The Right Window Treatments for Pet Owners in Minneapolis
It’s an image pet owners in Minneapolis are all too familiar with: leaving your home only to look behind and see your dog or cat’s face looking at you as you leave. For pet owners with certain types of window coverings, frequent trips to the window could spell disaster, as pets can make for some of the worst and lasting damage to your window treatments.
So how can you protect against pet damage? The simplest way is to install a pet-friendly window covering that can stand up to even the rowdiest pets. Let’s dive into some of the best (and worst) window treatments for pet owners throughout Minnesota.
Non Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
We’ll start by taking a look at what window treatments homeowners with pets shouldn’t have in the home.
Window Coverings With Cords
Similar to children’s window safety, cords can be one of the biggest issues for pet owners. Dogs and cats alike are known to play with hanging cords, which might 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 coverings that feature a bottom-up top-down configuration or are automated.
Aluminum Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Aluminum blinds might be the worst window treatment for pet owners. Not only do they typically operate via cord, but they’re very vulnerable to damage from even the most well-behaved pets. 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 Coverings
Depending on your pet and the type of window treatment, fabrics may or may not be something to stay away from. Lengthy fabrics like draperies can “pool” on the ground, making them easy for dirty paws to stain. Fabric window treatments also tend to collect pet hair which eliminates any aesthetic value they may add. Finally, fabrics can tear, something cat owners know all too well.
Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that we’ve seen which window coverings don’t get along with pets, let’s go over some pet-friendly window treatments.
Real Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds
Many of the issues aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds solve for pet owners. No matter if your pet wants to look through the window, resilient wood blinds can handle more abuse than their aluminum counterparts. Moreover, their usual wide slats make it more difficult for pets to get their arms or necks tangled in between them.
However, make sure that if you opt for wood or faux-wood blinds that you choose ones without cords.
Plantation Shutters - A Pet Owner’s Best Window Treatment
If you’re concerned about damage to your window treatments or injury to your pet caused by window treatments, plantation shutters can help minimize those worries. Because they mount directly into the window frame, there are no dangling cords or fabric that may cause issues. And, even if your dog or cat is able to climb up, Polywood® plantation shutters are resistant to scratches and sturdy so damage is rarely an issue.
Plantation shutters keep your pets happy as well. Own a pooch that wants to poke its head out the window as you head out? Shutters can make it easy without much risk of damage. Does the kitten want a patch of sunlight to lounge in? Just adjust the louvers to let the sunbeams come through without giving up your privacy.
In effect, plantation shutters are the perfect window treatment for homeowners with pets.
