Pet-Proof Your Home: Flooring That Stands Up to Furry Family Members
Love your pets but tired of worrying about your floors? You’re not alone. At Caruso’s Floors, we meet pet-loving families every week who want beautiful flooring that can handle everything from muddy paws to the occasional accident – and still look great for years to come.
After helping Spokane pet owners since 1933, we’ve learned that the right flooring can make all the difference between constantly stressing about your floors and actually enjoying life with your furry family members. The good news? Today’s pet-friendly flooring options are more beautiful and durable than ever before.
Let’s walk through your best options so you can choose flooring that works for both your lifestyle and your four-legged friends.
Understanding Pet Challenges in Spokane
Living with pets in the Inland Northwest presents some unique flooring challenges. Our wet springs mean muddy paws tracked through the house. Winter brings salt and sand that can scratch floors. And let’s be honest – accidents happen year-round, regardless of how well-trained your pets are.
The most common pet-related flooring issues we see:
- Scratches from claws on hard surfaces
- Stains from accidents, food spills, and muddy paws
- Odors that seem impossible to remove
- Wear patterns in high-traffic pet areas
- Water damage from overturned bowls or wet coats
The key is choosing flooring that can handle these challenges before they become problems. The right pet-friendly floor should be scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, easy to clean, and able to stand up to your pet’s daily routine.
Luxury Vinyl Plank: The Pet Owner's Best Friend
If you have active pets and want flooring that looks great without constant worry, LVP is hard to beat. Modern luxury vinyl plank flooring has come incredibly far in both appearance and performance.
Why LVP Works So Well for Pet Owners
Coretec flooring, one of our most popular pet-friendly options, is 100% waterproof. This means accidents won’t seep through to your subfloor, preventing odors and damage that can be expensive to fix. Karndean offers similar waterproof protection with incredibly realistic wood and stone looks.
Armstrong luxury vinyl handles scratches better than most flooring options. While no floor is completely scratch-proof, quality LVP from Armstrong bounces back from minor scratches and hides the ones that do occur.
Cleanup is simple. Most pet messes wipe up with a damp cloth and mild cleaner. No special treatments, no panic about permanent stains – just quick, easy maintenance that fits into busy pet-owner life.
Best LVP Options for Different Pet Situations
For large dogs: Coretec Plus offers excellent durability and comes with impressive warranties. The thicker construction helps with sound absorption, which your downstairs neighbors (or family members) will appreciate.
For multiple pets: Provenza Floors LVP combines beautiful aesthetics with serious performance. The scratch-resistant surface and waterproof core handle the chaos that comes with several pets.
For cats: Mannington luxury vinyl works well because it’s smooth enough that litter doesn’t get trapped in grooves, but textured enough to provide good traction for older pets.
For puppies and senior pets: TAS Flooring LVP options often have slightly softer surfaces that are easier on joints while still being completely waterproof for accident-prone pets.
LVP Maintenance for Pet Owners
Daily: Quick sweep or vacuum to remove pet hair and tracked-in debris.
Weekly: Mop with pet-safe cleaners. Southwind LVP maintains its appearance with minimal effort.
As needed: Address accidents immediately. The waterproof nature of quality LVP means you have time to clean properly without panic.
Carpet: Comfort That Can Handle Pet Life
Many people assume carpet and pets don’t mix, but modern pet-friendly carpet can be a great choice, especially in bedrooms and family areas where comfort matters.
The Revolution in Pet-Friendly Carpet
Mohawk has completely changed the carpet game for pet owners. Their SmartStrand carpet is made from renewable materials but performs like a superhero when it comes to stains. We’ve seen red wine, mud, and yes, pet accidents come right out with just water and mild detergent.
Shaw Floors offers carpet with built-in stain resistance that works at the fiber level. This isn’t just a surface treatment that wears off – it’s engineered into the carpet itself.
Best Carpet Choices for Pet Households
For heavy shedders: Anderson Tuftex carpet with tighter weaves makes vacuuming pet hair easier and more effective. Loose weaves can trap hair and make it harder to remove.
For accident-prone pets: Godfrey Hirst and Phenix both offer carpets with moisture barriers that prevent liquids from reaching the padding underneath.
For active pets: Stanton carpet holds up well to pets who like to dig or scratch. The durable construction maintains its appearance even with energetic pets.
For allergy concerns: Milliken offers carpet options that resist allergen buildup and are easier to deep clean when needed.
Carpet Maintenance in Pet Homes
Vacuum frequently. Pet hair and dander need regular removal. A good vacuum with a pet hair attachment makes a huge difference.
Address accidents immediately. Blot, don’t rub. Use enzyme cleaners designed for pet accidents – they break down odor-causing compounds that regular cleaners might miss.
Professional cleaning annually. Karastan and other high-quality carpets benefit from professional cleaning to remove deep-down dirt and pet-related buildup.
Hardwood: Beautiful but Requires the Right Approach
Hardwood can work in pet homes, but it requires more careful selection and maintenance than other options.
When Hardwood Makes Sense for Pet Owners
Older, well-trained pets: If your pets are past the puppy/kitten stage and accidents are rare, hardwood can be a beautiful choice.
Small to medium dogs: Large dogs with long nails can scratch hardwood more easily than smaller pets.
Areas away from food and water: Hardwood works well in living rooms and bedrooms, but be cautious in areas where water bowls might overflow.
Best Hardwood Options for Pet Households
TAS Flooring offers hardwood with durable finishes that resist minor scratches better than standard finishes.
