Are modern wooden floors cat unfriendly? If they are, rugs are certainly the opposite. Cats love ’em.
In Britain a lot of people have ripped up their carpets and put down artificial wood flooring. You have that sheer, spacious, modern look. It can also be a cold look and I say that cats don’t like it because cats have an affinity towards the humble rug. Especially a rug that is near a fire and well used by your cat or cats and a dog. Rugs are going to retain a cat’s scent and hair. When hard floors are hoovered and cleaned all remnants of a cat’s presence are removed.
I realise that wooden floors are more hygienic and also, incidentally, much better with respect to the dreaded flea. Fleas love carpets. They sit at the bottom of them and wait for a cat to walk on by at which point they jump on. But you have got to have that rug if you have a cat.
If you had a fitted carpet and put down wooden flooring, I’d be fairly sure that your cat would be upset! This is mainly because cats are very sensitive to a change in the appearance of a home and, of course, they love rugs, carpets etc.
Perhaps the best combination is a hard floor with some judiciously placed rugs for your cat to lounge on. Rugs can be cleaned more easily than fitted carpets to remove fleas etc.
Smallish rugs are probably best because cats can also play in, under and around a small rug. Underneath a rug is a nice place to hide and cats like that.
There are lots of cat toys around. The rug is a nice, instant cat toy, a place for a cat to migrate to and sleep on and it is useful for humans too. Cats aren’t fussy either. It doesn’t have to be anything special. In fact the more used and beat up it is the better.
Update: This is a little video of Lilly who lives with Marc in Switzerland playing with a cat mat. It just backs ups what the post says. Cats think rugs and mats are toys, places to play around and on, and places to sleep on:
Lilly looks a lot like Monty. You can tell she is a very happy, healthy cat. Monty’s tail is longer though, with a kink at the top of it.
Yay – thanks Ruth. Yes, she is wonderful. She’s a very fun and playful cat. Very friendly and curious. She likes people. She’s great.
Marc, Lilly is absolutely gorgeous, what a beautiful shiny coat she has.
I love your rug with the cats on too.
Wow that sounds great. Richmond is green too comparatively. Charlie will be happy there in which case you will be. And if you leave England you can rent it out. The fact that there are grounds and so on seems like you really scored. I can’t imagine being able to find such a place in London so quickly. There are hardly any grounds in London for a start. Well done and congratulations.
Yes, it is very cat-friendly, near Richmond Park and on the ground floor. I saw two Siamese cats wandering around the extensive grounds, which are a long way from the road and thought, this will do. It is on the ground floor with its own front door. There are shops nearby and transport too. I might let it out to tenants but it is very cat friendly ;). I am buying it for Charles. Sometimes I think I might live abroad because I don’t really like England anymore. It has changed forever. The flat is not expensive and the grounds are grade 2 listed. It’s a bit messy but human, if you know what I mean. You never know though until you have lived in a place for a while.
Michael – have you found a flat? I know you mentioned something a while ago – Putney?