Comments on: Bad for Ants, Safe for Moderncats http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/ Modern designs for living with cats Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:28:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sheri http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-107984 Sheri Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:42:43 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-107984 Mint is NOT toxic to cats! Catnip is in the mint family. Mint is NOT toxic to cats! Catnip is in the mint family.

]]> By: hotash http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-65425 hotash Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:01:35 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-65425 I'm a Terro ( http://www.terro.com/ ) fan myself as well - safe & works! But we do have the Poison-Free Wasp & Hornet Killer (for my man who is not so fond of the flying ones ;) Hope you are ant free this year We just had a move in a week or so ago after a big storm... I’m a Terro ( http://www.terro.com/ ) fan myself as well – safe & works!

But we do have the Poison-Free Wasp & Hornet Killer (for my man who is not so fond of the flying ones ;)

Hope you are ant free this year
We just had a move in a week or so ago after a big storm…

]]> By: Jo http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-29369 Jo Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:56:11 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-29369 I read someone's comment about putting out red pepper flakes to ward off ants wanted to add something... I believe it's cayenne pepper powder that is the "red pepper" to lay out for ants. I've seen some packaged as "30,000 heat unite" -- I'm not sure what that means but it sounds hot! (not saying that you have to buy a specific type, just mentioning cayenne powder in general.) Also, last year I put the cat's dry food bowl into a larger bowl filled with just enough water so the ants can't cross the moat. The lesson I learned from that is to clean it every day. The cat would eat the kibble and invariably drop a piece or two over the edge, into the water. The water dried up, and when I eventually went to clean the bowl, there were worms/parasites between the two surfaces where the water dried up. Gross! And noone to blame except me and my laziness. I don't deal with that situation any more because the cat has since been diagnosed with diabetes and he is off dry food completely now. I read someone’s comment about putting out red pepper flakes to ward off ants wanted to add something… I believe it’s cayenne pepper powder that is the “red pepper” to lay out for ants. I’ve seen some packaged as “30,000 heat unite” — I’m not sure what that means but it sounds hot! (not saying that you have to buy a specific type, just mentioning cayenne powder in general.)

Also, last year I put the cat’s dry food bowl into a larger bowl filled with just enough water so the ants can’t cross the moat. The lesson I learned from that is to clean it every day. The cat would eat the kibble and invariably drop a piece or two over the edge, into the water. The water dried up, and when I eventually went to clean the bowl, there were worms/parasites between the two surfaces where the water dried up. Gross! And noone to blame except me and my laziness. I don’t deal with that situation any more because the cat has since been diagnosed with diabetes and he is off dry food completely now.

]]> By: Spike.and.Scarlet http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-19146 Spike.and.Scarlet Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:06:24 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-19146 Please note: Mint is toxic to cats. I dont understand this product. Please note: Mint is toxic to cats. I dont understand this product.

]]> By: amy http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17923 amy Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:28:23 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17923 we had the same problem with ants getting into the (not cheap!) cat food (and every other type of food in the house that wasn’t in a can). we ended up putting the cat food dish on a shelf about hip-height on a home-made cat tree. the ants never thought to climb up the sisal support to get to the dish. as a bonus, it makes the kitties work for their food by having to jump up there and it makes refilling easier on our backs! we had the same problem with ants getting into the (not cheap!) cat food (and every other type of food in the house that wasn’t in a can). we ended up putting the cat food dish on a shelf about hip-height on a home-made cat tree. the ants never thought to climb up the sisal support to get to the dish. as a bonus, it makes the kitties work for their food by having to jump up there and it makes refilling easier on our backs!

]]> By: Emily http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17796 Emily Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:36:50 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17796 Note to joycebell, Bridget, and other cinnamon users: Sometimes it takes a few applications (and in a few different places as you figure out where they're coming in) to completely stop those stubborn and strong* ants! But it DOES work!! *A couple ants would carry an entire piece of dry catfood all the way across the kitchen floor. Impressive! Note to joycebell, Bridget, and other cinnamon users: Sometimes it takes a few applications (and in a few different places as you figure out where they’re coming in) to completely stop those stubborn and strong* ants! But it DOES work!!

*A couple ants would carry an entire piece of dry catfood all the way across the kitchen floor. Impressive!

]]> By: Dana http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17733 Dana Thu, 28 May 2009 05:31:18 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17733 Food Grade Dichotomous Earth is great for this purpose - fleas (or basically any insect) too. It's a very fine dust and a serious irritant to insects - it basically kills them through friction. Food grade It's harmless to Humans and animals. Garden grade will hurt cats. So please make sure it says Food grade. Animals can digest it without harm, and you only need a very little bit so use a duster. Don't go too wild with it inside -it's as fine as drywall dust. Use that duster. (If you use it outside you have to reapply after rain.) If you have dirt and fleas outside you might also want to consider getting garden nematodes which live in dirt and will actually eat fleas. :) I didn't mean to deviate to fleas but it's summer and I'm starting to watch out for them - they are definitely on my mind! Food Grade Dichotomous Earth is great for this purpose – fleas (or basically any insect) too. It’s a very fine dust and a serious irritant to insects – it basically kills them through friction.

