The Best Window Coverings for Pet Owners in Fort Lauderdale
There’s an image Fort Lauderdale pet owners probably know too well: leaving your home only to glance behind and see your furry friend’s face peeking through the window as you leave. For pet owners with certain types of window treatments, regular trips to the window could spell disaster, as dogs and cats can make for some of the worst accidental harm to your window treatments.
So how can you prevent pet damage? The easiest way is to choose a pet-friendly window covering that can stand up to even the most finicky pets. Let’s dive into some of the best (and worst) window coverings for pet owners throughout Florida.
Window Treatments That Aren’t Pet-Friendly
Let’s start by taking a look at which window treatments homeowners with pets should avoid.
Window Treatments With Cords
As is the case with window safety for children, cords can be one of the biggest issues for pet owners. Dogs and cats alike are known to play with dangling cords, which may result in damage to your window treatment or in some cases, injury to your pet.
Look into window treatments without cords, whether they’re shutters that attach to the window frame or other window coverings that operate by a bottom-up top-down configuration or are automatic.
Aluminum Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Aluminum blinds might be the worst window treatment for pet owners. Not only do the blinds typically operate via cord, but they’re extremely susceptible to damage from even the most well-behaved pets. Dogs or cats peeking through aluminum blinds can bend, warp, and even snap the flimsy slats, so you’ll have to replace the whole set of blinds.
Fabric Window Coverings
Fabrics may be something to avoid, depending on your pet and the type of window covering. Lengthy fabrics like curtains can “puddle” on the floor, making them easy for dirty paws to walk all over. Fabric window treatments also tend to collect pet hair which nullifies any fashion value they can add. Lastly, fabrics can tear, something cat owners know all too well.
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
Almost all of the issues aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds fix for pet owners. No matter if your pet wants to poke its face through the window, resilient wood blinds can stand up to more abuse than their aluminum counterparts. In addition, their usual wide slats make it more difficult for pets to get their bodies tangled in them.
But, make sure that if you go with wood or faux-wood blinds that you get ones that are cordless.
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 may reduce those concerns. Since they mount directly onto the window, there are no dangling cords or fabric that can cause trouble. What’s more, even if your pets are able to climb up, Polywood® plantation shutters are scratch resistant and sturdy so damage is rarely an issue.
Plantation shutters keep your pets happy too. Own a pooch that wants to look out the window as you head out? Shutters can make it easy without any chance of damage. Does the kitten want a patch of sunlight to lounge in? Just adjust the louvers to let the light come through without giving up your privacy.
In effect, plantation shutters are the best window treatment for pet owners.
