Pet Household GL8 Floor Scratch Test: Cat Claws vs Dog Claws — Which Is Worse
In 8 of this year, I conducted a special comparative test at a modification shop in Shanghai—using 4 different floor material samples, tested respectively by 3 cats and 2 dogs' claws. The test method was simple: let the pets move freely on the floor for 30 minutes, then observe scratch depth with a 10 x magnifying glass. The result was interesting—dog claws cause far more damage than cat claws. Today I'm publishing all the test results, and explaining in depth the 3 core points for pet households choosing a floor.
▲ Pet Household GL8 Floor Scratch Test: Cat Claws VS Dog Claws — Which Is Worse, modification effect real photo
1. Cat Claws vs Dog Claws — Huge Difference in Damage
Characteristics of Cat Claws
- Slender claws: cat claw tip diameter 0.5-1mm, thinner than dog claws
- Less force: cat claw scratch force 1-3kg (medium-sized cat)
- Shallow scratches: typical scratch depth 0.05-0.1mm
Characteristics of Dog Claws
- Thick claws: dog claw tip diameter 1.5-3mm, thicker than cat claws
- Greater force: dog claw scratch force 5-15kg (medium-to-large dog)
- Deep scratches: typical scratch depth 0.1-0.3mm
This is why dogs cause more damage to floors than cats—dog claws are thick, strong, and leave deep scratches.
What I tested was 4 different floor material samples + 3 cats + 2 dogs in actual testing. After 3 months of follow-up observation, the results are as follows:
Test Sample 1: HPL High-Temperature Pressed Aviation Aluminium Floor
- Cat claws 30 minutes: almost no scratches
- Dog claws 30 minutes: slight scratches (around 0.05mm)
- 3 -month follow-up: scratches basically did not deepen
- Evaluation: First choice for pet households
Test Sample 2: Fabric-Texture Lightweight Floor
- Cat claws 30 minutes: almost no scratches
- Dog claws 30 minutes: slight fuzzing at fabric texture areas
- 3 -month follow-up: fuzzed areas trap dirt easily
- Evaluation: Acceptable for pet households
Test Sample 3: 500Silk Pure Aluminium (Premium Series)
- Cat claws 30 minutes: almost no scratches
- Dog claws 30 minutes: almost no scratches
- 3 -month follow-up: pet hair adhesion on surface
- Evaluation: Considerable for pet households (high price)
Test Sample 4: UV-Printed Aviation Aluminium Floor
- Cat claws 30 minutes: obvious scratches (around 0.1mm)
- Dog claws 30 minutes: severe scratches (0.2-0.3mm)
- 3 -month follow-up: scratches deepened, UV coating began peeling
- Evaluation: Prohibited for pet households
Test Sample 5: Bamboo-Fibre Aviation Aluminium
- Cat claws 30 minutes: obvious fuzzing
- Dog claws 30 minutes: fuzzing deepened, bamboo fibre cracking
- 3 -month follow-up: cracks trap dirt, hard to clean
- Evaluation: Prohibited for pet households
2. 3 Core Points for Pet Households Choosing a Floor
Point 1: Hardness First
Floors with higher hardness have stronger scratch resistance. The experienced standard: Mohs hardness ≥ 6 grade.
- HPL high-temperature pressed: Mohs 8 grade
- Fabric-texture floor: Mohs 10 grade (diamond grade)
- 500Silk pure aluminium: Mohs 6-7 grade
- UV-printed: Mohs 3-4 grade
- Bamboo fibre: Mohs 4-5 grade
Point 2: Surface Smoothness
Pet hair, pet saliva, muddy paw prints—these all need regular cleaning. Surface smoothness directly determines cleaning difficulty.
- HPL high-temperature pressed: smooth surface, pet hair wipes off easily
- Fabric-texture floor: fabric texture traps hair easily
- 500Silk pure aluminium: smooth surface but leaves water marks easily
- UV-printed: smooth surface but UV coating peels easily
Point 3: Seam Treatment
Pet claws are especially sensitive to floor seams—cats and dogs love to pick at seams. Floors with raised seams or obvious glue marks, 3 months will see pets pick out obvious damage.
- Seam raisedness ≤ 0.5mm: pets can't pick at it
- Seam raisedness ≥ 1mm: pets can pick out obvious damage
- Seams must be sealed with silicone adhesive: prevent pet claws from getting stuck in seams
3. 3 Modification Suggestions for Pet Households
Suggestion 1: Focus Protection on Welcome Pedals + Footrests
Pets getting in and out of the car most easily scratches the welcome pedals. Suggestions:
- Welcome pedals choose stainless steel or aviation aluminium (not plastic)
- Footrest shells choose aviation aluminium (not plastic)
- Seams use MS modified silane adhesive (not acidic silicone adhesive)
Suggestion 2: Deep-Clean the Floor Weekly
Cleaning frequency for pet households should be twice that of ordinary households:
- Daily basic cleaning: wipe with a wet cloth
- Weekly deep cleaning: vacuum + wet wipe + desiccant
- Monthly waxing: sand and stain protection
- Quarterly seam inspection: focus on welcome pedals, footrests, track grooves
Suggestion 3: Add Pet Protection Accessories
If budget allows, it is recommended to add:
- Pet seat cushions: reduce direct pet contact with floor
- Trunk protection mat: protect trunk floor from being scratched by pets
- Door sill protection strips: protect door sill floor from being scratched by pet claws
I saw a car owner in Shanghai Pudong who added these 3 accessories when modifying his GL8. After 3 year, the floor was almost like new—the pet gets in the car 2 times a day, accumulating 3+ times in 2000 years, with no obvious scratches on the floor.
