How we chose laminate flooring for a cat. Sharing my experience

When we got a kitten, at first we were just touched. But not for long until they realized that this furball had become the boss of the house! I don’t know about you, but now we are forced to plan and do everything taking into account our Scottish fold (although our ears are actually straight) Tema. How else? We have to constantly “look back” at it: what must be left, what should be removed, what awaits us at home, where our favorite hooligan ruled for several hours. And when we began the renovation, choosing materials, we could not ignore its presence. Therefore, we chose the flooring not only for ourselves.

Cat or laminate?

Our floors have been hinting at an update for a long time. Moreover, modern coatings look so enticing! While visiting my friends, I simply admired the laminate flooring. And in my thoughts I saw the same gender in myself. And the renovation is just around the corner! But immediately doubts appeared: I like it, and everyone at home agrees, but what about Tyoma-Timofey? (Yeah, he started responding to two names at once).

Why did we doubt

The reasons for doubt seemed serious to me. And there were several of them:

• Claws! What the cat hasn’t tried with its claws! How will the laminate handle this? Will we soon have to look for a replacement for him?
• Puddles! Yes, sometimes! This little bastard gets angry if we are not home for a long time. And he protests in this way.And I heard that laminate is not particularly welcoming to moisture. But you have to wash it! Yes, it is possible, with detergents. And the smell? Will it be permanently absorbed into the laminate panels?
• Running around! Our Scot is actually a pretty calm guy. But when he wants to frolic, he does it with all his heart! Will he be able to run the same way on the new surface? And anyway, won’t a cat be too slippery on a laminate floor?

Agree, these are not trifles. After all, you want it to be beautiful, comfortable, and money well spent.
I honestly tried to find the answers on my own. But I didn’t find anything definite. On the forums, by the way, too: there are as many emotions as you like, but, alas, there is no exact answer.

We decided to go to the store. And they did it right!

Professional opinion

We were lucky, even twice. In the store, our sales consultant turned out to be Vitaly, who seemed to know absolutely everything about laminate. As with other coatings, however. But most importantly! He himself turned out to be a “cat person”! He understood all our doubts immediately. And he did not brush them aside, but explained everything in detail and thoroughly. And here's what we learned:

• Firstly, cats get along well with laminate flooring. Vitaly’s pets did not change their lifestyle, did not become sad or lose their appetite after such a covering appeared in the apartment.
• Secondly, this the material tolerates the presence of animals well. If no force majeure occurs, then there will be no talk of any replacement in the near future.
• Thirdly, we did the right thing by taking the presence of a cat into account when choosing coverage. After all, in this case there are several nuances, the observance of which ensures a successful outcome of the floor renovation. And in such a way that everyone is happy.
• Fourthly, There are special substances that can be used to coat the surface after installation.. They will increase the material's resistance to moisture. Are they worth using? For me there is no clear answer.

How to choose the right laminate for living with a cat

So, we don’t just need a laminate that will fit into the interior and match the furniture. Our goal is to find a very good laminate that will resist scratches from cat claws. It will also tolerate the presence of small puddles that can remain on the floor for some time (several hours until one of us gets home).

Here are the important points to pay attention to:

Class

Wear resistance shows the class of the material. Usually for residential premises choose coatings of 31, 32 or 33 classes.

Our consultant advised us to take a closer look at a higher (commercial) class. Its reliability and water resistance are also higher.

Important! To further ensure the water resistance of the selected material, you should pay attention to the icons on its packaging. The drop in the picture confirms the protection against moisture.

Safety (emissions)

The composition of the laminate that is commercially available varies. The safety of the coating as a whole depends on the safety of the materials used. The emissions of a specific type and variety are indicated on its packaging.
It is better for us to choose a coating with emission E0.5, E1. They contain less formaldehyde, so they are safer both for the cat and for all of us.

Availability of additional “Corundum” coating

We were always wondering how to choose a more durable coating. It turns out there is such a possibility.

Reference. For those varieties that have additional protection in the form of a layer of corundum, the strength increases several times.

Such panels are not afraid of cat claws! They also tolerate numerous wet cleanings well.

Seams

Having read the “experts” on the Internet, we decided to look for panels with special locks. Such that the seam is very durable and does not suffer from moisture. This means it would not absorb odors.

But the store explained to us that now almost all the panels fit tightly together. Therefore, you should not get hung up on finding panels with water-repellent seams. Good quality material will stay that way.

Is additional impregnation necessary?

Here is another important question to which the cat owner seeks the answer on his own. I mean special impregnation. The fact is that The strength of the coating can be increased by treating it with a special waterproof impregnation.

Of course, it's good for the floor. But our consultant helped us see the other side of the protective procedure. She is connected to animals! (I told you that now we get the cat’s “approval” for everything!)

The composition of the impregnation is certainly beneficial for the floor. But this is chemistry! It turns out that our Tyoma will involuntarily pick up particles of this substance on his paws or fur. What if he then licks himself and this chemical gets into his stomach? No, we are not ready for this! By the way, the seller who told us all this also refused impregnation at home.

Well, I’ve told you almost everything. And I already had my eye on the color - “walnut”. I hope at least I can choose a shade without the participation of a cat?!