Food grade It’s harmless to Humans and animals. Garden grade will hurt cats. So please make sure it says Food grade.

Animals can digest it without harm, and you only need a very little bit so use a duster. Don’t go too wild with it inside -it’s as fine as drywall dust. Use that duster. (If you use it outside you have to reapply after rain.)

If you have dirt and fleas outside you might also want to consider getting garden nematodes which live in dirt and will actually eat fleas. :)

I didn’t mean to deviate to fleas but it’s summer and I’m starting to watch out for them – they are definitely on my mind!

]]> By: Jay http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17731 Jay Thu, 28 May 2009 02:13:48 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17731 Please be careful with borax. While it's a "natural alternative," it shouldn't be ingested, which warrants caution around cats. So long as it's not within reach, it makes a cheap ant remedy: mix powdered sugar with plain, grocery-store borax (usually kept with laundry supplies). As with the product Constance mentioned, the borax is brought back to the ant nest. I've had fair luck with placing it on paper or in an unsealed box and tucking it away from paw-access areas. Really love the food bowl within a bowl of water idea, too. Please be careful with borax. While it’s a “natural alternative,” it shouldn’t be ingested, which warrants caution around cats. So long as it’s not within reach, it makes a cheap ant remedy: mix powdered sugar with plain, grocery-store borax (usually kept with laundry supplies). As with the product Constance mentioned, the borax is brought back to the ant nest. I’ve had fair luck with placing it on paper or in an unsealed box and tucking it away from paw-access areas. Really love the food bowl within a bowl of water idea, too.

]]> By: amber http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17716 amber Wed, 27 May 2009 20:04:56 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17716 We had an ant problem when staying in a friend's guest house. It's eerie how how quickly they appear in the hundreds and from out of nowhere! In our experience we found that the best thing to do was to spray a little windex in the spot where they were coming in. Our little geniuses found a few more ways to get in before giving up entirely, but the war only lasted a few days. Later when we had an ant problem at work the pest control people suggested using windex as well. And of course, to block the way they were coming in if possible. Windex is more chemical and less natural, but the most harsh of the chemicals is ammonia, which is found in cat urine. We had an ant problem when staying in a friend’s guest house. It’s eerie how how quickly they appear in the hundreds and from out of nowhere! In our experience we found that the best thing to do was to spray a little windex in the spot where they were coming in. Our little geniuses found a few more ways to get in before giving up entirely, but the war only lasted a few days.

Later when we had an ant problem at work the pest control people suggested using windex as well. And of course, to block the way they were coming in if possible.

Windex is more chemical and less natural, but the most harsh of the chemicals is ammonia, which is found in cat urine.

]]> By: joycebell http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17713 joycebell Wed, 27 May 2009 19:00:08 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17713 Emily: I like the cinnamon idea! I have used red pepper flakes for our kitchen ant problems (but not near the kittie bowls) and that has worked well. Now I'll use cinnamon instead! Emily: I like the cinnamon idea! I have used red pepper flakes for our kitchen ant problems (but not near the kittie bowls) and that has worked well. Now I’ll use cinnamon instead!

]]> By: jmuhj http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17711 jmuhj Wed, 27 May 2009 18:43:37 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17711 Still another "fix" is the Fool-A-Bug bowl, sold at Petco and other "pet" supply stores. Its design is supposed to foil ants; and it does work for everything but swarming ants, which nothing in the world will stop. Used according to directions, though, it's a good product -- the only drawback is that it is made of plastic. Still another “fix” is the Fool-A-Bug bowl, sold at Petco and other “pet” supply stores. Its design is supposed to foil ants; and it does work for everything but swarming ants, which nothing in the world will stop. Used according to directions, though, it’s a good product — the only drawback is that it is made of plastic.

]]> By: Hope K http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17707 Hope K Wed, 27 May 2009 17:36:12 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17707 Thanks for the post and all of the suggestions! I've been battling the same problem and will try some of the options above. Thanks for the post and all of the suggestions! I’ve been battling the same problem and will try some of the options above.

]]> By: Bridget http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17705 Bridget Wed, 27 May 2009 16:59:02 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17705 this is just what I needed. I might note that I haven't had much luck with the cinnamon strategy (nor with pepper or cloves). I'll give this a try! this is just what I needed. I might note that I haven’t had much luck with the cinnamon strategy (nor with pepper or cloves). I’ll give this a try!

