Dealing with ants when we have a cat
July 18, 2023 8:01 AM Subscribe
Every summer our home gets visited by lots of small ants. In the past we've had success with Terro Liquid Ant Baits. Now we have a cat, though, and it looks like there's some risk associated with using borax-based products around cats. What should we do?
The internet seems to waffle between "not that dangerous to cats" and "could kill your cat so don't do it".
I am waiting for a call back from our vet. The person who took my call suggested using "cat safe Raid" but I really don't like the idea of using aerosol pesticides. One of the advantages of bait is that it gets brought back to the nest, and reduces the ants at the source, rather than just killing the ones that have come into our house at that moment.
I'm inclined to think that our cat wouldn't be interested in the bait traps at all, but, sigh, maybe she would. It's not practical to only put them out when she's not around. The other thing I've considered is trying to build some sort of cage that lets in ants but not cats, and put the bait in there. That's a project, though.
I'd be interested in hearing what other mefites have done in this situation, and any suggestions, insights you might have. Thanks!
The internet seems to waffle between "not that dangerous to cats" and "could kill your cat so don't do it".
I am waiting for a call back from our vet. The person who took my call suggested using "cat safe Raid" but I really don't like the idea of using aerosol pesticides. One of the advantages of bait is that it gets brought back to the nest, and reduces the ants at the source, rather than just killing the ones that have come into our house at that moment.
I'm inclined to think that our cat wouldn't be interested in the bait traps at all, but, sigh, maybe she would. It's not practical to only put them out when she's not around. The other thing I've considered is trying to build some sort of cage that lets in ants but not cats, and put the bait in there. That's a project, though.
I'd be interested in hearing what other mefites have done in this situation, and any suggestions, insights you might have. Thanks!
We've used ant baits in our extremely catted household a number of times, and the cats have shown zero interest. I feel pretty comfortable with them.
posted by restless_nomad at 8:06 AM on July 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad at 8:06 AM on July 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
Same as restless_nomad, but I also do try to put them in places the cat doesn't (or can't) go. Under a low-to-the-ground piece of furniture, on certain shelves, etc. Obviously depending on your furniture set-up/ant location, this may or may not work.
posted by papayaninja at 8:08 AM on July 18, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by papayaninja at 8:08 AM on July 18, 2023 [6 favorites]
When I had cats and ants, I put an upside-down cardboard box over the bait trap and cut a small hole in the box near the floor so the ants could get in. Then I put something heavy on top of the box so the cats couldn't move it.
That may be a bit much, but it made me feel better.
posted by FencingGal at 8:13 AM on July 18, 2023 [17 favorites]
That may be a bit much, but it made me feel better.
posted by FencingGal at 8:13 AM on July 18, 2023 [17 favorites]
Ditto. Pushed more than a cat leg’s length under the fridge or stove, slightly propping up the edge of anything heavy on the floor, etc.
posted by daisyace at 8:18 AM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by daisyace at 8:18 AM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
Diatomaceous earth is an option. It's a powdered silicate you sprinkle where you find ants, and seems to work reasonably well. Pretty harmless stuff (it's food safe), and as a bonus it can be used directly on your pets to kill mites and fleas.
posted by pipeski at 8:34 AM on July 18, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by pipeski at 8:34 AM on July 18, 2023 [7 favorites]
My cats have zero interest but I also do the "cover with a box or Tupperware or something, tipped up a little at one end" thing for my own piece of mind.
posted by Stacey at 8:40 AM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Stacey at 8:40 AM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
I put borax in places the dog can't reach - under cupboards, behind the sink. Ants look for water, so the sink is a major area. I have used diatomaceous earth, too. They don't like cinnamon or peppermint, so I grow mints near the walls, and dust cinnamon when I see them.
posted by theora55 at 8:43 AM on July 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 8:43 AM on July 18, 2023 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Also the slightly more attractive "multi-surface" by Terro is less easily tipped over or spilled and has the same bait. https://www.lowes.com/pd/TERRO-4-Count-Ant-Bait-Station-4-Pack/1000329055?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lwn-_-ggl-_-SS_LWN_000_Priority_Items-_-1000329055-_-local-_-0-_-0&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-daZ-tKYgAMV9e3jBx0ULgNaEAQYAiABEgL9-fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
posted by mmf at 9:17 AM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by mmf at 9:17 AM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Had a cat for 17 years. Always used Terro. Never had an issue.
