The Best Window Treatments for Pet Owners in Atlanta
There’s an image pet owners in Atlanta probably know too well: leaving your house only to look behind and see your furry friend’s face peeking through the window as you walk away. For pet owners with certain window treatments, frequent trips to the window could mean trouble, as dogs and cats can make for some of the worst and lasting damage to your window treatments.
So how do you prevent pet damage? The simplest way is to pick a pet-friendly window treatment that can stand up to even the rowdiest pets. Let’s dive into some of the best (and worst) window coverings for pet owners across Georgia.
Non Pet-Friendly Window Coverings
Let’s start by taking a look at which window treatments homeowners with pets shouldn’t have in the home.
Corded Window Coverings
As is the case with window safety for children, cords can be a problem for pet owners. Both dogs and cats are known to play with hanging cords, which might result in damage to your window treatment or worse, injury to your pet.
Opt instead for window treatments without cords, such as shutters that fit in the window frame or other window treatments that have a top-down bottom-up configuration or are motorized.
Aluminum Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Aluminum blinds are probably the worst window treatment for pet owners. Not only do they usually operate by cord, but they’re extremely susceptible to damage from even the smallest of pets. Dogs or cats peeking through aluminum blinds can warp, bend, and even snap the weak slats, resulting in you having to replace the whole thing.
Fabric Window Treatments
Fabrics may be something to avoid, depending on your pet and the type of window treatment. Lengthy fabrics like curtains can “pool” on the ground, making them easy for dirty paws to stain. Fabric window coverings also tend to collect pet hair which nullifies any aesthetic value they can add. Lastly, fabrics can tear, which means trouble for cat owners.
Our Recommended Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that you’ve seen which window coverings don’t get along with pets, we’ll go over some pet-friendly window coverings.
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 dog or cat wants to peek through the window, durable wood blinds can handle more abuse than aluminum blinds. Moreover, their typically wider slats make it more difficult for pets to get their bodies tangled in between them.
But, make sure that if you go with wood or faux-wood blinds that you get 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 minimize those worries. Because they’re mounted directly into the window frame, there aren’t any dangling cords or fabric able to cause trouble. And, even if your dog or cat is able to reach them, Polywood® plantation shutters are resistant to scratches and durable so damage is almost never an issue.
Plantation shutters can help keep pets happy as well. Does your dog want to poke its head out the window as you leave? Shutters can let it do so without any chance of damage. Does your kitten like to have a patch of sunlight to lounge in? Just 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.
