Best Tile Options for Pet-Friendly Flooring

Like most homeowners across the U.S., you probably have a dog or cat – or several, as the case may be. Whether you’re house-hunting or looking to upgrade your existing flooring to a more durable material for your pets, you might be wondering what the best options are for pet-friendly flooring.

Why Choose Tile?

Carpet and hardwood are popular flooring materials that have their perks, but when it comes to keeping your floors protected and maintained, tile is a great option for pet owners. Many types of tile can protect your floors from damage caused by:

• Pet accidents, which can stain and leave an unpleasant odor
• Pet nails, which can snag carpeting or scratch wood surfaces
• Dirt or mud, which can be tracked indoors on your pets’ paws
• Spills from food and water bowls
• Pet hair, which can be trapped in carpet fibers and become difficult to remove

Several tile materials are stain- and spill-proof, making them especially durable for homeowners with dogs or cats.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile flooring is an extremely functional and pet-friendly option. Typically low-cost, easy to clean and exceptionally versatile, ceramic is often chosen for use in kitchens and bathrooms but it can be a beautiful choice for anywhere in your home.

Porcelain Tile

Technically a type of ceramic tile, porcelain is designed to be incredibly hard and tough. Porcelain tile flooring is a perfect choice for pet-owners who need particularly durable floors that are resistant to scratches and spills – for example, people who own multiple large or energetic dogs.

One of the major perks of porcelain tile flooring is that the design options are virtually limitless. It can be used anywhere in the home and is available in endless colors and variations. Porcelain can be made to look like natural stone tile for a more organic look. You can even achieve the appearance of a gorgeous hardwood floor by opting for wood-look porcelain tile that is more durable and long-lasting compared to actual wood flooring.

Stone Tile

Natural stone tile is another good pet flooring material that’s great for dog or cat owners. Beautiful as well as durable, stone floors can be sealed to make them highly resistant to wear and spills. However, some softer stone materials, such as marble and travertine, may require more maintenance than harder stones like granite or quartzite.

Try using our Just Imagine Visualizer tool to see how your home would look with these pet-friendly flooring options!