I make quilts for charity so I always wash those when they are done and then quickly stuff them into a plastic bag before my cat finds them. I swear that cat can find freshly washed quilts, even when I think I've put them in a safe place away from the cat.
Plus, I want to make sure my fabrics don't bleed-I make a lot of scrap quilts, with scraps from other people. I want to make sure all my seems are secure, "Yah, nothing is fraying" I was really bad when I first started quilting, that 1/4" seam was just a suggestion really so after it was washed I'd have half the seams fraying. I am much better now!