Pets & Rugs
Many of our clients are apprehensive about owning high-quality rugs while having pets at home. How is it possible to care for a handknotted rug while having animals that cause stains or extra wear to your rug? The following explains how to care for your rug and your pet at the same time.
At Azari Rug Gallery, we see how pets can affect rugs, as rugs are brought in for cleaning and restoration every day. We see pet accident stains, corners chewed by puppies, and uneven piles caused by cats’ kneading. The good news is: handknotted wool rugs are tougher than you might think.
Cats: Kneading
Many cat owners find that their cats are drawn to using rugs to knead with their claws. With rugs, this can cause some of the pile to be pulled loose, creating small tufts of wool that are taller than the rest of the rug’s pile.
There are various preventative measures that can be taken– the easiest things to do include regularly clipping your cat’s nails and providing other scratch pads, scratch towers, and blankets next to the rug for cats to knead instead. Providing positive reinforcement, such as giving treats, when the cat kneads other surfaces will help to transition the cat to using the preferred surfaces to knead. If the cat prefers one spot or area of the rug, temporarily covering this area can help deter the cat from continuing to knead it. If nothing seems to be helping and your cat is still scratching at your rug, a cat-safe alternative is to use specially designed plastic caps over each claw. This keeps the cat from being able to get their claws into the rug, therefore preventing any damage when they do knead.
If these measures are not preferred or unsuccessful, kneading rarely causes legitimate damage to the rug. The longer pieces of pile can be trimmed to the height of the rest of the rug pile, and the tenacity of the rug is not affected. Kneading only causes damage to the rug when done extensively in the same spot, which can be avoided by temporarily covering that area of the rug with other furniture.
When kneading does happen, our Repair Department at Azari Rug Gallery can trim the pile to the same height and repair by hand any areas that may need more extensive repair.
Dogs: Chewing
Some dogs, specifically puppies, may chew on the edges of rugs, causing damage to these areas.
Preventative measures include providing other chew toys to the dog and keeping them active through exercise. Chewing can be caused by boredom, teething pain, or a simple desire to explore the environment around them, so giving them other outlets for play is crucial to keeping your puppy from chewing on the edges of your rugs. Take your dogs on walks, provide them with stimulating toys, and, just like cats, use positive reinforcement (treats, praise, etc) when puppies use toys or other acceptable items to help them learn what they should and shouldn’t chew on.
If alternatives are not proving to be successful, then you can work on blocking off the area where your dog likes to chew. You can simply work to cover favorite areas with furniture or you can invest in gates to block off the room(s) where you are keeping your rugs. If, however, you find yourself in a situation where your rug has been damaged despite your best efforts, you can take it to be repaired at Azari Rug Gallery and we can help return your rug to its full glory.
All Pets: Messes
The other thing to be on the lookout for with pets of all sorts are messes. If you find yourself needing to clean your rug after a pet-related accident or mess, you can attempt to carefully tackle the stain yourself. Start by using a spoon to remove any residue. Then, use plenty of water to dilute the spot and blot from the end of the mess towards the center. Do not rub the stain or use harsh chemicals often found in pet stain cleaners. If you find that the stain persists, you can take it to the Cleaning Department at Azari Rug Gallery for a thorough, professional clean. You can also check our Rug Care Tips for more information on how to keep your rugs in great condition for you and all your loved ones (four-legged or otherwise) for generations to come.
