Best flooring for cat lovers

When it comes to your furry four-legged loved one, you want to make sure your flooring has all the features to accommodate not only your needs, but also your cats needs. As with any pet, you’ll have the occasional accidents to clean up, food scattered, and pet hair to sweep. There’s also the factor of what your cat prefers. The challenge with cats? They tend to puke up hairballs. As well, a younger, or not yet trained, cat might think your floor is a perfectly good place to pee or poop (hopefully not!). But really, we don’t have to put too much stock in this. Your cat will find places it likes to hang out. With that in mind, you’ll When it comes to your furry four-legged loved one, you want to make sure your flooring has all the features to accommodate not only your needs, but also your cats needs. As with any pet, you’ll have the occasional accidents to clean up, food scattered, and pet hair to sweep. There’s also the factor of what your cat prefers. The challenge with cats? They tend to puke up hairballs. As well, a younger, or not yet trained, cat might think your floor is a perfectly good place to pee or poop (hopefully not!). But really, we don’t have to put too much stock in this. Your cat will find places it likes to hang out. With that in mind, you’ll definitely want to keep in mind what sort of flooring will be best for you. After all, no one wants to on their knees scrubbing 24/7.


PICKING OUR TOP FLOORS FOR CATS


Cats are light on their feet and many are declawed. This means scratching your floor most likely isn’t a problem. There are many things to take into account when considering the best flooring for cats. First off, this is best for the homeowner with cats. All of the flooring in this list will work for cats. Especially if your cat is potty trained, nearly any floor will work. So if you despise or can’t afford a floor on this list, keep reading and you’re sure to find something you like!

Common issues taken into consideration for the best floor for cats were:
  • Will it be easy to clean up vomit or feces?
  • Is it easily damaged by moisture?
  • Does anything make it difficult to clean in general?
  • How expensive is it and can you replace individual sections if there is damage?


WATER-RESISTANT FLOORING


A cat-friendly floor is one that is resistant to water and other liquids. Water-resistant floors mean they will not be easily damaged by water or other liquids and can be wiped up easily. A few examples of water-resistant floors are luxury vinyl, laminate, porcelain, and ceramic tile. When it comes to tile, grout is a porous substance, so it’s best to seal the grout with a grout sealer to help prevent water or other liquids(urine! In particular) from seeping in.


EASY TO CLEAN


With any type of flooring, you’re planning to purchase, you want maintenance and upkeep to be as easy as possible. With cats, or any similar pets that shed and leave the occasional accident, floors that are easy to clean are very important. While carpet is soft and comfortable, it can be harder to keep clean with pets and has a tendency to collect dirt and germs; not the most cat-friendly flooring choice. The best floors for cats, in terms of maintenance, are resilient or hard-surface flooring since it’s easier to clean, with minimal risk of stains setting in. So when cat litter gets trailed through a room, you can sweep it up easily.


SLIP-RESISTANT & TEXTURED


The best floors for cats, or any pets, are ones that have some texture in order to prevent slips. Flooring that has some kind of texture to it is always a plus when having animals. The texture allows their paws to better grip the floor, instead of scratching away at the floor looking for traction. There are a lot of flooring choices that come with different levels of texture and slip-resistance; luxury vinyl and laminate are good selections.


DURABILITY


Compared to dogs, cats probably won’t do much damage to your flooring, but it’s still always a good idea to find a floor that is durable. With any kind of pet you want your floors to be durable enough to withstand all your pets have to offer. Whether it is accidents or just everyday horseplay you want your floors to last. Make sure to check wear layers with this being the main feature in your floors longevity. Wear layers account for the protective layer on top of the flooring material.


SPECIFIC TYPES OF FLOORING


1. Luxury vinyl
Luxury vinyl flooring can give you the look of almost any other type of flooring you can think of, from stone to hardwood, without having to worry about moisture. The surface layer is made out of plastic, and when sealed and installed correctly, there is no way for water or cat urine to seep through the luxury vinyl.

2. Tile
Tile floors are also a great choice for water resistance. They tend to cost more than luxury vinyl, but you will be getting the “real thing” and even luxury vinyl cannot exactly match the look of a genuine stone, porcelain, or ceramic floor. Porous tiles, such as natural stone, should be kept sealed to prevent any stains or moisture damage from your cat. Grout also needs to be kept sealed. Each manufacturer will have their own standards for how often that needs to happen, but aside from sealing the tiles, tiles require very little maintenance.

3. Laminate
Laminate floors are one of the most popular choices for homeowners, mostly because it has such a pet-friendly reputation. It may not be the best floor for cats, but if you want a budget-friendly option that works for you and your cat, it’s an ideal choice that will work for you and your cat. Laminate floors are slightly better at moisture control than hardwood, but you should clean any accidents or spills as soon as you can. If left unattended, the spills can seep through the laminate and damage to the fiberboard base layers.

4. Hardwood
Hardwood floors are better for cats than they are for dogs, mainly because with cats there is less risk of them scratching or damaging the floorboards. You should still consider the type of wood floor carefully, and just as importantly, the types of stains, seals, and finishing that goes onto the floor.

As you can see, choosing flooring can a very personal and individualized experience. Make sure to consider what your furry friend is like before choosing a flooring, or you may have an expensive headache on your hands. You will definitely want to keep in mind what sort of flooring will be best for you. After all, no one wants to on their knees scrubbing 24/7.