You love your feline companion — the way he or she rubs against you when you're sad and the way he or she meows at you encouraging you to get up and feed him or her in the morning. What you might not love, however, is the way having a cat affects your carpet. From the hair accumulating to stains from "accidents," a cat can make a new carpet look worn within a year or two. But this does not have to be the case! Adhere to these carpet care tips for cat owners to keep your carpet looking and smelling fresh.
Keep a stain-fighting kit on hand.
If your cat has an accident, whether it be urinating, pooping, or vomiting on the carpet, time is of the essence. The sooner you clean up the mess, the less likely it is to stain. Keep a stain kit on hand with a good carpet stain remover (one marketed for pet owners), clean cloths, a sponge, and a bucket. This way, if your cat has an accident, you won't need to rush through your home looking for supplies and wasting valuable time.
Buy a good vacuum.
Cheap vacuums tend to only remove hair and other debris from the very surface of the carpet. If you use one of these cheap vacuums, hair may slowly build up in the deeper layers of your carpet to the point that it's really hard to remove. Invest in a good vacuum — one with sturdy brushes and a HEPA filter — and use it several times per week to remove hair. Buying a new vacuum may seem like a big investment, but it's cheaper than having to replace the carpet.
Have your carpet professionally cleaned.
Hire a carpet cleaning company to shampoo your carpet every six months. Professional equipment is better at extracting debris and hair from deep within the carpet than the carpet shampooers sold in home goods stores. Make sure you tell the company you have cats. They will then make sure to use cleaners that are safe for pets; they may also apply special deodorizing compounds to the carpet to keep it smelling fresh for longer.
Having a cat should not have to mean sacrificing a clean home or a clean carpet. With the right vacuum, a good stain removing kit, and the help of professional carpet cleaners, you can maintain your carpet in spite of your feline friend.
