The Right Window Treatments for Pet Owners in Baltimore
It’s a scenario pet owners in Baltimore are all too familiar with: leaving your house only to look back and see your dog or cat’s face looking at you as you leave. For pet owners with certain types of window treatments, regular trips to the window may mean trouble, as pets can make for some of the worst harm to your window treatments.
So what can you do to prevent pet damage? The simplest way is to choose a pet-friendly window covering that can stand up to even the most finicky pets. We’ve rounded up some of the best (and worst) window treatments for pet owners across Maryland.
Window Coverings That Aren’t Pet-Friendly
First, let’s take 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 hanging cords, which might mean damage to your window covering or in some cases, injury to your pet.
Instead, choose a window treatment without cords, whether they’re shutters that attach to the window frame or other window coverings that operate by a top-down bottom-up configuration or are automated.
Metal Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Metal blinds are possibly the absolute worst window treatment for homes with pets. Not only do the blinds typically operate by cord, but they’re extremely vulnerable to damage from even the most gentle pets. Dogs or cats peeking through aluminum blinds can bend, warp, or even snap the weak slats, which means you’ll need to replace the whole set of blinds.
Fabric Window Coverings
Depending on your pet and the style of window treatment, fabrics might or might not be something to stay away from. Long fabrics like curtains can “puddle” on the ground, which makes them easy for dirty paws to stomp on. Fabric window treatments also tend to collect pet hair which nullifies any fashion value they could add. Lastly, fabrics can tear, making them perfect targets for cat claws.
Top Recommendations for Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that we’ve seen which window coverings don’t mix well with pets, let’s take a look at the most pet-friendly window coverings.
Real Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds
Almost all of the problems aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds fix for pet owners. No matter if your pet likes to look through the window, sturdier wood blinds can stand up to more abuse than metal blinds. Also, their usual wide slats make it harder for pets to get tangled in between them.
However, be sure that if you purchase wood or faux-wood blinds that you go with ones without cords.
Plantation Shutters - The Best Window Treatment for Pets
If you’re worried at all about damage to your window treatments or injury to your pet caused by window treatments, plantation shutters may reduce those worries. Because they’re mounted directly onto the window, there are no dangling cords or fabric that might cause trouble. What’s more, even if your dog or cat is able to climb up, Polywood® plantation shutters are scratch resistant and incredibly sturdy so damage is rarely an issue.
Plantation shutters keep your pets happy as well. Own a pooch that wants to look out the window as you leave? Shutters can let it do so without risking damage. Does the cat like to have a patch of sunlight to nap in? Simply tilt the louvers to let the sunbeams come through without compromising privacy.
In effect, plantation shutters are the best window treatment for homes with pets.
