Cat Hair on the Couch and Clothes: Fabrics, Covers and Tools

Catch the hair before it lands, then make the rest easy to remove. Daily combing removes loose hair at the source. A washable throw on the cat’s favorite spot, a reusable roller and a no-heat dryer cycle before the wash, as laundry maker Speed Queen suggests, handle most of the rest. Tight, smooth fabrics release hair more easily.

A long-haired cat sheds long, fine hair that weaves itself into fabric. VCA notes that indoor cats shed at low levels all year, so this is a year-round job, heavier in shedding season. The good news: a few habits do most of the work.

Start with the cat

The cheapest hair remover is a comb. VCA says daily brushing reduces the hair a cat swallows, and the same hair would otherwise end up on the couch. The grooming routine and, in spring and autumn, a deshedding tool cut the problem down before it reaches the furniture.

On clothes and upholstery

For hair already on fabric:

• Reusable rollers have a fabric-covered drum that lifts hair as you roll it back and forth, then empties into a compartment. No sticky sheets to replace.
• Sticky lint rollers are quick for clothes on the way out the door.
• Rubber tools, such as a rubber brush or a damp rubber glove, pull hair into clumps on upholstery and carpet.

Lint rollers and pet hair removers

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Fabrics that let hair go

If you are choosing a couch, cover or throw, the weave matters. Two makers who sell to cat owners give the same advice:

Hilde & Phil suggests a simple test in the store: run your fingernails across the fabric, and if they catch, a cat’s claws will too. These are the makers’ own descriptions, so check the care label and a sample before you buy.

Washable couch covers and throws

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Laundry habits that help

Laundry maker Speed Queen gives a short routine for pet hair:

1. Dryer first. Run clothes through a 10-minute dryer cycle on tumble with no heat, before washing. The hair loosens and collects in the lint trap.
2. Clean the lint trap before the load, and halfway through a heavy load.
3. Wash pet bedding once a week, towels included.
4. Clean the machine afterward by running an empty wash cycle and wiping the drum.

Vacuums for cat hair

Most vacuums sold for pet hair add a tool or brush roll designed to pull hair from upholstery and carpet, and some add a mini motorized tool for furniture. Handheld models are handy for the couch and stairs; robot vacuums pick up between cleanings. Compare each maker’s stated attachments, bin size and filter on its spec page rather than relying on a “pet” label, and check how easily long hair is cut from the brush roll.

Handheld and robot vacuums for pet hair

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The shedding picture

Hair at home is the visible half of shedding; the other half is what the cat swallows. See why long-haired cats shed so much and hairballs. For a breed-by-breed view of coats, start with long-haired breeds. Rollers and throws also make good presents; see gifts for long-haired cat owners.