Cats weigh little and rarely have accidents, so the question is narrower than it is for dogs: claws and hair. A cat that scratches at the floor by the door will find the finish on softwood in a week. A hard-surface floor with a tough wear layer, and a loop carpet only if the cat is not a scratcher, is the shape of the answer.
Based on: dry living space · several rooms · cats · durability and easy maintenance first · a professional install.
Stone-composite core: 100% waterproof and dimensionally rock-steady.
Densest, hardest, most water-resistant mainstream floor — and the best wood-look plank made.
The tile-shaped sibling of SPC plank — same core, glued or floating.
Soft pine or fir and any wood with a thin site finish. Berber loop carpet if the cat pulls at loops; a cut pile hides claws better.
The full reasoning, the failure modes and the care schedule for each of these are on FlooringFAQ’s guide. This page is the decision; that one is the education.
This ranking assumed a typical version of the situation. Change the rooms, the budget, the subfloor or who is installing it and the order moves. The eight questions start with these answers filled in.
Your flooring choice is only half the equation. Installation, subfloor preparation, removal and transitions change the final price. Local professionals quote the same scope, and you decide whether to talk to any of them.
No obligation. You choose whether to contact the professionals who respond.