go near items that smell like them. What can I use on my leather furniture to prevent cat scratching? Declawing cats can keep them in severe pain, and sending them off leather couches may not be an effective option for preventing those feline scratches. Thus, it would help if you get some effective cat pheromone sprays to keep them off. These products are formulated with the right ingredients, which is safe for your cats. You can find many of these sprays across various shops and get them onto your leather couch to prevent cat scratches. Final Words Cats are often fond of scratching things, not minding that they are precious to you. Keeping your cats off your leather items can be quite tasking, and once they scratch these items, they start looking less attractive. So, you may want to learn how to fix cat scratches on "fake leather" to save your damaged faux leather goods. To fix cat scratches on faux leather, use a suitable leather patch or filler found in repair kits. You can now polish the leather piece with a clean cloth or use a leather cleaning and conditioner to restore its luster, softness, and sheen. Finally,