Cats, hardwood floors or laminate?

Question

My husband and I are looking into tearing out our carpet and putting in a different flooring. We have 2 cats, we keep their claws trimmed, however, they do like to scratch on scratching post or carpet. We are trying to decide which is more durable, laminate flooring or opt for the extra $$ and put in hardwood? Which will resist cat scratches better? Will either one actually take scratches from the little kitties? HELP!

Answer 1

Hi, I've had my hardwood flooring for 13 years now and I still love it. It has stood up to 2 children (now 14 and 16), numerous friends over and two dogs and two cats. The finish is worn buy the sink where I should have had an area rug to protect from splashes especially when my kids do dishes. It has a few scratches and dents from life but still looks great. I may in the future get it refinished but for now I like the character of it.

Hardwood increases the value of your home and lasts forever. The finishes today are harder than when I purchased mine. You do need to take care of it and use some preventative maintenance. Like using are rugs at entrances to trap dirt, felt pads on furniture and wipe up spills right away. Sweep or vacuum regularly. Mine stood up and I played more than I cleaned. I also loved that they camouflage more than a white floor. I have oak whereas a really dark floor would show more. Hope this helps.

http://www.hardwoodlaminateflooringguide...

http://www.hardwoodlaminateflooringguide...

Answer 2

A pre-finished hardwood floor is best in a high traffic.  

Answer 3

The durability of flooring refers to it's ability to be stain, scratch, impact, and fade resistant. Laminate flooring shines in all four durability categories. Although it can be scratched by heavy objects pulled across the floor, it is very difficult to damage laminate flooring. Hardwood, on the other hand has it's durability issues. Staining can happen a lot easier on hardwood floors than on laminate floors. This can be quite important when the flooring is in the kitchen or bathroom. Also, hardwood floors have a tendency to fade when in direct contact with sunlight. Laminate floors do not.

The life expectancy of flooring is quite important to a consumer. Neither hardwood nor laminate flooring is cheap. You want to know that your investment will last a lifetime. Hardwood floors can last over 25 years if cared for properly. Laminate floors last less than 20 years. However, laminate floors require little to no maintenance. Hardwood floors must be refinished and waxed every once in a while. Hardwood floors also have an ease of repair benefit over laminate flooring. Although laminate flooring can be very hard to damage, when it is damaged, repair is extremely difficult and costly. Hardwood floors may get damaged more often, but they are a lot easier to repair.

There are several factors to weigh when choosing the type of flooring you would like. Hardwood and laminate floors add value and life to any house. You must carefully weigh the appearance, durability, and life expectancy aspects of these types of flooring. Some people weight each category differently. If you choose laminate or hardwood flooring, be sure it is the right type of flooring to fit your family's needs.

Answer 4

I would suggest granite stone as flooring.

Answer 5

Definitely hardwood.  Think of the resale value.  Plus you can't repair a laminate and you can always spruce up a hardwood floor.  Even laminates can scratch and get damaged from other things.  Spend the extra $$ and you will be much happier.

Answer 6

Go with the laminate, it is a much tougher surface and it won't show all of the fine scratches that wood will. If you want to see for yourself, get a small sample of each and try scratching them with several different things. Choose a thicker , high-end laminate though, not the cheap stuff.

Answer 7

Go with the Hardwood. You will regret Laminate.  It looks nothing like hardwood.  I don't think the cats would damage the hardwood, not like a dog would.  

Answer 8

I have had both and I used to have a 115lb black lab that would tear through the house and slide across the flooring whenever someone was at the door.  I must admit that laminate is much more durable than hardwood when it comes to this.  I was so impressed that I used laminate in many rooms of my house.  I now have 3 kids and am extremely satisfied I used laminate vs. hardwood.  The nice thing about laminate is if you do happen for any reason to ruin a piece, it's so easy to get to the bad piece and replace it.  If you have a hardwood floor, you are looking at sanding and resurfacing a whole room at a time.  For good quality laminate, the cost is still less than an average quality hardwood floor.  My favorite name brand of laminate is DuPont RealTouch.  It comes with a 30 or 35 year warranty and can be purchased at Home Depot.  The nice thing about this product is there is no need to purchase rolled matting separate.  It's already attached to the back of each piece which makes installation much easier.  The overall quality such as look look, feel, and durability is far superior to other brands.  I tried a room with Pergo and was so dissatisfied I took it out and put DuPont in.  The Pergo is now in my basement.  Anyway, with all said, I think if this flooring withstood a 115lb dog sliding across it, then I'm positive it will do well with a cat.  Good luck!

Answer 9

I don't think cat scratches will be an issue.  I have cats and 4 big dogs.  The only ones that effect my hardwood floors or those in my mom's house, are my greyhounds (HUGE claws).