Do they go after something plush (with a smooth surface)? I found mine are only interested in berber rugs or rugs with more noticeable loops because those have a texture which is unfortunately close to their scratching posts. I have an area rug in my living room which has a subtle pattern but is regular carpet cut to area rug size with bound edges. Go to a carpet store (not a big box store) if there is one in your area and look at everything. Hopefully you'll find something you'll like that the cats will leave alone. If you have a garage, leave it in there for a while to outgas. Sometimes cats want to mark things that have a different smell than what they're used to.

Looped synthetic fiber rugs are often offered at a certain low price point and sold at places like Walmart & other big box stores. You also see it for rugs designed for indoor and outdoor use.

This link below might be a helpful tool for finding what you want.

https://safavieh.com/rug-catalog

Tufted just has to do with how the yarns are attached to the backing.

What about picking out a low pile plush or velvet cut broadloom and having it cut and bound?

try going to some furniture stores and viewing the rug samples they have on hand.

I had good luck with Flor carpet tiles with my two cats. It’s lasted four years and no claw snags. Bonus is that if they destroy a tile you can just replace it. It doesn’t feel soft on your feet though, and it’s expensive.

SO I have been looking online alot lately. Pottery Barn, Joss & Main, Costco, Wayfair, Overstock...I'm findiing I cannot filter out the looped rugs. Everything I find thats something I liked, in a size I need ends up having loops. Right now I have some shag wall to wall carpeting that they dont touch (this is what we are getting rid of, some regular plush carpet (not shag) and I have a number of oriental-style wool carpets that I got 15+ years ago from Pottery Barn, and for the most part they dont touch those. It could just be these cats are better than my last cats. But I dont want to take chances by spending money on a rug that will just start unraveling.

When I said check furniture stores, I meant in real life. go to the actual store and look at their samples. or if you can't get to the stores, call them and ask for help to choose carpets that don't have loops. ask them if they know of rugs that are particularly cat friendly. ask them if they can send samples.

Room and Board has top notch customer service, BTW. they will bend over backwards to make a customer happy.

Thanks. I understand what you meant. I was just saying where I’ve been looking so far. Have you ever been to Burlington VT? We don’t have much in the store selection here. But I’ll have to look around at the few places we do have.

I actually have! I was at a wedding in a small town nearby. Really beautiful area.

Anyway, try actually speaking with reps at stores -- over the phone or email. It might be way easier than sifting through the websites, and like I mentioned, some stores will send samples.

https://luxeweavers.com/blogs/articles/how-to-choose-the-best-rug-for-your-cat

I don't have a cat but found the above article...

You're looking for cut pile carpet of which there is a lot.

https://www.avalonflooring.com/blogs/blog/cut-pile-carpet-vs-loop-pile-carpet

PRN - Thank you! I had planned to check Home Goods. I also have been to Tina's and they have a large inventory, but like you said its expensive. I always fall in love with the gorgeous rugs they put in the window and of course those are always $5000+. It does help that I need at least 1 large 9x12 rug.

PRN - I went to Homegoods at lunch today and WOW, they had a good selection. Found a rug I like for my bedroom but its only 8x10 and I really need at least 9x12. Now trying to figure out how to make an 8x10 work. Would 2 different rugs look odd in the same room? My room is 12.5x19.5 and I have a large labrador retriever, so I want to cover the floor where she walks around the most which is my side of the bed and then the bottom of the bed.

I'm glad Home Goods didn't disappoint you. I'm not sure how to answer your question about the rug size. My first thought is to hold out for the size you really want, otherwise, if you are like me, you will keep looking for a 9x12 and when you find it, you'll buy it and will then have an unneeded 8x10. But maybe the 8x10 will work as long as there is enough rug along the sides of the bed and at the bottom. The top 1/3 or so of the bed does not need to be under the rug. I don't think the two rugs idea is ideal but without pictures, it's hard to know for sure.