Quick answer

Choose the Natural Cedar Crate Floor for house training or a dog with a weak bladder, because its slotted planks let dirt and hair fall through. Choose the Rubber Crate Floor when you need a non-slip, rinse-clean surface that helps a dog keep its footing in a moving vehicle.

Grip and movement: where rubber earns its place

The Rubber Crate Floor has a textured, non-slip surface, and its 1/2-inch thickness is described as extremely durable. That combination matters most when the crate is in a car: the mat gives a dog something to grip when the vehicle accelerates or turns sharply. A cedar floor is sanded smooth, so it is not the surface to rely on for traction in a moving crate.

If your dog braces, slides or scrambles during travel, the rubber mat addresses that directly. If the crate stays parked at home, grip is less of a deciding factor and drainage becomes the bigger question.

Drainage and house training: where cedar earns its place

The Natural Cedar Crate Floor is made from #1 cedar planks and slotted so dirt and hair fall through. For a puppy in house training or a dog with a weak bladder, that slotted design gives mess somewhere to go instead of pooling on a solid surface.

Cedar is a natural product, so color, grain lines and knots vary from floor to floor. Expect variation rather than a uniform factory finish, and plan for the floor to look different from the product photo.

Cleanup and fit: the practical trade-off

The rubber mat is the easier of the two to hose down: the catalog describes rinsing it with a garden hose. Cedar needs a different routine because it is wood, and the supplied facts do not describe a washing method, so treat that as a decision limitation and ask before soaking it.

Fit is the other trade-off. The cedar floor is made for aluminum crates, and the rubber mat's sizes are listed as specific, so measure your crate before ordering either. Neither product record states a universal fit, so do not assume one liner covers every crate you own.

Cedar vs rubber: trade-offs to weigh

  • Traction in a moving vehicle: Rubber wins on the supplied facts: the textured, non-slip surface is designed to give a dog grip when a car accelerates or turns sharply. Cedar is sanded smooth, so it is not the travel-grip choice. If your crate rides in the car, start with the rubber mat.
  • House training and bladder accidents: Cedar wins here: the slotted planks let dirt and hair fall through, which helps when a pup or weak-bladder dog has accidents. The rubber mat is solid, so mess stays on the surface until you rinse it. For a puppy in training, the cedar floor is the more forgiving base.
  • Cleanup routine: Rubber is the simpler clean: rinse it down with a garden hose. Cedar is wood, and the supplied facts do not describe a washing method, so confirm care instructions before you wet it. Pick rubber if you want the lowest-effort cleanup.
  • Crate compatibility: The cedar floor is made for aluminum crates, while the rubber mat's sizes are listed as specific. Measure your crate's interior before ordering either one, and do not assume a universal fit. Check the size chart against your crate before checkout.

Product facts at a glance

Which liner fits your dog?

Best for

  • Dogs that ride in cars and need grip during acceleration or turns
  • Owners who want to rinse the floor with a garden hose
  • Crates where a durable 1/2-inch mat suits the space

Not for

  • Puppies in house training where drainage matters more than traction
  • Dogs with a weak bladder who need mess to fall through the floor
  • Owners who want a natural wood look in an aluminum crate