Best Carpet Types for Pet Owners

Pets are hard on carpet in three separate ways: claws pull at the surface, hair works its way into the pile, and accidents soak into the backing. The good news is that the right construction copes with all three without you having to give up on carpet.

Pile type matters most. A tight twist pile is the safest choice — the yarn is twisted and cut so there are no loops for a claw to catch and pull. It also hides hair better than a smooth, flat surface and recovers well from being walked on.

Loop piles and Berbers are the ones to be careful with. A single claw catching a loop can pull a long snag that runs across the room. If you love the look of a loop, keep it to rooms the pets do not use.

Long, soft shagpiles are the other type to avoid. Hair sinks into a deep pile and stays there, and vacuuming is a chore rather than a quick job.

On fibre, man-made yarns such as polypropylene are naturally stain resistant because the colour goes right through the fibre, which means you can clean them hard without lifting the colour. Wool feels wonderful and is genuinely hard-wearing, but it absorbs liquid more readily, so it is better suited to rooms where accidents are unlikely.

Think about the underlay and the mess you cannot see, too. Spills that get past the carpet end up in the underlay, so blot quickly rather than rubbing, and deal with accidents the same day.

Colour helps more than people expect. A mid-tone with a subtle fleck disguises hair and everyday marks far better than a flat pale or very dark carpet.

Bring a photo of your dog or cat when you come in — we will point you at the carpets that will still look right in five years.