Hardwood Floors

• Hardwood floors are a common choice for many pet owners and are particularly beneficial to pets in summer as they provide a cool effect on pet paws. They're fairly easy to clean as you can easily wipe off smudges and pet urine or feces with a hardwood cleaner. Solid hardwood floors can also be refinished to give them a renewed look if they've been scratched by pet claws. On a downside, the floors can be slippery.
  
  

Laminate

• Somewhat softer than traditional hardwood floors, laminate flooring is better for hiding scratches than other floors. On the other hand, laminates can cause pets to slip and slide while walking or running through a house, damaging a pet's hips and causing costly injuries. Using rugs on laminate floors can help slow down pets that tend to run in the house. Be careful with pet water bowls spilling as laminate floors need protection from water.
  
  

Bamboo

• An ideal flooring option for pet owners is a bamboo floor; because it's harder than hardwood, the floor can withstand more traffic. Bamboo flooring is durable and totally renewable. It's stain resistant, and, because of its hardness, it requires minimal repairs, which can save money. This flooring is a good compromise for pet owners torn between choosing either vinyl or hardwood flooring, but you should provide area rugs because of the floor's hardness.
  
  

Ceramic Tile

• Ceramic tile and other types of stone flooring are resistant to pet claw scratches. Glazed tile floors are relatively easy to clean, so they can continue to look good for many years. On a negative note, tile and stone floors are uncomfortable for pets to lay on, so soft pet pillows or area rugs are needed.
  
  

Carpets

• Generally the last choice for pet owners is carpet, but it does offer the most comfort for pets. Besides providing comfort for a pet lying down, carpets are also the most comfortable option for pets when they walk on them. Of course, they're also the flooring that's most likely to stain. Tight-piled carpeting is better for pets because it lowers the likelihood of a pet's claws getting caught in the fibers.