The Right Window Treatments for Pet Owners in Seattle
There’s a scenario pet owners in Seattle know all too well: leaving your house only to glance behind and see your four-legged friend’s face in the window as you walk away. For pet owners with certain window treatments, daily trips to the window may mean trouble, as dogs and cats can make for some of the worst and lasting harm to your window treatments.
So how do you avoid pet damage? The simplest way is to pick a pet-friendly window treatment that can stand up to even the most excitable pets. Let’s learn about some of the best (and worst) window coverings for pet owners in Washington.
Window Coverings That Aren’t Pet-Friendly
We’ll start by taking a look at what window treatments pet owners should avoid.
Window Coverings With Cords
Similar to window safety for children, cords are a big issue for pet owners. Both dogs and cats are known to play with dangling cords, which can mean damage to your window covering 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 operate by a top-down bottom-up configuration or are motorized.
Metal Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Metal blinds are probably the absolute worst window treatment for pet owners. Not only do they usually operate by cord, but they’re incredibly susceptible to damage from even the most well-behaved animals. Dogs or cats looking through aluminum blinds can warp, bend, or even snap the thin slats, which means you’ll need to replace the whole thing.
Fabric Window Treatments
Fabrics may be something to avoid, depending on your pet and the type of window covering. Lengthy fabrics like curtains can “pool” on the ground, making them easy for dirty paws to stain. Fabric window treatments also have a tendency to collect pet hair which nullifies any fashion value they could add. Finally, fabrics can tear, something cat owners know all too well.
Top Recommendations for Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that we’ve seen which window coverings don’t get along with pets, let’s dive into the more pet-friendly window treatments.
Real Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds
Most of the issues aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds resolve for pet owners. Even if your pet wants to peek through the window, sturdier wood blinds can stand up to more abuse than their aluminum counterparts. Plus, their typically wider slats make it less likely for pets to get their arms or necks tangled in them.
But, be sure that if you purchase 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 might assuage those worries. Because they’re mounted directly into the window frame, there are no dangling cords or fabric able to cause issues. What’s more, even if your pets are able to reach them, Polywood® plantation shutters are resistant to scratches and durable 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 leave? Shutters can let it do so without any chance of damage. Does the cat want a patch of sunlight to lounge in? Just adjust the louvers and let the light come through without compromising privacy.
Put simply, plantation shutters are the most ideal window treatment for pet owners.
