Best Carpet for Cats

Updated: October 27th, 2023

Your pets aren’t just random animals sharing your home; they’re also a part of your family. This means that every choice you make for your home should also consider what’s best for themincluding the floors. Though you’ll never be able to totally eliminate their scratching and the occasional accident, maintaining carpet with your feline friend doesn’t have to be a neverending chore. Here are a few things to consider when trying to choose the best carpet for cats. 

best carpet for cats

Cut Fibers

Finding the best carpet for cats begins with choosing a product that they can’t easily damage. If you own a cat, you probably know that scratching things is one of their favorite hobbies. While they’ll commonly go for couch arms, table legs, and other pieces of furniture, it’s likely that your floors will also end up a victim. When a cat scratches at carpet, its claws can pull and unravel the looped fiber, causing the carpet surface to look uneven and lead to premature wearing. 

One way to prevent this is to opt for a carpet that has cut fibers, instead of a loop pile carpet. As the name implies, the fibers of these carpets are cut at their top end instead of being kept looped. With no loops to grab onto, it’s less likely that your pet will be able to rip the fibers from the carpet, which will help to extend its longevity. So instead of a Berber or pattern carpet, try a plush or frieze style carpet for a comfortable, cat-friendly floor. 

And a cut pile product isn’t one of the best carpets for pets just because it’s more likely to endure their playingit’s also safer for the pets themselves. While clawing at loops can quickly damage your carpet, it can also hurt your pets’ paws. It’s not uncommon for a cat’s claws to get stuck in the carpet loops and cause them discomfort or even serious injury. 

High-Density Carpets

The density of a carpet doesn’t just enhance its comfort and visual appeal, it can also affect how deeply a typical spill will seep into its fibers. As a pet owner, you may not catch every spill or accident your cat has on the carpet. And the longer that accident goes unnoticed, the deeper it will penetrate into the carpet backing and even the padding below. But the denser a carpet is, the better your chances are of being able to clean up more of the accidents before they fully soak in and cause permanent stains or long-term damage. Aim for a high-density carpet to lower the risk of accidents ruining your flooring. 

Polyester Fibers

An extremely popular choice for homes with pets, polyester fibers are used in many of the best carpets for cats. Polyester fibers are non-porous, which means they won’t absorb liquids. That makes them more stain-resistant than other carpet materials, and also less likely to absorb the odors that tend to linger from a cat’s accident long after you’ve cleaned up the liquid. If you’re looking for a durable carpet for cats, polyester is the way to go. 

Pet-Protected Carpet

One of the best ways to ensure your floor’s look and longevity is to choose a carpet that is specifically crafted to deal with pets and their accidents. Empire offers a range of pet-protected carpet, which is specially designed to help protect against pet urine. Backed by the PUP® Pet Urine Protection warranty, this carpet will ease your worries when your cat misses the litter box. Carpets with PUP are built specifically to resist the penetration of pet urine. These carpets will usually also have additional protective features, like SureBlok™ Stain Protection for overall resistance against soiling; or Microban®, which inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, and other odor-causing bacteria. With these extra boosts of protection, carpet and your cats can peacefully coexist. 

Carpet with Darker Colors 

Of course, even with all of the best materials and technologies in place, there’s no way to completely pet-proof any carpet. Stains, whether from an accident bathroom break or mud tracked in from the yard, are an inevitability in any pet-friendly household. That’s why it’s usually a good idea to opt for a dark-toned carpet. Dark carpets, or even lighter multicolor carpets with flecks of dark tones throughout, can help conceal those pesky mishaps.  

The Bottom Line on Carpet for Cat Households 

You don’t have to avoid having carpet installed just because you have a cat. Instead, choose a carpet style that will accommodate their habits and mitigate their occasional bad behavior. And Empire’s selection of cat-friendly carpets runs the gamut of styles, so you don’t have to compromise on your design goals either.  Cat-friendly carpets will save you time and aggravation in the long run. Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate today to see a selection of carpet that would be ideal for your kitty.

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