<p>We are building a home and have decided to go with hardwood floors throughout. We have 2 older cats that have done a number on our carpeting because of hairballs and the stains they leave behind. </p>
<p>I am wondering how these new floors will withstand our cats, especially if we are not able to clean up immediately after of them.</p>
<p>We haven’t had any problems with anything cats do and hardwood. Dog claws are a different story. You will like the hardwood much better than carpeting with cats, except for the fur rolling around.</p>
<p>You should probably be advised that hairballs will still be deposited on any area rugs you might have, no matter how small. But clean up on hardwood floors is much, much simpler.</p>
<p>I have two long haired cats and we also just built a house without any carpeting (except some area rugs). I find lots more hair just “around” somewhat like tumbleweeds and bought a small vacuum that I quickly whip around every day or so. Absolutely the hairballs hit the area rugs even when floor is right there!! But overall much easier to clean, much less odor and we’re happy with the choice.</p>
<p>Just a comment here… if a cat or dog is vomiting, it’s much easier to put a handtowel quickly where the dog or cat is going to vomit than it is to try to move the dog or cat. I’m sure I could have figured this out much faster, but I was 50 before I realized this, so I’m passing it along.</p>
<p>Dmd…my cat pukes up hair balls when I’m not filling her around! </p>
<p>As an FYI…my kitty just has to have her front paws on a rug when she spits up anything!</p>
<p>But cleaning up the hardwood floors with the clear poly finish is WAY easier than cleaning up the rugs…or even a hand towel!</p>
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<p>Yes. And if there are no area rugs, then they will zero in on couches and bedspreads. They really seem to want their hairballs to have a soft landing.</p>
<p>It depends on the floor finish. Our older wood floors do not do well with cat issues. If we don’t catch them in the act (even within 2 minutes), it damages the finish, and leaves a lightened spot. Our floor finish is original from the 50’s. We’re assuming the top coat is some type of varnish. They still look great because they were only recently uncovered for the first time after years of various wtw carpeting. Newer polyurethanes probably work much better. Fortunately the damage has been limited to a small area that we can temporarily cover with a throw rug, until it needs a full refinish.</p>
<p>Agree that the finish is the key. If someone (like the OP) is building and putting in new wood floors, and they are worried about cat “stuff”…they should choose a finish that will not absorb “stuff” and will clean up easily. We have a waterbased, clear poly called Street Shoe…it is what is used on bowling alleys…but it has to be done by a Street Shoe authorized person. However, we had clear waterbased poly at our old house that was equally durable. I would NOT recommend an “oil” finish if you have pets.</p>
<p>This thread is hilarious! We live in a new house we built 6 months ago with hardwood floors. We have two cats. We have the very occasional hairball (by the way, Laxatone made this much less frequent - they get it 3x/week). The floors have been fine in the very rare occasion we haven’t been able to get right to the spot. Finishes on new floors are very good these days. Follow manufacturer’s cleaning instructions (we use a microfiber mop with a product you spray on the floor in a spray bottle and it’s great.</p>
<p>OP here: Thanks for all the great input.</p>
<p>Not sure what’s so hilarious about this thread, however.</p>
<p>Warning, not to use too much water when mopping up these affected areas. Wood will swell and not fit back in well. Learned this the hard way. </p>
<p>My boss has greyhounds and has wood looking vinyl. Easy cleanup, but still absorbs urine smells.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s not funny when you have to spend an hour every morning cleaning up hairballs and the accidents older cats like to have.</p>
<p>My cat Ziggy is a habitual serial vomiter. Not hairballs, really, just plain old vomit. He just gets all excited and eats too damn fast.</p>
<p>My apartment – I have a 5-year sublease in a 1930’s co-op building – has hardwood floors, although I have rugs down, of course. But Ziggy always, always vomits on the wood, not the rugs or on the non-hardwood floors in the kitchen and bathroom. He specifically likes to choose places where I’m going to step barefoot in the middle of the night if I’m going to the bathroom, like the thresholds of my bedroom and the bathroom – and I find that if I’m not around to clean up immediately, it is sometimes very difficult or impossible to do so without damaging the finish. There are permanently lighter spots throughout the apartment. I am not looking forward to having my landlady (who’s in South America for five years) see this someday.</p>