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The Best Window Coverings for Pet Owners in Dover
It’s an image Dover pet owners probably know too well: leaving your home only to glance back and see your dog or cat’s face looking at you as you leave. For pet owners with certain window coverings, regular trips to the window may spell disaster, as pets can cause some of the worst accidental harm to your window treatments.
So how do you prevent pet damage? The simplest way is to install 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 across Delaware.
Window Treatments That Aren’t Pet-Friendly
Let’s start by taking a look at what window treatments homeowners with pets should avoid.
Window Coverings With Cords
Similar to window safety for children, cords are one of the biggest issues for pet owners. Dogs and cats alike are known to play with dangling cords, which can mean damage to your window treatment or worse, injury to your pet.
Opt instead for window treatments without cords, such as shutters that attach to the window frame or other window coverings that feature a bottom-up top-down configuration or are motorized.
Aluminum Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Aluminum blinds might be the absolute worst window treatment for pet owners. Not only do they typically operate via cord, but they’re incredibly susceptible to damage from even the most well-behaved animals. Dogs or cats poking their heads through aluminum blinds can warp, bend, and even snap the weak slats, so you’ll have to replace the whole window treatment.
Fabric Window Treatments
Depending on your pet and the style of window covering, fabrics may or may not be something to avoid. Long fabrics like curtains can “puddle” on the floor, which makes them easy for dirty paws to stomp on. Fabric window coverings also frequently collect pet hair which eliminates any fashion value they can add. Finally, fabrics can tear, something cat owners know all too well.
The Most Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that we’ve seen which window coverings don’t mix well with pets, let’s dive into the more pet-friendly window coverings.
Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds
Almost all of the problems aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds solve for pet owners. No matter if your pet likes to poke its head through the window, sturdier wood blinds can stand up to more abuse than their aluminum counterparts. Plus, their typical wide slats make it more difficult for pets to get their arms or necks tangled in them.
However, be sure that if you purchase wood or faux-wood blinds that you go with ones without cords.
Plantation Shutters - The Most Pet Friendly Window Treatment
If you’re worried at all 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 dangling cords or fabric able to cause issues. And, even if your pet is able to reach them, Polywood® plantation shutters are resistant to scratches and sturdy so damage is hardly a concern.
Plantation shutters keep your pets happy too. 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 your kitten want a patch of sunlight to lounge in? Simply tilt the louvers to let the sunbeams come through without compromising privacy.
Simply put, plantation shutters are the most ideal window treatment for pet owners.
