The Most Popular Window Coverings for Pet Owners in Chicago
There’s an image Chicago pet owners probably know too well: leaving your home only to glance back and see your furry friend’s face looking at you 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 harm to your window treatments.
So what can you do to protect against pet damage? The easiest way is to install a pet-friendly window treatment 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 Illinois.
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
Similar to children’s window safety, cords are a problem for pet owners. Pets–especially cats–are known to play with hanging cords, which may result in damage to your window covering or in some cases, injury to your pet.
Opt instead for window treatments without cords, such as shutters that attach to the window frame or other window treatments that operate by a top-down bottom-up configuration or are automatic.
Metal Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Metal blinds are probably the absolute worst window treatment for homeowners with pets. Not only do they typically operate by cord, but they’re very vulnerable to damage from even the smallest of pets. Dogs or cats peeking through aluminum blinds can bend, warp, or even snap the thin slats, which means you’ll need to replace the whole window treatment.
Fabric Window Coverings
Fabrics might be something to stay away from, 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 stomp on. Fabric window coverings also have a tendency to collect pet hair which eliminates any fashion value they might add. Finally, fabrics can tear, making them perfect targets for cat claws.
Top Recommendations for Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that we’ve seen which window treatments don’t get along with pets, we’ll dive into the more pet-friendly window treatments.
Real Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds
Almost all of the issues aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds resolve for pet owners. No matter if your pet likes to poke its head through the window, durable wood blinds can stand up to more abuse than aluminum blinds. Plus, their typically wider slats make it more difficult for pets to get their bodies tangled in them.
However, be sure that if you go with wood or faux-wood blinds that you opt for 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 might minimize those worries. Since they’re mounted directly onto the window, there are no dangling cords or fabric that can cause trouble. And, even if your dog or cat is able to reach them, Polywood® plantation shutters are resistant to scratches and incredibly durable so damage is almost never 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 much risk of damage. Does the kitten like to have a patch of sunlight to lounge in? Just tilt the louvers to let the sunbeams come through without compromising privacy.
Put simply, plantation shutters are the perfect window treatment for homeowners with pets.
