Do you have a tile floor?

You could use the throw rug in the winter time, but if your cats are playing that too may slide around. We have tile in our house and it is nice in the summer, but it gets pretty cold in the winter. Although, I would much rather have the tile in the kitchen than carpet. I have a toddler and messes and carpet do not mix well. I think the tile is a good mix with the house I live in. In fact, I do often see my dog spread out on the tile in the summer time to cool down.