The Best Window Treatments for Pet Owners in Southern California
It’s an image pet owners in Southern California are all too familiar with: leaving your home only to look behind and see your furry friend’s face looking at you as you walk away. For pet owners with certain types of window coverings, regular trips to the window may spell disaster, as dogs and cats can make for some of the worst and lasting damage to your window treatments.
So what can you do to prevent pet damage? The easiest way is to install a pet-friendly window covering that can stand up to even the most excitable pets. Let’s learn about some of the best (and worst) window treatments for pet owners across California.
Non Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
We’ll start by taking a look at what window treatments pet owners shouldn’t have in the home.
Corded Window Treatments
Similar to children’s window safety, cords are a big issue for pet owners. Both dogs and cats are known to play with hanging cords, which might result in damage to your window covering or worse, injury to your pet.
Look into window treatments without cords, whether they’re shutters that fit in the window frame or other window coverings that operate by a top-down bottom-up configuration or are motorized.
Aluminum Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Aluminum blinds might be the absolute worst window treatment for homes with pets. Not only do the blinds usually operate by cord, but they’re very susceptible to damage from even the most gentle pets. Dogs or cats poking their heads through aluminum blinds can bend, warp, or even snap the thin slats, resulting in you having to replace the entire thing.
Fabric Window Coverings
Fabrics might be something to stay away from, depending on your pet and the style of window treatment. Lengthy fabrics like drapes can “puddle” on the floor, making them easy for dirty paws to stomp on. Fabric window treatments also usually end up collecting pet hair which nullifies any fashion value they might add. Lastly, fabrics can tear, making them perfect targets for cat claws.
Top Recommendations for Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that you’ve seen which window coverings don’t mix well with pets, let’s go over some pet-friendly window treatments.
Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds
Many of the issues aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds fix for pet owners. No matter if your dog or cat wants to poke its face through the window, sturdier wood blinds can handle more abuse than metal blinds. In addition, their typically wider slats make it harder for pets to get their bodies tangled in them.
However, make sure that if you purchase wood or faux-wood blinds that you get ones without cords.
Plantation Shutters - The Most Pet Friendly Window Treatment
If you’re concerned about damage to your window treatments or injury to your pet caused by window treatments, plantation shutters might assuage those worries. Since they mount directly into the window frame, there aren’t any hanging cords or fabric that might cause trouble. And, even if your dog or cat is able to reach them, Polywood® plantation shutters are resistant to scratches and incredibly sturdy so damage is hardly a concern.
Plantation shutters can help keep pets happy too. Own a pooch that wants to look out the window as you leave? Shutters can make it easy without risking damage. Does the kitten want a patch of sunlight to sleep in? Simply adjust the louvers and let the sunbeams come through without losing any privacy.
In short, plantation shutters are the best window treatment for pet owners.
