The Right Window Treatments for Pet Owners in Destin
There’s an image Destin pet owners know all too well: leaving your house only to look back and see your dog or cat’s face peeking through the window as you walk away. For pet owners with certain types of window treatments, regular trips to the window could mean trouble, as dogs and cats can cause some of the worst and lasting harm to your window treatments.
So how do you protect against pet damage? The simplest way is to pick a pet-friendly window treatment that can handle even the most finicky pets. Let’s learn about some of the best (and worst) window coverings for pet owners throughout Florida.
Non Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Let’s start by taking a look at what window treatments homeowners with pets should avoid.
Corded Window Coverings
Similar to 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 covering or in some cases, injury to your pet.
Look into window treatments without cords, such as shutters that fit in the window frame or other window coverings that feature a top-down bottom-up configuration or are automated.
Aluminum Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Aluminum blinds might be the absolute worst window treatment for homeowners with pets. Not only do they usually operate by cord, but they’re incredibly susceptible to damage from even the most gentle pets. Dogs or cats peeking through aluminum blinds can warp, bend, or even snap the flimsy slats, so you’ll have to replace the entire window treatment.
Fabric Window Coverings
Fabrics might be something to avoid, depending on your pet and the type of window treatment. Long fabrics like draperies can “puddle” on the floor, which makes them easy for dirty paws to stomp on. Fabric window treatments also have a tendency to collect pet hair which eliminates any fashion value they can add. Lastly, fabrics can tear, which means trouble for cat owners.
The Most Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that we’ve seen which window treatments don’t get along with pets, let’s dive into the more pet-friendly window coverings.
Real Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds
Many of the problems aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds solve for pet owners. Even if your dog or cat likes to poke its face through the window, resilient wood blinds can stand up to more abuse than metal blinds. Also, their wide slats make it more difficult for pets to get their bodies tangled in them.
But, be sure that if you buy wood or faux-wood blinds that you choose 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 can help minimize those concerns. Because they mount directly onto the window, there aren’t any hanging cords or fabric that may cause issues. What’s more, even if your pets are able to climb up, Polywood® plantation shutters are resistant to scratches and incredibly durable so damage is almost never 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 make it easy without any chance of damage. Does your cat want a patch of sunlight to sleep in? Simply adjust the louvers and let the light come through without compromising privacy.
In short, plantation shutters are the best window covering for homeowners with pets.
