Ants are weird bugs that may penetrate your home and wreak havoc on you and your family. There are various poisons available, but regrettably, most of them include a mix of chemicals that are also quite dangerous to your pets. To keep your cats safe from ant traps and still get rid of ants, we explore alternative methods that are pet-friendly and effective.
Begin with Ant Management.
The first step in learning how to get rid of ants is to eliminate any conditions that may make your home appealing to them. As a result, it’s critical not to leave any food scraps around the kitchen (on countertops, floors, etc.) for worker ants to find and transport back to the queen and the rest of the ant colony.
On the other hand, keeping track of every piece of food may be difficult. If you are a cleaning machine but still find your kitchen infested when you get home, you should learn how to entice the worker ants.
Determine where the workers are coming from and where they will eat first. Set up ant bait traps all along this trail.
Unfortunately, not every bait is suitable for use with animals.
Keep your pets away from the ant killer.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends pet-friendly, low-toxicity stations. You may try one of the Combat products, which are intended to eliminate ants while being safe for pets and other animals. Although the pesticide mixture inside the stations is unlikely to be consumed by pets, it is still a good idea to keep them out of your pet’s reach by placing them behind appliances or in the back of cabinets. Toys, food, and drink should be kept away from the bait stations.
Purchase Pet-Safe Ant Killers.
Diatomaceous earth is a common ingredient in pet-safe ant killers because it is made up of the fossilized remains of microscopic aquatic animals known as diatoms. The powder’s principal component, silica, gives it an off-white hue, giving it the impression of talc. Diatomaceous earth is “usually considered as safe” by the Food and Drug Administration. When buying, pick a “food-grade” product to ensure it has been thoroughly cleaned before being sold. You can also purchase diatomaceous earth separately.
If you have a little infestation, you may get rid of the bugs using a sponge soaked in sugar water, keeping cats away from ant traps. You may use it after a day of sitting near the ant route. If you still see dead ants after squeezing the sponge after cleaning it, immerse it in more sugar water and replace it along the path.
Is it okay to use an ant trap if I have a cat?
Keeping ants out of your home may be difficult, especially during the warmer months of spring and summer. Most people dislike bugs because of the trouble they create, from contaminating food to violating personal space in the toilet. However, if you have a cat, you should know that certain ant-control products might be dangerous or toxic to your pet.
Problems with Ant Killing Products
Butter and peanut butter are popular attractants in insect traps that kill ants but may also tempt cats. Experts consider the active component in many of these traps, borax or avermectin, safe in the concentrations found there.
The bait may not poison your cat, but it is always possible to ingest part of the packaging, which might cause stomach trouble or even a blockage if your cat is big. Traditional sprays and repellents may include toxic ingredients for your pets, so read labels carefully and avoid using these items. Cats should avoid using any product containing pyrethroids due to their high toxicity, even in low quantities (such as Permethrin).
The most surefire technique may be to make efforts to prevent ants from entering your home in the first place. If pests still manage to come inside, you may use these natural solutions to keep your cats away from ant traps and protect your home and cat.
Solutions to Ant Problems That Are Safe for Cats
- If feasible, avoidance is preferable to treatment. Leave no food residues everywhere, not in the sink or the kitchen. Repair any leaking faucets and clean up any spilt water.
- Store food properly to prevent insect infestations. For long-term storage, opt for plastic bags or airtight containers, as insects can easily chew through cardboard boxes like cereal and pasta boxes. Stick to sealed plastic or glass containers for better protection.
- Make your DIY ant trap: Mix one cup of molasses or honey, six teaspoons of sugar, and six tablespoons of active dry yeast in a bowl. Fill a canning jar halfway with water and keep it nearby. Set the trap outside your house, near the ant entry point. The sticky mixture will keep the ants from escaping, lured by the sugar.
- Create a chalk line around the foundation’s perimeter. Ants typically avoid crossing it.
- Determine how the ants are infiltrating your house. Away from that area, apply cinnamon, cucumber peels, or lemon juice to repel ants naturally. A combination of paprika, coffee grinds, or chilli pepper may also effectively repel ants. Ants dislike the pungent perfume of such plants.
- Prevent ants from reaching your cat’s food by using a simple trick: place the cat’s food dish inside a slightly larger bowl and wet the space between the two bowls. The water acts as a “moat” that ants can’t cross, keeping the food safe. Ensure to maintain a clean feeding area by removing leftover food, washing the bowl with hot water, and drying it between meals.
- Look for the source. Follow the route the ants take to find where they’re coming from. There might be a crack or opening in the wall or floor. The next step is to caulk or seal the area to prevent further insects.
Home remedies for ant control that works without harming your cat
Many pet-friendly products are available for purchase, but some of them may include chemicals that are damaging to your pet’s health. Here’s some good news: there is a natural way to eliminate the insects infesting your house. We discovered a variety of choices that would not harm your cats while eliminating the ant colony. The best pest control solution for your home may comprise a variety of methods, so let’s look at a couple of them.
Cinnamon
The perfume of this spice is enticing to humans yet repellent to ants. Ants will drown if they inhale cinnamon, making this a cheap and effective ant control strategy. Even better, cinnamon and cinnamon oil are usually considered pet-safe. Make sure your pet doesn’t overeat since this might cause tummy trouble.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is a component of commercial ant killer, which you may have used in the past. Diatomaceous earth contains fossilized diatom remnants and the more common silica, alumina, and iron oxide. The ants may be killed by dusting the dust directly over their bodies, causing them to dehydrate. Sprinkle a thin line of diatomaceous earth around your door frames and baseboards to ensure no more ants get inside. While most types of diatomaceous earth are acceptable around cats, always use food-grade diatomaceous earth to be safe.
Dishwashing Soap
Isn’t it good to know that you may get rid of those annoying ants for free? It may appear to be too good to be true. Still, even pest control specialists have confirmed the efficiency of this completely free solution. Combine three tablespoons of hot water and six ounces of dish soap in a spray bottle. Shake the container well before spraying the concoction on the troublesome insects. This approach kills the ants in two ways: first, they are burnt by the hot water, and second, they drown when the dish soap forces water down their airways. The most significant aspect is that everyone readily has dish soap, a spray bottle, and hot water.
Conclusion
There’s no need to be concerned if the thought of exposing your pets to pesticides makes you uncomfortable. If you must use an ant killer, get advice from your veterinarian, carefully read the label, and consider using a natural solution instead. Opting for pet-friendly remedies to keep cats away from ant traps is beneficial, but the best way to prevent a recurrent infestation is by keeping your home clean.
