How can I keep ants away from my pets food ?

Question

I have a pet that stays outdoors and I find that ants come and eat her food and the pet gets none. Any suggestions?

I don't want to feed the ants and I don't reallly want to use poisons. I want something that will not harm my cat .

Answer 1

get a plate and fill it with water. then put the food bowl on top of the water so the ants can't get across the little pool of water. the water won't get in the bowl

Answer 2

All of the water in a outside dish with the food dish inside is the best answer. I use the heavy cookie sheets since they do not have high sides and the cats can get to the food easier. Make sure that when the food is gone the food bowl is heavy enough to not float to the side. If it does the ants will come for what ever is left. DO NOT use any pesticides around your cats food. I've never tried the cayenne pepper, but if your cat gets it on her feet and licks them it will burn her mouth.

Good luck

Answer 3

I think the traditional recommendation for this kind of circumstance is to only put the food down when it's feeding time. Establish a regular time for feeding. They get used to it. But I also undestand that it's alot of work to do that, and sometimes you're probably not home....and it's an outdoor cat feeding situation. But there's little else you can do. If not ants, it'll be bees, etc.

Or feed he ants with a separate dish. Train them to eat at a different time. But you need to pick this bowl up too so the cats don't get it. :)

Answer 4

Place the food bowl for the cats in a pan of water. That is the best suggestion.

Don't spray pesticides all over the place. That can harm the cat and other beneficial outdoor beings. Ants are beneficial too. They will find their food elsewhere.

That's what feral cat feeders do.

Answer 5

only feed your dogs what they need and no more. They will eat it up fast and leave nothing in the bowls. My dogs get 1/2 cup of food a day (they are tiny dogs) If you have big dogs and you are feeding them a good quality dog food, they should only need about 11/2 -2 cups a day. That will produce less poop and that means you don't have to clean up as much. Clean up after your dogs right away and flies won't come around as often. Flies are attraced to sweet things. So if you leave a glass out with juice in it, flies will flock to it and drown because they are too dumb to climb out. I don't know about the applse cider/syrup thing but it would probably work too.

Answer 6

well, when the pet has finished eating i suggest you put the rest of the food away in a locked and sealed container. so then ants will not have to eat the food. and you can get some pesticides to kill the ants if they are really bothering you. also, try getting pesticides that are safe around the kids and your dog.

Answer 7

You could TRY drawing a chalk line around her food area. I've HEARD many times over the years that ants won't cross chalk, but I have no idea how true that is. Worth a non-toxic try, though, wouldn't you say?

Answer 8

Place a heavy bowl for the cat food inside a slightly shallower and wider bowl (probably plastic or stainless steel) so there is a 1" gap between the tops of the two, then fill the gap with water almost to the top of the shallow outside bowl. I saw someone do this once - it seemed to work.

Answer 9

spray raid around by the doors or where you seem to realize the ants coming from, that's what i do when the ants are trying to get into my house it keeps them away for the most part..
hope this helps.
be blessed.

Answer 10

If you have a cat, place the bowl of catfood on a table or raised platform, then put half a can on the floor underneath the table or raised platform, the ants will find the food on the floor first and kitty will get the food on the top of the table.