topic Re: Carpeting with cats in mind in Home

Carpeting with cats in mind

kathybnc2 — Tue, 31 May 2016 15:17:36 GMT

Getting ready to replace some wall to wall carpeting in my house. I have 4 cats and 2 of them delight in sharpening their claws in the carpet. And yes, they have scratching posts and all sorts of things that they could use. The current carpet has so many pulls in it probably because it is a more tightly woven material. Carpet place is suggesting Mohawk Aladdin Everstrand, which is a very soft kind of plush material. (It is supposed to be made from recycled plastic bottles). Anyone have experience with this carpeting or have recommendations for cat friendly carpeting?

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

geezerette — Tue, 31 May 2016 15:22:33 GMT

I don't have any carpet suggestions for you, although I do have a cat, thankfully he leaves the carpeting alone.

My suggestion is that you may have more and better responses to your inquiry if you put your post in the "Pet Lovers" section. There are bunches of cat people there that have all sorts of knowledge. Good luck!

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

Goldengate8361 — Tue, 31 May 2016 16:57:57 GMT

Good luck. I've never met a cat that didn't like carpet. My five cats leave my rugs alone as - you guessed it - I have many other places for them to scratch.

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

Meowingkitty — Tue, 31 May 2016 17:25:30 GMT

I have 6 cats and no carpeting whatsoever. Only tile and wood. They would destroy it in 30 seconds.

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

kathybnc2 — Tue, 31 May 2016 18:56:15 GMT

Thanks for the suggestion. Took your advice and posted in Pet Lovers.

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

ANewHue — Tue, 31 May 2016 19:01:32 GMT

@kathybnc2 Thanks for this post. I have had several cats in my life that never touched my carpets. But my two year old rescue does. Don't care about my wall to wall in the bedroom because it's shot but she has pulled my large area rug. I always liked the look of natural fiber rugs and was wondering it I could ever get one. Does anyone know or would the cats use it as large scratch pads. Could you spray the rugs with that "no scratch" spray to deter them?

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

kathybnc2 — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 00:26:39 GMT

I do have the spray, but it doesn't seem to have a lot of effect. I do know that Berber is not a good choice because it is more looped. Actually any carpet with a loop weave would not be good. They said carpet with single strands would not show pulling as much if the cats did use their claws on it. Don't know if that helps.

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

libbyannE — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 00:42:18 GMT

My husband and I have cats but no carpet anywhere. Just wood or tile with area rugs. I would not recommend carpet, whether you have aimals or simply people running around. It harbors dirt, and there always ends up being some stain somewhere which is impossible to remove. Ick.

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

feline groovy — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 23:56:13 GMT

My next apartment home will hopefully have zero carpeting.

Been a cat parent for decades, but now just want flooring & some low-pile patterned area rugs.

Would also love to try those awesome carpet tiles from "Flor".

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

Mominohio — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 02:18:47 GMT

Honestly, with that many pets, I'd give some serious consideration to a hard surface floor. That is what I am thinking about doing the next time we have the money to replace some older flooring.

Beware though, if they can't claw the carpet, they just might move on to the upholstered furniture (even with scratching posts available).

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

KALLIE — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 02:22:15 GMT

I have cats and NO carpet - hardwood and tile.

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

ID2 — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 10:17:10 GMT

We have two cats with hardwood or tile throughout. I wouldn't get carpeting anymore if you paid me. Plus my cats love rolling their toys all over the house now!

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

feline groovy — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 14:35:05 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
We have two cats with hardwood or tile throughout. I wouldn't get carpeting anymore if you paid me. Plus my cats love rolling their toys all over the house now!

It's air hockey time!

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

pinky ann — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 14:56:34 GMT

We have 4 cats, and recently purchased two large area rugs made with the recycled bottles as mentioned in the OP.These rugs are so cushy, very pretty, and supposed to be able to take a ton of abuse. I believe that after receiving ours.I love them!! I have had to clean up a hairball and the accompanying mess on this carpet already, and it was easily and completely removed with little effort.

I can't speak to the brand posted, and ours are Mohawk, and not a wall to wall rug, but I was so thrilled when our first rug came that I knew a second would follow shortly behind it! lol Good luck with your decision! pinky

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

kathybnc2 — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 22:04:06 GMT

Thanks, Pinky. That helps a lot. It sounds similar to what I am considering. Good to know that it cleans up fairly easily. The sample does feel very soft and cushy.

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

pinky ann — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 23:31:44 GMT

Glad to be of help, Kathy. I really do love our rugs, and hope you will too. pinky

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

candys mine — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 21:12:50 GMT

@kathybnc2 I don't know about carpeting but maybe look at it from kitty's POV. I haven't read any other responses so maybe someone already suggested this but... SAVE a bunch of the OLD carpet! They like to scratch on the old carpet. Make several scratching posts out of the old carpet. Preferably with a ratty bit that has their scent on it on each new post. also consider making a HORIZONTAL scratching post since they are comfortable in that position to scratch. make it LARGE enough for kitty to lay down and strech out to scratch. Try to get a new carpet which is NOT like your current carpet in texture. If kitty has a favourite spot to scratch get a large piece of those clear plastic rug runner protectors. the back side is nubbly. put the nubby side up to cover where kitty WANTS to scratch and put the nice familiar carpet scratch right next to it. Kitty will have to choose picking his way over the nubby's to find there's no carpet to snag anyway OR scratch on his old familiar friend in a new form. As kitty gets used to the scratching post you can move it slowly to where you want it and begin to cut away pieces of the nubbly plastic on the new carpet day by day until it's gone. Hopefully by then Kitty will be in the habit of using the new scratcher and leave that darned new rug alone.

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

feline groovy — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 21:36:55 GMT

Excellent advice, @candys mine.

Re: Carpeting with cats in mind

kathybnc2 — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 03:43:44 GMT

Thanks, Candy, great idea. Im definitely going to save some pieces of the old carpet for them.