This Smart 3-in-1 Find Saved My Friend’s Sofa from Her Cat (It’s Perfect for Small Spaces, Too!)

I’ve been considering getting a cat for a while now, but there are a few things that have been holding me back. Aside from all the extra expenses, I’m not super eager to pet-proof my entire apartment. I’ve heard all of the horror stories from my friends about their cats absolutely destroying their furniture with their claws, even if they have a scratching post nearby.

I know there are some upholstery materials and sofa covers that can help (and that I’d end up loving my cat so much that any wear and tear would be worth it). Still, I’m just living vicariously through my friends who have cats and visiting them whenever I can for now. That’s why when Hilde & Phil’s Cat-e-Corner got on my radar, I knew one of them needed to try it. It’s a couch protector, scratching post, and side table all rolled up into one!

The Cat-e-Corner is a scratching post that wraps around the side of your sofa or armchair, completely shielding it from your cat’s claws. There’s a chance you’ve come across other items that perform the same function, but like me, you probably haven’t seen one that doubles as a table like this one. It’s a simple upgrade that goes a long way.

From what I’ve seen, the Cat-e-Corner also distinguishes itself in that it virtually covers the side of a sofa in its entirety (at least depending on its depth). The only product I could find that bore a slight resemblance to the Cat-e-Corner just protects a small portion of a sofa’s arm. It costs a lot less, but in my opinion, the Cat-e-Corner is worth the extra cash. It’s way more beautiful, for one, blending harmoniously with the rest of your living room.

Instead of flimsy particleboard or laminate, Hilde & Phil’s design is crafted with sustainably sourced solid hardwood for the base and tabletop, with natural variations that make each one unique. The structural backing is solid plywood for durability. You can also choose between the lighter maple finish or the darker black walnut.

In between the two wooden pieces is a sisal fiber scratching mat, which has an orange and beige knit texture. It arrives preinstalled and secured with strong Velcro. The brand also sells mat replacements , which come in a few different colors and patterns, for when it starts to look a little too frayed. They also have different feels to them, ranging from a soft weave for sensitive paws to coarse for enhanced durability.

You can choose a height that best matches with your couch or armchair. Overall, it measures 22.5 inches tall, but you can opt for a 2- or 4-inch riser. (In my friend’s case, she went without a riser, and even though it doesn’t match up with her couch’s arm exactly, it’s still perfectly functional.) It has a depth of 38 inches, and you can get one for the right or left arm (or both).

My friend and her cat — their names are MB and Churchill — are both fans of this ingenious three-in-one. For one, it’s ideal for her tiny New York City apartment because it eliminates the need for a side table. And it has a small footprint. As one reviewer put it, it’s basically an extension of her sofa, sitting flush against it and extending only a few inches. Still, it provides more than enough surface area for a coaster and your drink and even tiny pieces of decor.

It frees up even more room in her apartment because there’s no need for a stand-alone scratching post anymore. Admittedly, brands do make some pretty cute ones these days, but they’re not often small-space-friendly. The Cat-e-Corner is also entirely more sustainable than those, because you won’t have to replace the whole thing after your cat has scratched it to oblivion. 

Churchill isn’t the worst when it comes to clawing at furniture, but he does do it occasionally — and it doesn’t take a lot for a sofa to start looking worse for wear. He’s a pretty hefty and strong cat, too. He hasn’t been able to move or knock over the Cat-e-Corner at all, and MB hasn’t needed to replace the mat yet after a few months of use.

If you’ve tried it all — cat-scratch tape, deterrent spray, and even a plain old blanket over your couch cushions — and have been looking for a more stylish, long-lasting, and space-saving solution, I’m not sure you can do much better than the Cat-e-Corner. It may be a bit of a splurge, but it’s bound to save you a lot of cash in preserving your (likely much more expensive) sofa.

Buy: Hilde & Phil Cat-e-Corner, $379