I can't give you direct experiences, but I have a feeling that this will be an
awfully tough transition if they're used to being able to shred the couch.
Even my cat, who's never been allowed to do so, will test the waters
occasionally.  She's also used to jumping up onto the couch and gripping with
her claws; I figure I'll never untrain her of that habit, so I might as well
give up on the idea of a leather couch.

I wonder if you could buy a less expensive piece of leather furniture and
guage their reaction, first?  As you may have noticed, there's a recent post
about a cat consistently peeing on a new leather couch.  Might be good to have
a heads-up first.

Other thoughts:

Start training your cats not to get on the couch, now.  Other posters will
probably have good recommendations for doing this.  If you can't do this, I'd
be nervous about bringing the couch into the house.

When you do bring in the couch, use a plastic couch cover for a while, until
you're sure they won't use claws.  I know, ugly, but better than a damaged
couch that you can't sell, right?

I have a leather sectional that I bought a year and a half ago. No
holes from claws, a couple of faint scratches, but for the most
part they don't even like the couch unless I put a blanket on it.
Then, they just curl up on the blanket for a nap. None of them play
on it. But mine isn't in my main living room. It's downstairs in
the TV room, and this time of year its a bit cold to sit around
watching TV down there.

In the past I had to separate 2 cats from a sick one when I'm not
home, and I put the 2 downstairs where the leather is, the sick one
had upstairs. They never damaged it at all. They also have a cat
tree down there, and other scratching posts/pads, and they've
learned what is acceptable to tear to shreds.  I also have an old
upholstered chair down there that is theirs. Its a wreck, but its
in the corner and hardly even noticable. They like to sleep on that
chair, too, so I won't get rid of it. It's really amazing how
quickly they learn what is "theirs" and what isn't.

I don't have a leather sofa, but have had a leather recliner for about 15
years that hasn't suffered in the least. My current cat has never really
gone near it and as I recall, my previous one, gently sat on it twice.

My fabric sofa and loveseat haven't suffered either.

Apart from your present sofa, are there other things in your home that are
acceptable for them to scratch on such as carpeted posts?

Trimming the claws does little to inhibit a cats natural instinct to claw.

If you don't have posts in your home, then I suggest you invest in some and
attempt to acquaint your cats with them between now and Spring. Cats will
scratch on leather but from my readings and experience, the majority don't -
if they are provided with an alternative.

Do not buy the leather sofa. They are cold and tacky to boot.
Your cats are a better investment.

Actually, I have a good experience! My two cats used to shred the old
fabric sofa. Got a new leather sofa - no problem. I think it's because
the leather is the wrong type of "feel" on their paws, so they don't use
it for sharpening their claws. HOWEVER - they do like to curl up and
snooze so it means a regular wiping down the surface to remove cat hair.

KR2T

I have leather sofa and I have to keep the back of it covered with a throw
because my one cat will walk over it to get the window.  I haven't found any
holes just little tiny pricks from her nails.  This is the only place I have
noticed any damage to the couch.

Celeste

I bought all leather furniture for the family room.
First of all I knew that the cats may decide to scratch it and I was
ok with that - my cats won't be thrown out because the scratch the
cough, so you have to accept that fact or don't buy the couch.

I also placed scratching posts on each side of the exposed leather
sides...and that is what they scratch. I have had no problem with any
of the 4 cats scratching on the leather.

This doesn't mean it will work for you but it may.

Karryl
http://www.i-love-cats.com/meow/soft63389/index.htm