I'm going to ask you for your help in this column. I've included a photo of a condition that we've seen at least twice in the last year with an unexplained cause. I'm going to include some of the comments from the dealer and the
inspector. I want to know if any of you have seen or experienced this same problem- if so, send photos or any information you have.

The dealer wrote, "Thank you in advance for giving me some guidance! The inspector felt the family cat is making the marks. While I agree that the carpet
is not defective, as the marks are only occurring along the walls, I cannot reconcile that a five-pound cat is causing these marks! The consumer is going to hire her own inspector, but feels we are responsible for selling her this 'pet friendly' product."

The inspector wrote, "Examination shows there are numerous round spots in the carpet caused by crush pile or pile compression. They are all located along the walls and are about 6 inches apart and two inches in diameter. They go from the kitchen to the dining room, from the dining room into the great room. They also go from the foyer to the master bedroom, and from the kitchen along the fireplace where one indentation was observed.

"Brushing up the pile removes the mini-crush marks; however, the consumer claims they come back in a few hours. Past experiences show these mini-crush marks are caused by paw prints from the family cat. The cat even walked along the marks in front of the doors where the bar is located. The consumer did not agree the cat is causing these circular crush marks.

"Having observed this condition in numerous other inspections, these two-inch round circular crush marks along some walls are caused by the cat continually walking over this area and stepping in the same spot. If the consumer would
observe the cat and the paths it uses as it navigates through the area, it will be apparent that the cat is causing the mini crush marks. There is no manufacturing related function that would make this condition appear."

I agree with the consumer that the cat is not the likely source of this condition. The uniform spacing and size, unless the cat is a robot, pretty much negates that theory. This condition is unusual and begs an answer. It is most likely the repetition of an action by an object that traverses the affected path(s). It is certain it is not manufacturing related, as nothing in manufacture would cause this. Again, the location, spacing, size and repeat
suggest, without doubt, that the cause is local.

Installation is not the cause, as no tools, techniques or installation process would cause the condition. It is not an inherent characteristic of the carpet, as no carpet is manufactured that would pick an area, define a condition or space out the occurrence like this.

So, that leaves us with a mystery. The last one of these we saw also followed the walls and was also a solid colored cut-pile product. The photo will exhibit the problem. We can say what it isn't, but we can't determine, at this point, the cause. Perhaps all of you can help solve this mystery. Remember, the carpet never lies, it will always tell you what's wrong if you know how to interpret
what it's saying. In this case, it has offered a real challenge.