The Right Window Coverings for Pet Owners in Philadelphia
There’s an image pet owners in Philadelphia probably know too well: leaving your home only to look back and see your four-legged friend’s face peeking through the window as you walk away. For pet owners with certain window treatments, regular trips to the window might mean trouble, as dogs and cats can cause some of the worst accidental damage to your window treatments.
So how do you protect against pet damage? The simplest way is to choose a pet-friendly window treatment that can stand up to even the most excitable pets. Here are some of the best (and worst) window coverings for pet owners throughout Pennsylvania.
Non Pet-Friendly Window Coverings
Let’s start by taking a look at what window treatments pet owners should avoid.
Window Treatments With Cords
Just like with children’s window safety, cords are a big issue for pet owners. Pets–especially cats–are known to play with dangling cords, which may mean damage to your window treatment or worse, injury to your pet.
Opt instead for window treatments without cords, such as shutters that fit in the window frame or other window coverings that operate by a bottom-up top-down configuration or are automated.
Metal Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Metal blinds might be the worst window treatment for pet owners. Not only do they typically operate via cord, but they’re incredibly vulnerable to damage from even the most well-behaved animals. Dogs or cats peeking through aluminum blinds can warp, bend, and even snap the flimsy slats, resulting in you having to replace the whole thing.
Fabric Window Coverings
Depending on your pet and the style of window treatment, fabrics may or may not be something to stay away from. Lengthy fabrics like draperies can “puddle” on the ground, which makes them easy for dirty paws to stain. Fabric window coverings also have a tendency to collect pet hair which eliminates any aesthetic value they could add. Finally, fabrics can tear, which means trouble for cat owners.
Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that you’ve seen which window treatments don’t mix well with pets, we’ll go over some pet-friendly window coverings.
Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds
All of the problems aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds solve for pet owners. No matter if your dog or cat wants to look through the window, sturdier wood blinds can stand up to more abuse than aluminum blinds. Also, their typically wider slats make it harder for pets to get tangled in them.
However, make sure that if you buy wood or faux-wood blinds that you get ones that are cordless.
Plantation Shutters - The Best Window Treatment for Pets
If you’re concerned about damage to your window treatments or injury to your pet caused by window treatments, plantation shutters may minimize those concerns. Since they mount directly onto the window, there aren’t any hanging cords or fabric that might cause issues. And, even if your dog or cat is able to climb up, Polywood® plantation shutters are scratch resistant and incredibly sturdy so damage is hardly an issue.
Plantation shutters can help keep pets happy as well. Have a dog that likes to peek out the window as you head out? Shutters can let it do so without any chance of damage. Does the kitten want a patch of sunlight to lounge in? Simply adjust the louvers and let the sunbeams come through without giving up your privacy.
Put simply, plantation shutters are the best window covering for pet owners.