Hallmark Floors engineered hardwood can be a good compromise – it looks like solid hardwood but handles moisture better.
Shaw Floors hardwood with aluminum oxide finishes provides extra scratch resistance.
Duchateau offers wider planks that can actually hide minor scratches better than narrow planks, and their finishes are designed for durability.
Hardwood Maintenance with Pets
Keep nails trimmed. This is the single most important thing you can do to protect hardwood floors if you have pets.
Clean up water immediately. Standing water can damage hardwood, so address spills and overturned water bowls quickly.
Use area rugs strategically. Place washable rugs near food and water bowls, and in areas where pets spend a lot of time.
Refinish when needed. Quality hardwood from Contempo or Anderson Tuftex can be refinished to remove scratches and restore beauty.
Tile and Stone: The Ultimate in Durability
For pet owners who want maximum durability and easy cleanup, tile and stone flooring are hard to beat.
Why Tile Works for Pet Owners
Shaw Floors tile and Daltile options are completely waterproof and virtually indestructible. Pet accidents, water bowl spills, and muddy paws are no match for quality tile.
Easy maintenance: Most pet-related messes mop right up. No special cleaners needed, no worry about permanent damage.
Cool comfort: Many pets actually prefer the cool surface of tile, especially during warm weather.
Best Tile Options for Pet Areas
Large format tiles: Fewer grout lines mean easier cleaning and fewer places for pet hair and debris to collect.
Textured surfaces: Anderson Tuftex tile with subtle texture provides better traction for pets, especially important for older animals.
Neutral colors: Light grays and beiges from TAS Flooring tile collections hide pet hair better than very dark or very light colors.
Tile Considerations for Pet Owners
Grout maintenance: Sealed grout is easier to keep clean when you have pets. Plan for annual grout sealing.
Temperature: Tile can be cold in winter. Consider area rugs in spots where pets like to lie down.
Hardness: While durable, tile is hard on joints. Older pets might appreciate softer surfaces in their favorite resting spots.
Room-by-Room Pet Flooring Strategy
You don’t have to choose just one flooring type for your entire home. Here’s how to think about different areas:
Entryways and Mudrooms
Best choice: LVP or tile This is where muddy paws make first contact. Coretec or Karndean LVP handles the mess beautifully, or go with Daltile for maximum durability.
Kitchen
Best choice: LVP or tile Food spills and water bowl overflows are common here. Armstrong LVP or Shaw Floors tile make cleanup easy.
Family Room
Best choice: LVP or pet-friendly carpet This is where your pets probably spend most of their time. Provenza Floors LVP offers comfort and durability, or Mohawk SmartStrand carpet provides softness that’s still practical.
Bedrooms
Best choice: Carpet or LVP Many pets sleep in bedrooms. Stanton carpet provides comfort, or Mannington LVP if you prefer hard surfaces.
Bathrooms
Best choice: Tile or LVP Moisture is already a concern in bathrooms. TAS Flooring tile or waterproof LVP handle pet-related moisture too.
Special Considerations for Spokane Pet Owners
Seasonal Challenges
Spring mud season: Have doormats both inside and outside every entrance. Consider Fibreworks washable rugs that can handle muddy paw cleanup.
Winter salt and sand: These can scratch floors and be hard on pet paws. A good entry mat system is essential, and LVP handles salt residue better than hardwood.
Summer shedding: Choose flooring colors that work with your pet’s fur color. Medium tones often work best for hiding pet hair between cleanings.
Multiple Pet Households
Plan for higher traffic: Areas where multiple pets travel need more durable flooring. Coretec LVP or Shaw Floors tile handle heavy pet traffic well.
Consider noise: If you have pets that are active at night, Southwind LVP with attached underlayment can reduce noise transmission.
Aging Pets
Provide traction: Older pets need floors that aren’t slippery. Textured LVP or low-pile carpet work well.
Easy cleanup: As pets age, accidents may become more frequent. Waterproof options like Karndean LVP or tile make management easier.
Making the Right Choice for Your Family
The best pet-friendly flooring is the one that fits your specific situation. Consider:
- Your pet’s size, age, and activity level
- Your climate and seasonal challenges
- Your maintenance preferences
- Your budget for both initial installation and long-term care
Don’t feel like you have to choose just one type of flooring. Many successful pet-friendly homes use LVP in high-traffic and accident-prone areas, carpet in bedrooms for comfort, and tile in bathrooms and mudrooms for maximum durability.
Professional Guidance Makes a Difference
Every pet family is different. What works perfectly for a household with one well-trained older dog might be completely wrong for a family with multiple young pets or cats.
At Caruso’s Floors, we work with Spokane pet owners to understand not just what products are available, but how your specific pets live in your specific home. We consider factors like your pets’ ages, sizes, activity levels, and any special needs they might have.
We also understand Spokane’s unique challenges – from muddy spring weather to winter salt – and how these affect both your pets and your floors.
Ready to find flooring that works for both you and your furry family members? Visit our Spokane showroom to see pet-friendly options from Mohawk, Shaw Floors, Coretec, Karndean, Armstrong, and all our other trusted brands.
Our team has helped thousands of local pet-owning families find flooring solutions they love living with. We’d be happy to help you create a beautiful home that can handle whatever your pets dish out.
Visit Caruso’s Floors in Spokane, Washington, to explore pet-friendly flooring options. Since 1933, we’ve been helping Inland Northwest families – and their pets – live comfortably and stylishly.