Waterproof picnic blanket (megamat) as flooring

[Otti]

 So, I currently have these foam flooring tiles I bought off of walmart for Sammy’s flooring in his pen. It’s working really well and I have no intention on changing it unless he decides to start eating it, but so far so good.

Before I read about the tiles and decided to go with that option, I bought a special picnic blanket online called a MegaMat, thinking I would use that for flooring. This is what it looks like:

 

Mine is a different color and not plaid (orange, yellow, green etc.). They’re about $20 to $40 online depending where you look and come in different sizes but I believe mine is 4 ft by 5ft.

And this is the description:

The Mega Mat padded multi-purpose mat combines a 100% waterproof PVC backing with a padded lining for all-season versatility that will help you stay dry and comfortable. The soft design is lightweight and easily portable, and it includes a hidden storage pocket that can hold a wallet, keys, snacks, and more. 

I was going to send it back, but decided to keep it both because the returning costs were high anyways, and in case Sammy decides to chew the mats, as a possible substitute.

I’m wondering what you guys think about how viable this would be as pen flooring. It’s essentially a waterproof blanket, but maybe it might be too dig or chew tempting …. thoughts?

 

[Sarita]

I think you should give it a try – I don’t know though how really waterproof it is and if you can wash it. I always like to have as far as carpeting goes, something I can toss in the washer and air dry.

[Otti]

Hey Sarita,

Well the mat has what is essentially a plastic layer on the back, like a tarp would be, so it definitely is waterproof in the sense that the blanket would absorb spills, but they would not reach the carpet or floor underneath.

Specifications for it say that you can machine wash it on the delicates cycle, and then air dry

I put it on the floor for a bit while I was still thinking of using that as flooring first, and Sammy didn’t dig or chew at it. I just like the foam mats better for now because I think hay would get stuck on the top ‘softer’ part of the blanket and therefore it would be harder to just sweep up than the foam mats…. I’m just worried the mats will eventually get chewed so I want to be prepared with alternatives lol

[Sarita]

I think you are right that the blanket (which sounds very cool) would be harder to sweep. Hopefully Sammy won’t start chewing on the mats – if he hasn’t by now, he may never!

[Otti]

 Finger crossed! Yeah I wanted to post about the megamat anyways for people who like the ‘tidy’ look of the foam tiles and don’t like the idea of having to layer sheets or blankets over plastic tarps, but can’t use the foam tiles themselves if they’ve had chewing issues.

This gives that same ‘unified’ look of one flooring piece, with the waterproofness and still soft and non slippery option. 

[jerseygirl]

I have one of these. I had it a long time but rarely used it so I decided to use in for the rabbits. First few times it got peed on but easy to wash. Then I folded it and used it as a pad under the cardboard box where they pretty much sleep. They left it alone a good while but then started to dig and chew at it. Now it has big holes in the wool part. :o( I also found that after washing it in the machine a few times the backing tore. I’m going to salvage what’s left of it.

It does trap the fur so it’s not flying around. I used a clothes liont remover (the kind with the velvet stuff on it) to routinely take the fur off.

So, it was a good thing to use for me but I could have used it longer if I’d taken better care.

[Elrohwen]

Sounds like it could work. I’ve always used a vinyl table cloth (backed with felt, to keep my wood floors safe and provide some padding) as bunny flooring. It’s not bunny proof and they’ve put a few holes in it, but in general they leave it alone unless they’re really bored. Now that they have a rug in their area, I used the table cloth under the rug as a waterproof barrier to protect the floors in case they pee.

[lashkay]

When I lived in temporary housing I shared with roommates, the only quality time I had with my first bunny Lash was letting her have free run of the bed while I was lying on it and I spread a vinyl picnic tablecloth I got at the drugstore for a couple dollars, over the bed and lay on top of it to keep her from soiling the bedspread, blankets, sheets, mattress, etc. It worked fine. When I finally moved into an apartment again, I used the tablecloth as a very large urine guard, taping it to the outside of her cage so loose hay would stay within the vinyl. When I finally took it off, it had collected piles of hay on all sides of the cage. The vinyl tablecloth worked well for us in both these usages and when it was on the bed, she had no interest in chewing on it.

[Rinibugg]

I use a similar style blanket for Captains cardboard castle when I let him run around it. It’s pretty easy to clean [just shake out and toss in the washer].

He doesn’t really dig or chew it, just tries to burrow under the corners and hide.

:3

[Otti]

hmmm thanks to everyone! Sounds like a good alternative if the foam mats should start to interest him too much lol

[Author]

Messages