Nothing makes a house feel more like a home than a furry friend. Our cats, dogs and other pets are part of the family, even though sometimes they can make everyday life a little messier. There are some key considerations to keep in mind when choosing pet-friendly flooring for your space — from shedding and muddy paws to little bathroom accidents. With that in mind, we’ve created an ultimate guide to finding your perfect pet-friendly Jatana Tiles! 

What makes tiles pet-friendly?

It may seem like any solid flooring will do the job when it comes to creating a pet-friendly space, but it goes deeper (literally) than just being able to wipe up spills easily. There are a bunch of reasons that tiles are the ideal choice for home flooring if you have to deal with fur, claws, mud and wee. We love our Terracotta Tiles,  Moroccan Tiles, Antique Encaustic Tiles and Reproduction Encaustic Tiles as pet friendly options! 

Easy to clean

Pet hair, dust and dirt don’t stand a chance against tiles. All the nasty bits and bobs sit on top of the tile’s surface and are easily wiped away with a mop or cloth. With regular cleaning, your tiles will look as good as the day they were installed for years to come — which can’t be said for certain other flooring options. We do recommend finishing your Antique Tiles and Reproduction TIles with a sealer prior to using them in a pet loving household. Our Glazed Feature Tiles and Terracotta Tiles are also great for spaces that will need to withstand some pet hair, their finish makes the super easy to wipe off! 

     

Doesn’t trap odours

Most people would have encountered the “dog smell” or “cat smell” before. No matter how clean you keep your pets, their natural odours and their urine tend to impart a lingering scent that can seep into your flooring. If you opt for tiles, you won’t have to worry about these strong scents embedding themselves into your floors. The Jatana Range is an excellent place to start your pet-friendly title journey!

Scratch-resistant

Even the most well-groomed critters can cause scuffing or scratching as they zoom around the house in excitement. If you invest in quality tiles, you won’t have to worry about cat or dog claws causing permanent damage to your flooring. While wood can be easily marked and carpet can catch on little toenails, tiles remain unscathed by the daily wear and tear of foot (and paw) traffic. We do of course recommend you keep your dog’s nails clipped regularly to avoid deep scratching!

Flooring to avoid when you have pets

Now that we’ve covered off why tiles are the superior flooring choice for pet owners, let’s talk about some of the less-than-ideal options you might be faced with. From stain-prone styles to slippery surfaces, here are the types of flooring to avoid if you’re living with animals. 

  

Carpet

If you’ve ever heard your pet retching like they’re going to be sick and had to sprint to move them off the carpet, you know all too well why this plush flooring isn’t exactly pet-friendly. While carpet can be comfortable, it presents a host of issues for pet owners — the first being that it’s much harder to clean. Carpets also tend to hold onto dirt and allergens no matter how thorough you are with a steam mop, so it’s best to avoid it if you live with indoor animals.

Hardwood

While hardwood floor looks stunning, it’s also far more fragile than tiles. Its more slippery surface means less traction for little paws, which in turn leads to unsightly scratches from pets trying to find their footing. Hardwood is also prone to set-in stains, which doesn’t leave a lot of room for bathroom accidents. 

  

Laminate

You might be fooled into thinking laminate is an affordable alternative for tiles, but that’s not the case. This is another option that can be quite slippery underfoot for pets, not to mention that spills (or urine) can seep between planks and cause swelling.