I’m not concerned about a statement piece…at all!
Both are equally comfortable couches. I’m looking for comfort.
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All things being equal and you’re concerned with the cats scratching, I’d go with the less expensive option.
My girls like to “nest”. They have their own beds to dig in but the one couch they get on has a protector. I realize cats are different, but the dogs prefer the cloth.
The costs are really not a concern. The cloth one has a 15% off until Jan 22. But even without that, I don’t have to be concerned with the costs.
I’m a pet lover. I would be thinking of my future self — I just bought a beautiful new couch, and now my cat is using it as a scratching post, and it makes me mad, and life is too short to be mad at the cat I love for doing what cats do.
Cats are much less likely to damage leather, although as Mablesmom posted, not a guaranteed solution.
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The leather couch looks like office furniture to me. Cloth is more comfortable during both hot & cold months. Of course, cat claw damage may be a concern.
If buying area rugs, consider the weight of the rugs. (We just disposed of three old, very heavy oriental style area rugs. Literally had to use a chain saw to chop up each rolled up rug into multiple pieces in order for the disposal crew to be able to handle them comfortably.)
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See this is why these type of questions/answers can be offered up but really the decision lies with the homeowner.
For me, style IS as important as comfort. That’s my vibe. I get a ton of satisfaction from walking in a room and loving, not just liking, the aesthetic- but that is not the case for all! 
If you like both equally as well for your personal needs and you plan on having cats for awhile then make the choice that suits them best!
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If your cat doesn’t scratch the existing couch, chances are high the cat will leave the new couch alone. Mine did! They much prefer their scratch posts and horizontal scratchers.
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Whereas for me, being comfortable in my surroundings is most important. I’m not that into style but all in on comfort
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I bought a Nubuck leather sofa years ago and it has aged well. 2 cats and a dog left it alone. We also had a matching Nubuck large chair and ottoman. Nubuck did not feel hot or cold. Occasional spills cleaned with mild soap and water.
We moved the chair and ottoman to the den. Reason? D is vegetarian and would only sit on the fireplace bench when visiting. We got a Amish -material covered recliner for the living room and that has solved the problem.
I want it all – an aesthetic that brings me joy AND comfort. For a room that gets occasional use (in our case, our living room), I’d sacrifice a bit of comfort for the aesthetic, and vice versa for our everyday tv room. But, I do believe you can have both.
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Our cats have destroyed two leather club chairs…it’s not that they use them as scratching posts, but just their claws leave scratches in the material and make little pulls too. The chairs are made of aniline leather, not sure that makes a difference or not.
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I was just about to comment that we have leather seats on our bar stools and while our cat duo do not scratch it, their claws have left a network of scratches and punctures in the seats. They are simply the result of 3 years of jumping up and down on the bar stools.
I don’t actually care that much. I’ve purchased a leather re-coloring balm matching the seats and have periodically minimized the evidence of feline activity but bar stools are normally pushed in, with the seats underneath the counter. I don’t know how I’d feel about a sofa in the same condition.
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My “story” related to cats scratching and sofas.
We have very nice leather furniture in our family room, and it looks fine/OK, having survived 3 cats. It has no holes. (I want new, but more because it’s just getting worn after over 25 years).
Our living room furniture was cloth. My husband wanted “really nice” living room furniture, so we found some and brought it home. Within a couple of years the stuffing was coming out and it looked pretty bad because of the cats. I called those sofas our very expensive cat scratching posts.
When I get new sofas they will very likely be leather.
Those are both nice sofas! They are completely different in style. I prefer the comfy look of the cloth one and the lighter, cloth fabric. The leather one is stylish but a lot darker. They are both very nice though!
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I like the shape and structure of the leather better. I think it looks more…sophisticated? The roundness of the cloth is more casual than I would like. But, that’s just a personal preference!
I will say that it is easier to keep two cushions in place/orderly looking/straight than it is to keep three.
Are the back cushions loose or attached?
I’m just impressed you were able to find stores that had actual furniture that you could try.
I like the look of leather but prefer to sit on cloth. In my bedroom I have. Leather chair and a fabric sofa. I like the sofa, husband prefers the chair.
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We got a leather recliner last year in the family room with a big, comfy cloth chair. A nice chance to compare and am surprisingly not a fan of leather. Way too cold in winter. Just not comfy/cozy any time of year. And I kind of feel like I’m slipping off, lol.
Everyone’s take is different! Thought I wanted a leather sofa - no more!
Good luck with the decisions…!
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Loose and reversible on the cloth one….attached on the leather.
Loose are preferable to me. Much easier to re-stuff if they break down over time.
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I get what you’re saying. I could see that with some leather couches, but not all.
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