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Everybody loves pets! Studies show that living with a pet can increase your level of happiness. Surely, most pet owners will agree. Cats and dogs are the most traditional pets. Some of the more adventurous individuals like mini-pigs and bunnies, and even monkeys!
Taking care of a pet comes at a cost though. You can look for the perfect carpet to complement your decor all you want! If you have a pet, you need to take that pet into consideration. As annoying as it can be, you need to accommodate your furry (or not so furry) friend.
Your pets should definitely influence your carpet choice. You need to focus on stain resistance and durability above all. Unfortunate accidents and wear and tear can very well shorten the life of your carpet.
When choosing the best carpet for pets, you need to take the following factors into consideration:
Carpet Materials
Carpeting is either made from natural fibers like wool, or synthetic fibers like nylon, olefin, or polyester. Wool carpets are generally softer and more luxurious. They decompose faster too, so they’re more eco-friendly. However, they are more expensive and not as stain-resistant as synthetic carpets.
Nylon carpets
Image source: Mercer Floor and Home Carpet One
Nylon is the perfect material for pets. The strands are resistant to pulling, and the fibers won’t let stains sink deep into the carpet. Nylon carpets are great for areas with heavy foot traffic, such as hallways.
They are also resistant to soil and mildew. The carpet will manage to stay clean even after your dog walks on it with its dirty paws.
Pet-friendly wool carpets
Image source: Jamie Bush & Co
Wool is a naturally stain-resistant material. It makes up less than 1% of the whole carpeting industry. Wool is significantly more expensive than other carpet materials though.
Polypropylene carpets
Image source: NB Design Group, Inc
Polypropylene is naturally stain-resistant and hard-wearing. It looks quite similar to wool, but it’s more resistant to dirt, dust, and liquids. Stains will stay on the surface and won’t sink into the carpet.
Frieze carpets
Image source: Ann Arbor Carpets Flooring America
Frieze is very resilient. The short twisted fibers work well to conceal dirt. The thick material reduces noise from foot traffic.
Olefin carpets
Image source: Thompson Custom Homes
Olefin is often used for outdoor carpets. New technology allows the fibers to look and feel like wool, which is also suitable for indoors. The material is resistant to stains, water damage, pilling, static, and mildew.
Saxony carpets
Image source: Abbey Carpet & Floor of Naples
This material is very smooth and comfortable, with high pile and flairs at the end of each tuft. It provides adequate traction for cats and is still soft enough for dogs. The carpet will work well for human feet too.
Saxony carpets are affordable and conceal marks well.
Other Carpets to Consider
Cut pile carpets
Image source: Watermark & Company
Loop pile carpets are durable and good-looking. However, your cat’s claws can get trapped in the loops. Consider cut pile carpets as an animal-friendly alternative. The piles stand upright, which looks good and won’t allow claws to get caught.
Patterned or dark carpet
Image source: ProCarpet
Light carpets are very chic. They light up the room and make it look bigger and cozier. Unfortunately, they will show even the smallest and lightest stains. It’s especially inconvenient if you have a pet with dark fur.
Darker and patterned carpets are more forgiving of fur and stains. Consider matching the carpet to the color of your pet’s fur.
The pad
Image source: Rug Pad Corner
Padding with a physical moisture barrier called a spill trap is perfect for pets. It won’t let urine or slobber soak into the carpet.
That said, a pad soaked with urine will be impossible to clean and will stink up the whole room. Look for a pad with antimicrobial protection. It will prevent mold and bacteria from growing and multiplying.
There are many great options for pets when it comes to carpets!
Top 6 Best Carpets for Pets
SmartStrand Carpet
This brand is eco-friendly. The spill shield protects the carpet from stains. It works great for humans too. Nobody’s perfect, and we’ve all spilled our coffee once or twice. The carpet is easy to clean as well due to its core stain protection feature.
Home Depot’s Pet Proof Carpet
This carpet will survive wear and tear and foot traffic by pets. It is also very comfortable and soft. There’s a 0% moisture retention rate, which makes the carpet odor-resistant.
STAINMASTER PetProtect Carpets
50% of all households in North America have a dog. There are over 4 times as many dogs as there are children!
40% of all American households have a cat. Cat owners spend around $100 million a year on cat treats. If that sounds like a lot, then you just wait. Dog owners spend over $1 billion on dog treats every year!
Rembrandt’s Wear Free Carpets
This leading carpet manufacturer now offers a line of pet-friendly carpets. You can choose from a variety of colors and designs to fit your home decor and spoil your pet. The carpets are very high-quality and durable. Many of them are treated with Scotchgard, which helps against spills.
Pet-Friendly Carpets by Carpet Barn
These are perfect for messy animals! There is a big collection with hundreds of options for your beloved pets. The carpets are suitable for dogs and cats and are durable against damage. You don’t have to worry about your comfort either, as these carpets are suitable for both pets and humans.
Patterned Carpets
If you want to add a pop of colour to the room, go for a heavily patterned carpet. These are stain-resistant and can be cleaned with bleach. They can also withstand heavy foot traffic.
Care and Maintenance for Your Carpet
Image source: Liliane Hart Interiors
Getting your carpet to serve you for a long time is difficult with pets around. Nevertheless, if you want to increase its lifespan, you need to take very good care of it.
As you know, pets can be very unhygienic. That is an especially big problem if you let them walk outside and drag all the dirt inside. The carpet needs to undergo thorough cleaning regularly.
A Popular Carpet You Should Avoid at All Costs
Berber carpets are quite popular, but nobody talks about all of their disadvantages. First and foremost, the carpets are not pet-friendly! The looped design will catch animal claws. The resulting snags can permanently damage the carpet.
Ending thoughts on the best carpet for pets
If there is one thing we can tell you, it’s not to believe every “pet-friendly” sign you see. You already know that there are a lot of features that constitute a pet-friendly carpet. Not just any nylon or frieze carpet will survive wear and tear from your pets.
Keep the type of fiber and material used in mind. These play a huge role in determining whether or not a carpet will be suitable for your pets.
Finally, look for the most durable options. It is best if the carpet is stain-resistant, yet soft to the touch.
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