posted by greta simone at 9:22 AM on July 18, 2023
posted by greta simone at 9:22 AM on July 18, 2023
Similar to others, I create a little "roof" over the trap so my cats can't get at the opening. And I tape down the entire trap so they can't swat it around.
posted by cocoagirl at 9:28 AM on July 18, 2023
posted by cocoagirl at 9:28 AM on July 18, 2023
I had an ant problem in a house I used to live in, and we also had little kids, three cats, and two dogs. I used a citrus oil spray on all the places where the ants came in. I can't remember which brand I used, but it worked really well.
posted by SamanthaK at 9:31 AM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by SamanthaK at 9:31 AM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
If your windows allow it, you can also put one in the space between the screen and the glass window, with the window shut. Or just outside a door. Generally I find that the traps do a good job diverting the ants, so don't feel like you need to put the traps precisely where the ants currently are.
posted by coffeecat at 9:37 AM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by coffeecat at 9:37 AM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
I've had ant issues for years. The Amdro and Terro products seem to work, but not at the level when they actually get rid of the whole nest. I had an exterminator spray inside and outside, which greatly helped. He suggested and used Optigard syringes inside the house at locations the ants are coming in. It's worked far better than anything else, and my pets have no interest in it.
posted by answergrape at 9:41 AM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by answergrape at 9:41 AM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
Have also used Terro for years with no cat-related issues, and our cats have been (in aggregate) complete nitwits.
BTW, you can whip up a Terro work-alike pretty easily. It's just borax and simple syrup.
posted by jquinby at 9:42 AM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
BTW, you can whip up a Terro work-alike pretty easily. It's just borax and simple syrup.
posted by jquinby at 9:42 AM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: i love the ant traps you linked. however when i got a more curious cat i had the same concerns as you. so i got these similar terro traps. i stick them behind and under things and so far have had no problems. they seem to work just as well. they are a bit more expensive tho.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 9:50 AM on July 18, 2023
posted by misanthropicsarah at 9:50 AM on July 18, 2023
Like answergrape, I use optigard syringes but as follows: get a bunch of drinking straws, cut them in three or four pieces, shoot ant gel into them to fill but not come out either end, place everywhere you see ants.
We live in central Florida in a little old frame house and our cats eat wet food, so ants are inevitable for us. The cats never mess with the bait tubes and the ants go away really quickly. Clean up the bait tubes after a few weeks and discard them, rinse, repeat next rainy/ant season
posted by toodleydoodley at 10:11 AM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
We live in central Florida in a little old frame house and our cats eat wet food, so ants are inevitable for us. The cats never mess with the bait tubes and the ants go away really quickly. Clean up the bait tubes after a few weeks and discard them, rinse, repeat next rainy/ant season
posted by toodleydoodley at 10:11 AM on July 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oh yeah the internet says clean your entry routes with either a bleach solution or a vinegar solution to get rid of ant trails. Idk which is right so I alternate then and it seems to help. Like, take a spray bottle of whichever solution, spray around window and door thresholds, wipe dry.
posted by toodleydoodley at 10:13 AM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by toodleydoodley at 10:13 AM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Our cats never went near the Terro traps we set out.
posted by Thorzdad at 10:23 AM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Thorzdad at 10:23 AM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Terro also has outdoor ant traps that we used for a great effect in our previous house. You stake them in the ground outside near where you think the ants are coming in, ants eat the bait and take it back to the nest. Whole nest dies. Cats are none the wiser.
posted by teleri025 at 12:44 PM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by teleri025 at 12:44 PM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Try The Antswer!
Recommended by the veterinarian whose page on cat nutrition I've been reading, and the website has a very "1999 Geocities" feel.
posted by infinitywaltz at 12:51 PM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Recommended by the veterinarian whose page on cat nutrition I've been reading, and the website has a very "1999 Geocities" feel.
posted by infinitywaltz at 12:51 PM on July 18, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Belated thanks for all the suggestions. I ended up going with the Terro Multi Surface as recommend by mmf and misanthropicsarah and they worked great. Marking this resolved.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 3:52 PM on November 9, 2023
posted by Winnie the Proust at 3:52 PM on November 9, 2023
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