How to Choose a Rug for a Cat-friendly Home

Are you looking for a rug for your home that can withstand your pets? Read on to see the dos and don’ts to buying a pet-friendly rug that will look great and last.

Points to consider when shopping for a rug

How to choose a rug for a home with cats

Pattern Scale

The larger the pattern scale the easier it will be to see a stain, snag or pet hair. Smaller scale patterns hide imperfections better than large scale patterns.

A large scale pattern rug like this does not hide hair or imperfections. Both White and black hair would show easily on this rug.

Well Woven Star Bright Calipso Kids Area Rug

Avoid fluffy long pile or shag rugs

These are an absolute no-no. These rugs can encourage your cat to dig and scratch. Worse case scenario is they could interpret the long pile as a place to dig and go to the toilet. These also trap pet hair and dirt and require a ton of maintenance and are difficult to clean. If you buy a cheap shag rug it will likely shed hair of its own so now you have rug and cat hair to clean up. While these rugs may camouflage the cat hair, they can be incredibly dirty and awful for allergies.

rugs to avoid with petsAvoid long-piled shaggy rugs. While gorgeous, they trap dirt and pet hair and can quickly look dirty.

Wool

Wool is a pet-friendly material because it is durable and the natural fibers make it easier to clean and anti-bacterial. However, wool rugs are more expensive so if it is ruined beyond repair this can be disappointing.

Outdoor Rugs

Today you can find many great patterns of outdoor rugs that you can use inside. These are very thick, flat durable rugs that can withstand pet play and are easy to clean. The quality of these rugs varies greatly, so you need to look at them on an individual basis and look what they materials they are made of. But it’s a good option to consider.

 Color

If you have a white cat, a black rug clearly isn’t a good option for you. Patterns and mixed colors are usually better at hiding pet hair than a solid color which contrasts your pet’s hair.

Cowhide

Cowhides are incredibly durable and long-lasting.  Easy to clean up spills and accidents and pet hair can be brushed off. They come in a variety of patterns from natural and traditional to bright hues or shimmer and glitter. These rugs surprisingly work well with many different styles.

cat on cow hide rug Source: Designsponge.com

Kilim Rugs

Buying an original Kilim rug is a wonderful investment. They are usually made of 100% wool, tightly woven and low pile. They are indestructible and become more beautiful with age. While I visited Turkey, I saw people selling rugs hanging them outside to get sun and putting them on the street to allow cars to run over them. These rugs are made to be used and loved for many generations.

Kaya Kilims is my favorite rug store. I stalk her website weekly to look at the beautiful rugs and pillows. She curates rugs from Turkey and sells them worldwide with free shipping. Her selection is exquisite and the pricing is a steal for the value.

Overall Best Rugs Options:

Mixed colors, small scale patterns, low pile, tightly woven, flat weave and natural materials.

My Rug:

Best cat-friendly rugs

When I visited Morocco I knew I wanted to buy a rug. When looking I told the sellers I had cats and they knew exactly what kind of rugs to point me to. I chose this one because it is low-pile, tightly-woven and thick. It is made from a combination of wool, cotton and nylon. The small scale pattern  hides cat hair and imperfections easily. I have all hardwood floors in my apartment so my cats love sleeping and playing on this. From time to time I do see them try to scratch it. But they haven’t caused any snags. I also keep their nails trimmed which helps. I like that it has a busy pattern that hides imperfections well.  It’s easy to clean using my Dyson V6 Animal and a Lilly Brush.

Vacuum

Lastly, I have to mention my vacuum. I couldn’t imagine living with cats without a Dyson vacuum. It is my biggest weapon against fighting cat hair. I have a canister and a cordless  model and both of them have proved to be incredible machines. Even with all hardwood floors and one carpet, a vacuum is my most important tool to keep my home clean.

Do you have a rug that has outlasted your cats? Share in the comments what has worked for you!

How to choose a rug for a home with cats

Follow:

3 Comments

  1. March 14, 2017 / 5:32 pm

    I found the best rug ever was a very cheap one (€30) from IKEA made from sisal, which we all know is the best scratchy stuff that cats like to stick their claws into. Namely this one:

    http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/textiles-rugs/rugs/drag%C3%B6r-rug-flatwoven-beige-light-brown-art-00086490/

    It lasted about 2 years before I had to throw it out, as it started looking tatty, but in those 2 years 2 of my cats regularly used it as a scratching pad, and it seemed to be pretty indestructable! I would recommend this rug to anyone because you just don’t have to worry or tell your cat(s) off about sharpening their claws on it…

    P.S.: Cow hides are also very warm when you stand on them – trust me, I get cold feet a lot, and the cow hide in front of my bed is a godsend. ;)

    • March 14, 2017 / 7:12 pm

      Yes any cat would love that rug! It’s more like a giant toy for them. It is much like my storage boxes from Ikea. They shed some but are worth it because the cats love it and serve a dual purpose.

      • March 14, 2017 / 8:11 pm

        Aye! I even turned one of those storage boxes into a cathouse by cutting a rounded hole into it and putting it into an Expedit (Kallax) unit. :)