Are hardwood floors suitable for dogs and cats?

Many dog and cat owners ask themselves the question whether parquet floors and pets are compatible.

Four-legged roommates should feel comfortable, at the same time the floor should not be damaged.

The combination parquet and cat is almost always harmless. With parquet and dog it looks a little more critical.

The type of wood and the surface treatment should be chosen in such a way that no damage occurs.

The problem with animal claws

Cats retract their claws when running and move almost silently on any floor.

scratch marks on the floor are not caused by cats. However, cat claws are a danger for many other materials in the home: all rough surfaces encourage scratching and sharpening of the claws.

This challenge can be defused with a scratching post, and the claws can also be gently shortened with special pliers.

With a parquet floor a cat gets along well. young and lively animals even enjoy the smooth surface especially >/g> and use it for extensive romping.

But what about the topic of claws, parquet and dog?

Dog claws cannot be retracted and often leave scratch marks.

Especially when it is a large and heavy dog, scratches quickly form on the parquet floor.

A sealed floor is more sensitive than oiled parquet. An oiled floor can be re-oiled, smaller scratches can be polished away g>.

Apart from the difficulty caused by hardwood flooring and dog claws, dogs make more running noises than cats.

On a parquet floor you can hear every tap, jump and run fast. As a dog lover, you are usually happy to accept these noises – however, if you are particularly in need of rest, you can cover the dog’s main running track in the apartment with a carpet.

If the pet is not yet stub-clean

Another problem occurs when young animals are not yet house-trained.

Wood reacts very sensitively to urine, the species of animal is not important. This is particularly critical with oak parquet. The cause is the tannic acid contained in oak wood.

The chemical reaction of tannic acid and urine forms ugly black spots. Discoloration extends several millimetres into the wood, abrasive sanding is therefore not an option. The affected parquet strips must be replaced. Other types of wood, for example beech or acacia, also show similar reactions when animal urine hits hardwood flooring.

Parquet and dogs/cats. Animal urine is particularly dangerous for oak parquet
Parquet and dogs/cats. Animal urine is particularly dangerous for oak parquet

Only one thing helps here:

carefully cover the floor until the pet is fully in control of its bodily functions.

And should a mishap happen, the mishap is wiped away as quickly as possible.

The less time the liquid has to penetrate the parquet floor, the less damage is caused.

The problem can recur in sick or old animals. As an animal lover, it is best to take care of the housemate. Then precautions can be taken if necessary!

But there is also good news regarding the question of how parquet and dog or cat get along.

When it comes to “parquet and animal hair“, the floor covering performs very well in comparison with a carpet.

There is no way to prevent pets from losing hair. From a parquet floor, however, the hairs are removed in a flash, e.g. with a vacuum cleaner.

A dry wiper mop is very suitable for this, the animal hairs can be easily absorbed. In the trade there are also special dust cloths, with which animal hairs are removed in no time.

Which parquet is suitable for dogs?

A parquet floor has numerous advantages. Before buying, it is important to consider what requirements the floor should meet.

Is the room subject to heavy use, are there any pets and/or children present? It is best to inform yourself thoroughly about different types of wood and parquet types and their properties.

At a specialist company interested customers will receive the requested information. Which floor price must be expected? Is it possible to lay the parquet by oneself or is it better to get professional help with the floorboarding?

Solid wood parquet is well suited for dogs and other pets if certain precautions are taken. An oiled floor is easy to maintain maintain, and if scratch marks do become visible after some time, oiled parquet can be treated well.

The choice of wood is also important. With a hard wood for the parquet floor, dog owners are on the safe side. Softwoods, for example, are all coniferous woods, but they are rarely suitable for a wooden floor anyway.

Hardwood such as beech, oak or ash is well suited if you want to buy parquet and are considering which parquet would harmonise well with a dog. oiled parquet seems better here than sealed parquet. Scratches can be polished away and a complete renovation is also easier.

Sometimes a smooth parquet floor causes the dog to slip. This can lead to different situations, depending on the temperament of the dog.

A young dog might find it great, he uses the parquet floor as an additional playing surface. Old dogs, who may have problems with their sense of balance or generally with locomotion, become even more insecure.

In both cases it is worthwhile to make a try with ABS socks. What is helpful for small children can also make life in the home easier for the dog. The anti-slip knobs on the underside ensure a secure hold on a smooth wooden floor.

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* Last updated on  2024-03-19 / We are using affiliate links / All images are served from the Amazon Product Advertising API.

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