Why Scratch-Resistant Laminate Flooring is Perfect for Pet Owners

Whether you’re renting, buying a new property, or looking to update your existing interiors, laminate flooring provides stylish, scratch-resistant and durable floors for pets and families. This hard-wearing, child and pet-friendly flooring solution is simple to maintain, offering an elegant, long-lasting and practical finish for any room in the home.

Why Pet Owners Need Scratch-Resistant Flooring

Cats, dogs and other household pets can wreak havoc on carpets and tiled floors. Add children and heavy day-to-day use into the mix, and your floors can start looking tired not long after they've been laid. Scratch-resistant laminate UK trends have continued to see laminate flooring as an ever-popular option for households with animals and children, as the natural wood effect enhances aesthetics whilst providing a timeless, easy-clean and durable flooring choice.

Common Flooring Challenges for Pet Owners

Firstly, let's consider those claws, feet and paws. We love our pets, but cats scratching, dogs running, and children playing can leave carpets looking less than perfect – and that's before they've trodden in mud or had a little accident. There's also the issue of pet hair and odour, which can be absorbed by carpets and rugs, making them difficult to clean.

Scratches from Claws and Playtime

Laminate flooring offers truly durable floors for pets and children to play on. The lightly polished surface won't appeal to cats' scratching like carpet can, and hard floors can even help keep your pets' claws more trim. Online Carpets' wide selection of scratch-resistant laminate resists wear and tear from pet paws and teeth, children's toys, and daily bumps and knocks in key rooms of the house.

Damage from Accidents and Spills

Our scratch and water-resistant laminate flooring is a saviour when it comes to spills. From pet accidents to potty training incidents and spilt food and drinks, laminate flooring is designed to resist stains and won't soak up splashes like real wood flooring can. It's also quick to vacuum and mop for easy, hygienic cleaning, which is exactly what you need with little ones around.

Benefits of Scratch-Resistant Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is the ideal choice for high-traffic areas and comes in a wide variety of colours and designs. Whether you'd love a classic wood style floorboard, a sleek stone effect, or even a luxurious herringbone design, we've got a style for you. It offers a more cost-effective option than real wood flooring, with easier maintenance, and it's a much more practical choice than carpets for homes with pets.

Key Features of Pet-Friendly Laminate Flooring

Laminate is a safe, stylish, and quick-to-install option for cat owners, dog owners, and families. Most of our laminate flooring uses a drop-click system that doesn't require any adhesive and has no toxic odours, which can be harmful to furry critters and kids. 

Durable Surface Coatings for Extra Protection Our pet-friendly flooring can be coated in an anti-slip, protective layer to help guard against scratches and keep it looking its best for longer. Ask our team about the best option if you have multiple pets and heavy usage. Water and Stain Resistance for Easy Maintenance Modern scratch- and water-resistant laminate flooring is just as practical in kitchens and bathrooms as it is in living rooms, hallways, and bedroom areas. Pets and children can create a huge mess with mud, spills, and mealtimes, but stain-resistant laminate makes cleaning up muck and fur quick and easy. Comfortable and Safe for Pets’ Paws Laminate flooring comes in a selection of different thicknesses and underlay depths to help your flooring feel comfortable and soft underfoot. Pets' sensitive paws and barefooted family members will notice it feels cosier than tiles, with some natural slip resistance to preserve safety in even the busiest kitchens and hallways.

 

Best Scratch-Resistant Laminate Flooring Options

Our laminate flooring pet friendly options come in 6mm through to 12mm thicknesses, depending on the room and floor's usage. If you're on a budget, we can guide you through the best budget laminate flooring for your space, as well as quality laminate for everyday use and luxury laminate full of sophisticated tones and designs to finish off your ideal interior look.

Top-Rated Pet-Friendly Laminate Styles

Combining modern yet rustic styles, Kronotex Villa 12mm Laminate Flooring has received rave reviews as a family and pet-friendly flooring, thanks to its ultra-hardwearing properties suitable for commercial or household use and choice of eight colours.

Traditions 9mm Balterio Laminate Flooring is also a popular choice as it's easy to install and offers exceptional value for money, holding up to wear and tear from pets and kids brilliantly. Our team is happy to talk you through the best options for your unique space.

Comparing Different Finishes and Textures

Modern laminate comes in a wide range of colours, textures, and finishes, making it a really versatile option. Opting for a less glossy, textured surface can be more pet friendly and non-slip, and can camouflage any scratches that occur.

Matte vs. Glossy Finishes

You may wonder: is laminate flooring pet friendly if it's glossy? If you've got dogs and children running about, high-gloss surfaces aren't ideal, as they can be slippery. Opt for non-slip laminate surfaces to ensure babies and fur babies can move, dance, and play confidently.

Patterned vs. Textured

Patterned flooring can help hide all sorts of pet-related marks, and darker colours can make pet hair and dust less likely to show. The boards themselves can be patterned and/or textured, or you can create patterns in the way you lay them to add interest. Textured laminate surfaces aid grip and can look more rustic and realistic but without the maintenance and expense of real wood. 

How to Maintain and Care for Your Laminate Flooring

One of the many benefits of laminate is that it's easy to maintain and keep clean. It won't require oiling, polishing or sanding like real wood, and once installed, it won't need additional coatings to protect it like tiles can. Unlike carpet, it can be mopped using disinfectant and won't need expensive deep cleaning with carpet cleaners and stain removers, which can be a frequent occurrence with pets and kids.

Cleaning Tips to Keep Floors Looking New We recommend sweeping and/or vacuuming regularly and mopping using only a little water. Avoid very harsh chemicals that may affect your laminate's surface, and ideally, choose a laminate-friendly, non-scratch mop or cloth with a non-abrasive, bleach-free cleaner. You could also put rugs or mats down in very high-traffic areas to reduce maintenance and try to clean up spills promptly to avoid the risk of slips. Best Pet-Safe Cleaning Products It's essential to use a safe, non-toxic cleaning product on your flooring that is approved for use on laminate floors and around pets. Enzyme cleaners that are laminate-safe can be a good option, as can gentle pet disinfectants. Always perform a patch test on a discreet area of your flooring first to ensure colour-fastness.

Unlike carpet, laminate flooring can be mopped using disinfectant and doesn't need expensive deep cleaning with carpet cleaners and stain removers.

 

Preventing Scratches and Damage from Pets

Although laminate is famously robust and can be scratch-resistant, no surface is fully scratch-proof. You can help avoid damaging your new flooring by clipping your pets' claws regularly, using pet nail caps, removing shoes in the house, and using protective rugs for heavy-traffic areas.

Order a Free Sample of Our Scratch-Resistant Laminate Floors 

Ready to see how ultra-stylish, easy-clean laminate floors can give your home an instant lift? Browse our full range and order your free sample today. We offer FREE Fast Delivery on orders over £199 and have a detailed Laminate Flooring Measuring Guide to help advise you on how to install your new flooring. Discover Online Carpets' range of sleek scratch-resistant laminate flooring, pet-friendly flooring options and LVT for a durable, stylish, and family-friendly solution for modern homes.