The Best Area Rugs for Homes With Dogs & Cats

Arsh's Rug Library · Buyer Questions

Red Super Kazak rug with leather chesterfield sofas — Shown: Rustic Super Kazak Mathias, 8'9" x 11'8". Busy patterns and deep color forgive fur and paws.

You don't have to choose between a beautiful rug and a dog or cat. The right rug handles fur, paws and the occasional accident, and our pet accident guide covers what to do in the first hour.

Why wool is a smart choice

Wool fibers have a natural coating of lanolin that slows how fast liquid soaks in, giving you time to blot. Wool also releases dirt and pet hair when vacuumed and springs back after being walked on. Synthetic rugs tend to hold odors and mat down sooner.

Best rug types for pets

Dense, low to medium pile hand-knotted rugs: claws don't catch easily, and fur sits on top where the vacuum can reach it.
Busy patterns and medium colors: Kazak, tribal and traditional all-over designs hide fur and small marks. A rug close to your pet's coat color helps too.
Flat weaves for some homes: kilims are easy to clean and move, but a cat that likes to scratch can pull their wefts, so they suit dogs better than scratchers.

Blue and beige Super Kazak rug with an all-over geometric design — All-over geometric designs and dense wool pile are the most pet-friendly combination.

Close-up of dense wool pile and geometric motifs — All-over geometric designs and dense wool pile are the most pet-friendly combination.

What to avoid

Skip silk, bamboo silk and viscose rugs, which stain with water and can't be cleaned easily (see our viscose warning). Very pale, plain rugs show every mark, and deep shag traps fur.

Everyday care

Vacuum twice a week without a beater bar, keep nails trimmed, and put a rug pad underneath so the rug doesn't slide when pets run across it. Blot accidents right away with cold water and never use hot water or steam. For odors that linger, our hand washing with enzyme treatment resolves most cases.

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