Cat owners tend to worry when their beloved furry pet goes on top of a residential or commercial flat roof. But do building owners need to share their concern? Can a cat damage a flat roof?

The answer depends on the type of roofing system you have.

Asphalt and Metal Roofs

If you have a modified bitumen (mod-bit), built-up (BUR), or a metal roofing system, the answer is probably no, meaning you don’t have to worry. The only damage a cat could possibly do is lightly scratch the roof surface as it sharpens its claws.

Asphalt and metal flat roofing systems are pretty durable. I can’t imagine a cat would even enjoy scratching at it. They tend to like digging into softer surfaces like wood and couches.

Single-Ply Membrane Roofs

Single-ply membrane roofs, on the other hand, might be susceptible to a cat’s claws. If you have an EPDM, TPO, or PVC roof, for example, a cat could damage it with repeated claw sharpening although I have yet to receive a service call for cat damage.

Something Else To Consider

You might just want to leave cats alone.

Birds damage flat roofs more than any animal I know of. Perhaps there’s a good reason to keep a hungry cat on a commercial flat roofing system—they might be a good bird deterrent.