Imagine if your home’s entire floor was covered in ice — it’d be pretty dangerous! Just think of all of the slips, tumbles and falls you’d have, not to mention injuries.
Sometimes I wonder if that’s how CH kitties feel about hardwood floors. When Ellie runs too quickly on our hardwood, she suddenly looks like Bambi on the frozen pond: Her legs slip out in every direction and down she goes!
This is where carpet can be a great solution. It’s less slippery, and depending on the carpet’s piling, your cat should be able to hold onto it and maintain some stability. It’s especially helpful if your cat is trying to move quickly, or is jumping down from a piece of furniture. It provides them something to grip once they land — not to mention a softer surface for falls.
However, you don’t need to worry if your home is all hardwood floors. While carpet may help keep your cat stable, it can expensive and difficult to clean. Fortunately you have options!
Placing a few area rugs strategically around your home can help your cat greatly. And remember, if the carpet has a tendency to slide around, place a non-slip pad underneath to keep it in one place. You can also try this quick tip that uses hot glue from a glue gun.
Here are six key locations to place area rugs in your home:
1. Around Your Bed: If your cat is allowed in your bed, it’s a general courtesy to make sure she can get down whenever she needs. Place a large area rug under your bed, or runners on the sides. Depending on your cat’s severity, you may need more than a rug. Some folks place piles of pillows where their cat tends to jump down; others have made carpeted ramps for their cats to walk down.
2. Around Your Cat’s Favorite Furniture: Again, if your cat is allowed on your couch, or any other furniture, including cat trees, place an area rug, throw rug or runner in the area where your cat jumps down.
3. Where Playtime Occurs: If this is also where your cat’s favorite furniture is located, congrats! One rug may be able to do double duty. In this location a larger area rug would be beneficial, so your cat has plenty of room to play without slipping and tumbling.
4. In Their Room: Some CH kitties are lucky enough to have their own room or special safe place where they can go. While it may not be ideal to have carpeting in this room (if you do, you can certainly cover it with old towels or a canvas tarp, which are easier to clean), you may want to consider some sort of floor covering to make it easier for them to get around — and to make it a bit cozier. One option here is foam floor tiles.
5. Down Your Hall: Like any kitties, sometimes CH cats need to get somewhere fast! That may mean “racing” down hallways. Do your kitty a favor and place a runner in her high-traffic areas.
6. Stairs: I know this is a taboo topic for many CH parents, but the truth is some mild CH kitties can manage stairs. While some are talented enough to navigate hardwood (at least going up), others are more capable on carpeted stairs, since they can grip into the pile.
Are there any other places you’d recommend? Does your kitty do better on carpet or has she mastered hardwood? Please share in the comments!