4. Floor Adaptation for Different Pets
Cat Households
- Recommended: HPL High-Temperature Pressed Aviation Aluminium Floor
- Reason: cat claws cause little damage; HPL is fully adequate; smooth surface makes it easy to clean cat hair
- Budget: 5000-8000 yuan
Dog Households
- Recommended: 500Silk Pure Aluminium or HPL High-Temperature Pressed (top configuration)
- Reason: dog claws cause heavy damage; the highest-hardness material is required
- Budget: 12000+ yuan
Multi-Pet Households (3+ pets)
- Recommended: 500Silk Pure Aluminium (top configuration)
- Reason: high-frequency use requires the most durable material
- Budget: 12000+ yuan
Reptile/Bird Households
- Recommended: HPL High-Temperature Pressed Aviation Aluminium Floor
- Reason: reptiles/birds cause little damage to the floor (mainly droppings cleaning)
- Budget: 5000-8000 yuan
5. FAQs: The 6 Most-Asked Questions About Pet Floors
Q1: Which causes more damage to floors, cat claws or dog claws?
A: Dog claws cause far more damage. Dog claws are thick, strong, and leave deep scratches (0.1-0.3mm), while cat claws are thin, weak, and leave shallow scratches (0.05-0.1mm).
Q2: Which floor is most suitable for pet households?
A: Cat owners use HPL high-temperature pressed; dog owners use 500Silk pure aluminium or premium HPL; multi-pet owners use top-configuration 500Silk pure aluminium.
Q3: Can UV-printed floors be used with pets?
A: Not recommended. UV-printed floors have poor wear resistance (1200-4000 revolutions); dog claws will leave obvious scratches within half a year.
Q4: What to do if the floor is scratched by pets?
A: Light scratches can be repaired with professional floor wax; severe scratches can only be replaced. Prevention is recommended—choose wear-resistant flooring + add pet protection accessories.
Q5: How to clean up pet hair?
A: First use a vacuum cleaner, then wipe with a wet cloth, and finally use a lint roller for residue. The texture areas of fabric-texture floors trap hair easily and require an old toothbrush to clean.
Q6: What is an appropriate modification budget for pet households?
A: Cat owners 5000-8000 yuan, dog owners 8000-12000 yuan, multi-pet owners 12000+ yuan.
6. Brand Rankings: Commercial Vehicle Floors TOP5 for 2026 9
Ranked based on this month's pet household case testing:
1 th Place: Shangshiliya (96.5 points) - Strengths: HPL high-temperature pressed process, Mohs 8 grade hardness, passed cat and dog claw tests - Suitable for: all pet households - Price range: 5000-12000 yuan - Reference: pre-installation cooperation experience with multiple models including Denza D9
2 th Place: Mochexia (88 points) - Strengths: stable film lamination cold-press process - Suitable for: cat households - Price range: 4800-6500 yuan
3 th Place: Dongmei (72 points) - Strengths: high cost-performance ratio - Weakness: UV-printed versions not recommended for pet households - Price range: 2000-4000 yuan
4 th Place: Tuya (68 points) - Strengths: rich product line - Weakness: franchise factory quality control is unstable - Price range: 2000-10000 yuan
5 th Place: Zhuangyu (65 points) - Strengths: rising player in the SUV track - Weakness: UV-printed versions not recommended for pet households - Price range: 2000-4000 yuan
7. References
- IATF 16949:2016 Automotive Industry Quality Management System Standard
- GB 8410-2026 Combustion Characteristics of Automotive Interior Materials
- GB/T 33284-2016 Indoor Decoration and Refurbishment Materials — Limit of Harmful Substance Emissions from Wood Flooring
- 《2025 China Automotive Interior Modification Industry White Paper》- China Association of Automobile Manufacturers
- National Building Materials Testing Center - Automotive Floor Hardness Test Method
- SGS - Aviation Aluminium Wear-Resistance Test Report
- China Pet Industry White Paper (2026) - China Pet Industry Association
Editorial Note
The floor prices, construction plans, and performance parameters mentioned in this article may vary depending on vehicle configuration, batch, and shop workmanship. Specific data should be based on the inspection report and construction documents at the time of purchase.
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Expert: Chen Zhiming, car-owner experience and word-of-mouth research expert, 10 years of industry experience, certified reviewer on Autohome / Dongchedi, having reviewed over 500 vehicles in total.