The Upholstery Forum

I have a 20 odd year old Robin Day leather sofa. Over the years the front area of two of the cushion covers have been scratched by cats. I don't really want to buy new leather to replace the scratched section as I'm unlikely to find anything to match the existing leather - has anybody got recommendations on how to repair them? I thought use a flexible glue to attach a fabric patch on the wrong side to strengthen and then use a leather filler / colouriser on the right side? I've got to take the cushions apart to replace underside fabric sections that have torn due to age. I've attached a photo of one of the cushion covers & a photo a Robin Day sofa - without any darn cat scratches!

Thanks in advance.

Images:
https://postimg.cc/vctrQW4T
https://postimg.cc/8jmR1h7Z
https://postimg.cc/dLj2q8hN
https://postimg.cc/qzxsk8N2

Your proposed approach is generally sound and is similar to how scratched leather furniture is typically repaired.
If the scratches are relatively shallow and the leather has not been cut through:
1. Thoroughly clean the damaged area using a leather cleaner.
2. Lightly sand any raised fibres with very fine sandpaper (around 600–1000 grit).
3. Apply a leather filler in thin layers, allowing each layer to dry before applying the next.
4. Once the surface is level, use a matching leather colourant/dye.
5. Finish with a protective topcoat (matt, satin, or gloss, depending on the original finish).

If the leather is torn or significantly weakened:
1. Glue a reinforcing fabric patch or leather repair backing cloth to the underside using a flexible adhesive.
2. Bring the edges of the damage together as neatly as possible.
3. Use leather filler to blend and smooth the repair.
4. Recolour the repaired area and apply a protective finish.
Given that the sofa is over 20 years old, achieving a perfect colour match may be difficult because the leather will have aged and developed a patina over time. For that reason, refinishing the entire front panel of the cushion after the repair often produces a better result than touching up only the damaged section.
If the damage consists mainly of cat scratches and is not too deep, you may not need filler at all. Sometimes the best repair is simply to smooth down the fibres, touch up the colour where necessary, and apply a protective finish. This tends to preserve the original leather grain and can look more natural.

That's great. Much appreciated. Any recommendations on a suitable flexible adhesive & leather colourant / dye?

For a flexible adhesive I'd recommend Furniture Clinic Leather Glue or Colourlock Leather & Textile Glue.

For colour restoration, Furniture Clinic Leather Colourant or Colourlock Leather Fresh are both good products. If possible, try to get a custom colour match as 20-year-old leather will have developed its own patina.