]]> By: Cathy S. http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17703 Cathy S. Wed, 27 May 2009 16:55:24 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17703 To keep ants from coming back, you can mop the area where they came in the house with a bleach and water mixture. The bleach gets rid of the pheromones ants rely on to find each other, so they won't come back. I did some research and found that a bleach and water mixture, used properly, won't hurt cats. But I still put my kitties on the screened porch while I do this and let them back in after 30 minutes or so just to let the mixture dry a bit. I've never had any problems. To keep ants from coming back, you can mop the area where they came in the house with a bleach and water mixture. The bleach gets rid of the pheromones ants rely on to find each other, so they won’t come back.
I did some research and found that a bleach and water mixture, used properly, won’t hurt cats. But I still put my kitties on the screened porch while I do this and let them back in after 30 minutes or so just to let the mixture dry a bit. I’ve never had any problems.

]]> By: Emily http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17700 Emily Wed, 27 May 2009 16:16:41 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17700 A completely natural option is to put cinnamon around your cats' bowls and along door frames where ants come in. This has solved our similar kibble infestation problem! A completely natural option is to put cinnamon around your cats’ bowls and along door frames where ants come in. This has solved our similar kibble infestation problem!

]]> By: Kii http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17699 Kii Wed, 27 May 2009 16:13:05 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17699 Perfect timing, thanks! Some ants invaded recently and I placed traps on the cleared-off floor of the pantry but they don't seem to be working and I worry that someone might accidentally leave the door open, allowing the cats access to the traps. I decided just this morning to trash the useless things but didn't know what to use instead. Going to get some of this non-toxic stuff today! Perfect timing, thanks! Some ants invaded recently and I placed traps on the cleared-off floor of the pantry but they don’t seem to be working and I worry that someone might accidentally leave the door open, allowing the cats access to the traps. I decided just this morning to trash the useless things but didn’t know what to use instead. Going to get some of this non-toxic stuff today!

]]> By: Constance Plank http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17697 Constance Plank Wed, 27 May 2009 15:49:07 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17697 There is another safe product called Terro. It is a liquid bait that is borax-based. The ants suck it up, and take it back to the nest. You put a dime-sized amount on a (provided) piece of non-absorbent paper near the start of the ant trail. It attracts and kills Argentine ants, Ghost ants, Cornfield ants, Pavement ants, Acrobat ants, White footed antes, Little black ants, Odorous house ants, Crazy ants, Big headed ants, and other sweet-eating ants. (I'm reading from the back of the box here.) It takes care of infestations very quickly, and doesn't interest cats in the slightest. I love this stuff! I buy it at Home Depot in a 2 oz bottle. And no, I have no relationship whatsoever with the Senoret Chemical Co. (www.terro.com) Cheers, Constance There is another safe product called Terro. It is a liquid bait that is borax-based. The ants suck it up, and take it back to the nest. You put a dime-sized amount on a (provided) piece of non-absorbent paper near the start of the ant trail. It attracts and kills Argentine ants, Ghost ants, Cornfield ants, Pavement ants, Acrobat ants, White footed antes, Little black ants, Odorous house ants, Crazy ants, Big headed ants, and other sweet-eating ants. (I’m reading from the back of the box here.)

It takes care of infestations very quickly, and doesn’t interest cats in the slightest. I love this stuff!

I buy it at Home Depot in a 2 oz bottle. And no, I have no relationship whatsoever with the Senoret Chemical Co. (www.terro.com)

Cheers,

Constance

]]> By: cindy http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17696 cindy Wed, 27 May 2009 15:14:52 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17696 During the warmer months finding ants in the cat food isn't unusual. I solve this by placing the cat food bowl in a larger baking dish and filling the baking dish with an inch or so of water. It's a non-toxic fix with no chemicals but it does look a bit odd. Also-if you can see where they are entering, make sure you clean their trail since they mark it with chemicals-that should cut down on their traffic as well. Cheers Cindy During the warmer months finding ants in the cat food isn’t unusual.
I solve this by placing the cat food bowl in a larger baking dish and filling the baking dish with an inch or so of water.

It’s a non-toxic fix with no chemicals but it does look a bit odd.

Also-if you can see where they are entering, make sure you clean their trail since they mark it with chemicals-that should cut down on their traffic as well.

Cheers
Cindy

]]> By: Daisy the Curly Cat http://www.moderncat.net/2009/05/26/bad-for-andt-safe-for-moderncats/comment-page-1/#comment-17693 Daisy the Curly Cat Wed, 27 May 2009 14:57:13 +0000 http://www.moderncat.net/?p=2783#comment-17693 Here's another thing you can do that's safe for pets: they make something called "The Antser" for pet food bowls. It's a small raised platform. Inside you fill with soapy water and put the lid on. The cat or dog dishes sit on top and the ants cannot cross the watery barrier. It works great! Especially if the only thing drawing the ants is the pet food. Here’s another thing you can do that’s safe for pets: they make something called “The Antser” for pet food bowls. It’s a small raised platform. Inside you fill with soapy water and put the lid on. The cat or dog dishes sit on top and the ants cannot cross the watery barrier. It works great! Especially if the only thing drawing the ants is the pet food.

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