Is a puppy at the top of your Christmas list?
Perhaps you’ve had cats all your life and can’t imagine a home without them.
While dogs are loyal and often referred to as a “man’s best friend”, cats are cuddly companions that can fill the void you’re living alone.
Either way, our four-legged companions are part of our families, so any flooring choices we make must consider their needs as well as our own.
From muddy paws in the hallway to accidents in the living room, it’s worth swapping those sumptuous cream carpets for something more durable and easier to clean. And let’s face it, a thick, loop pile carpet might add warmth to your space, but your playful pup or clumsy cat could easily get their claws caught on the fibres!
So, what is the most pet-friendly flooring?
Allow the team at Carpet Style to guide and advise you, ensuring you make the perfect choice for yourself, your home, and your beloved family pet.
5 things to consider when choosing the best flooring for pets
The best flooring for pets will complement your home’s aesthetic whilst accommodating your dog or cat’s needs.
Although the ideal choice varies depending on your pet’s breed, size, age, and activity level – plus your household’s lifestyle and budget – there are several key considerations to keep in mind.
Let’s take a closer look at them.
1. Scratch resistance
Unclipped claws can cause a lot of damage to your flooring, especially if you have an excitable pup or a distinguished pussycat.
When choosing pet-friendly flooring for your home, try and go for something that won’t scratch or scuff easily whilst withstanding dog zoomies and instinctive cat scratching.
2. Water resistance
All dogs need to be toilet trained. Until they learn to wait for walkies, they’re bound to have the occasional accident on your floors.
The same applies to cats. If your fussy feline doesn’t like the litter you’ve chosen for them, they might refuse to use their tray.
Water bowls are inevitably going to get knocked over and spilt from time to time. Choosing flooring that’s water-resistant will allow pet messes to be easily mopped up without damage.
3. Stain resistance
Whether it be tea, fizzy pop, or red wine, spillages are to be expected in busy households – even more so if you have a pooch that enjoys rough-and-tumble play or a cat that loves to pounce.
The best pet-friendly flooring is one that won’t soak up moisture but can be quickly and easily cleaned to prevent permanent stains and odours.
4. Low maintenance
Does your pet have a long-haired coat?
With their fluffy tails and cute little faces, Siberian and Persian cats naturally shed hair every day and they need to be brushed frequently to prevent their fur matting – meaning you’ll likely find clumps of hair all around your home.
Likewise, if you’ve been out for a walk in the rain with your dog, or they’ve been out in the garden, you can expect to find a trail of their wet and muddy pawprints.
The solution? Opt for flooring that’s low maintenance – requiring little more than a quick mop or sweep to keep it looking gorgeous.
5. Comfort
Although you want your flooring to look great, you also need to consider your pet’s age, joint health, and preferred lounging spots (if known).
For example, slippery surfaces may be fine for a puppy with nimble joints, whereas a canine in its senior years, suffering from arthritis, may struggle to stay on their feet. Likewise, three-legged dogs and cats will have less balance and are at greater risk of slipping.
If your pooch has a favourite spot to curl up in and go to sleep or your cat naps in the same place without fail, finding flooring that stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter will ensure their comfort – keeping them happy for longer.
Which is the best pet-friendly flooring?
At Carpet Style, we stock an extensive range of flooring at our carpet shop – but our top recommendation for pet-friendly households must be either laminate flooring or luxury vinyl tiles (LVT).
Laminate flooring is a great choice because:
- Its protective wear layer can prevent scratches, scuffs, and stains
- It’s simple to clean with a brush, vacuum, or mop
- It’s water resistant
- It’s available in a range of stylish designs, mimicking the look of real wood flooring
The only downside to laminate flooring is that it has a smooth surface which can be slippery – but this is nothing a few carefully placed rugs and carpet runners won’t help with.
LVT flooring offers the same advantages for pets as laminate whilst also providing additional traction and grip. That means you needn’t worry about your four-legged family member slipping, sliding, and bumping into things.
Both laminate and LVT floors don’t trap allergens such as dust, pollen, and pet dander like carpets do – making them a safe choice for allergy sufferers, too.
Ready to buy pet-friendly flooring?
Situated in Nottingham and open Monday to Saturday from 9 am, we encourage you to visit our local carpet shop at a time that best suits you.
Our flooring specialists will happily discuss your requirements in full (as well as your pet’s needs) and provide our expert recommendations.
We’ll show you samples of the different colours and textures we supply laminate and LVT flooring in to help you make an informed decision for your home, pet, and budget.
Alternatively, if you’d like to speak to a member of our team over the phone, you’re more than welcome to call 0115 940 4110.