Pets And Carpet: Tips For Keeping Your Carpet Cat-Friendly

Posted on: 29 April 2018

We love our furry friends. All cat and dog owners know well the joy that's inherent in adopting an animal into your life. They become part of your family. In the U.S. alone there are over 36 million cat owners and 43 million dog owners. But animals are animals. Despite our love for them, they can wreak havoc on the house, particularly on the carpet. It can be especially tricky with indoor cats that spend all their time inside, stretching, clawing, and shedding their fur all over the carpet. Is it possible to maintain a clean and lush carpet that's able to withstand the paces a cat will put it through? Here are a few tips for cat owners everywhere.  

Materials Matter

The best way to ensure that your carpet can withstand an indoor cat's love is to choose a material that's durable, with characteristics that make it pet-friendly. There are three factors to consider when making your choice:

  • Piling
  • Synthetic or Natural Materials
  • Stain-resistance  

The first is piling, or the density of fibers in the carpet. Since your cat's claws can snag on higher pile carpets, it's better to go with low pile flooring. Low pile is also less likely to collect a lot of fur. Similarly, a cut pile will be less likely to catch claws than a loop pile.

The second factor to consider is the type of material. There are two schools of thought on a pet-friendly carpet. Some prefer synthetic materials like nylon and olefin, which are cheaper but not as durable, while others prefer natural materials like wool, which is very durable but more expensive out of the gate.

Finally, having a cat guarantees that your carpet will be soiled with the cat's bodily fluids at some point, so you need to choose something with stain-resistance. Fortunately, many carpeting manufacturers offer materials treated with a stain-resistant protectant specifically designed to repel the stains associated with pets.  

Consistent Cleaning

The number one rule in carpet durability and pet ownership is consistent maintenance. Daily vacuuming will drastically improve the life of your carpet. Why? It removes the excess hair and particularly the dander that gathers in the fibers. If you can't manage daily, once or twice a week will still make a big difference. You should also have your carpets professionally cleaned by a carpet cleaning company. How often depends on the needs of your household. If you don't suffer from allergies, calling a carpet cleaning company once a year should do the job. If anyone in your home has allergies, a professional cleaning every six months will make a noticeable difference to your allergy sufferers.

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