17 March 2022

Which flooring is the most pet friendly?

No pet owner wants to give up their best mates, but there is a lot to think about to ensure a pet-friendly home, and that includes your flooring.

Of course, some pets won’t cause too much of an issue – budgies in a cage, for example. However, when it comes to the four-legged variety, then your choice of flooring matters.

If you have a pet or two in your home, here’s what you’re up against:

Dirt: From a single cat to a pack of playful pups, animals coming in and out of your home bring plenty of dirt along for the ride – which means a mess on your floor is almost guaranteed.

Hair: Unfortunately, if you share your home with a furry animal, then loose hair cannot be avoided, even with the shortest-haired breeds.

Pee, poop and puke:  Even if your pets are toilet-trained, accidents happen. Finding a puddle on your floor or stepping in something squidgy is a common hazard for pet owners.

Odour:  Animals can be smelly, especially if they find rolling in mud more exciting than bath time. Constant cleaning and deodorising are a must if you want to minimise the lingering odour.

Scratches:  Aside from intentional scratching (a good reason for cat owners to invest in a scratching pole), there’s also the non-intentional type pets inflict on floors without meaning to. From bounding over wooden floors to tearing across carpets, excited dogs and active cats can potentially cause damage to your flooring.

Which flooring should you choose?

Dirt, hair, poop, smells and scratches – pet owners have a lot to contend with. So how do you minimise mess and keep your floor in top condition? Let’s take a look at which floor types are the most pet-friendly.

Ceramic or stone tiles

When it comes to keeping pets, tiles made of ceramic or stone are a safe bet if you want to keep your floor in good condition with minimum effort.

Scratching isn’t an issue with these types of tiles – both are extremely durable and can withstand even the longest or sharpest of claws. They’re also super easy to keep clean, so any toilet accidents, dirt and spills can be cleaned up quickly.

Bear in mind that stone or ceramic tiles are not the most comfortable (or warm) to sleep on. So if you’re not a fan of sharing your furniture with your pets, make sure you provide a soft, cosy bed for them to snooze in.

LVT

Luxury Vinyl Tiling – or LVT – is an extremely popular flooring choice. If you want the look of stone or wood without the cost, then LVT is the way to go. Hundreds of styles are available with a much cheaper price tag than their natural counterparts.

And just like ceramic and stone, LVT is durable, low maintenance and easy to clean. The perfect combination for pet-friendly households.

Natural or engineered hardwood

Natural wood looks incredible and brings genuine warmth to any room, but there are some downsides to consider if you have pets.

Firstly, while wood is durable, it’s also easily damaged by scuffs and scratches. Engineered hardwood with a scratch-resistant finish will hold up better than soft natural wood, but it still takes time and care to keep it looking at its best. If you do opt for wood, a regular re-oil or lacquering is recommended. But if you want a low-maintenance option, you might want to look at LVT instead.

Secondly, despite all flooring showing dirt and hairs, wood tends to do so in a big way. Both dark and light wood will show dirt, hair and water damage, so choose a medium-coloured wood if you want to make it less noticeable.

Of course, making dirt and hair less noticeable doesn’t mean it’s not there. All floors require regular cleaning to keep them hygienic and well-maintained. Using a dry duster on wood is great for a quick clean, and a damp cloth will remove spot marks left by muddy paws.

Carpet

You might think carpets are an absolute no-no where animals are concerned, but it isn’t the case. While a deep shag style carpet might be harder to keep fur-free, many carpets are suited to pets and are relatively simple to keep clean.

Opt for a polypropylene material with dirt and dust resistance built-in – it’s also easier for a vacuum cleaner to handle quickly. And, although no carpet can fully repel moisture, moisture-resistant products are available – a safer bet if you’ve got furry tenants.

As for damage prevention, we recommend a twist carpet over a loop carpet. Claws can get caught in loop carpet more easily, which can damage the carpet and also cause harm to your pet.

Choosing your new floor

Hopefully, we’ve shown that you don’t have to compromise too much on your flooring when it comes to pets. Even if you avoid wood or carpet for the reasons we’ve outlined, there are still plenty of alternatives on offer to suit any style or budget.

At Beyond Flooring, our mission is to enhance your home with expertly fitted flooring. Not only can we help you select the right products for your space, we can take care of installing your flooring to the highest standards. We only use quality products, and we offer a two year warranty on all domestic projects.

If you need a little inspiration, check out our customer gallery, or visit our showroom. Our friendly team are always happy to help you select the perfect flooring for your home.