Nasty Problem - Cockroaches are starting to go to cats food bowl...?

Question

My cat doesn't really have a set time to eat, so even if I've tried to train her to eat when I'm watching she just won't do it, so I have to leave her bowl in there for when she gets hungry.

But that's leaving a very nasty problem - I live in an apartment complex with a neighbour with a very questionable hygiene routine. Since I guess the cockroaches figured out that there's always food and water available, a bunch of tiny cockroaches will just come out of the walls and ruin my kitty's food.

I've tried to move her plate to various places, but they always seem to find that spot, which really gets on my nerves because I try not to leave any crumbs of foods outside for them. I tried to use anti-cockroach repellant, but I think they're immune or something.

I'm also very hesitant to continue to do that, because I don't know if it'll harm my cat's health. Does anybody else have this problem? What can I do to keep the roaches away, but keep my kitty fed and healthy?

Answer 1

Since you live in an apartment complex, chances are you are seeing the dreaded German cockroach. This is the roach that gives all other roaches a bad name.

I don't know how many apartments are in your building, but you really need to get a decent pest control company in there.

Here's what you have going against you:
1. In many areas, German cockroaches have become suspicious of roach bait, rendering all but the newest and most advanced baits worthless.
2. Keeping your apartment clean will help, but roaches can go through outlets, run along pipes and electrical wires between apartments.
3. German roaches carry their egg sack (called Ootheca) until the eggs are totally ready to hatch. If you spray a roach while they are carrying the ootheca, they'll drop it and the eggs will hatch. If you can kill it while it still has ahold of the ootheca, the baby roaches inside will die. Better yet, steralize the females so there are no more babies.

Yes, a professional can steralize the females.

Have a rally, wave pitchforks and torches, but get your apartment manager to get a decent company to do your pest control... every single apartment, not just yours. Here's what they should use:

Gentrol IGR (aerosol or concentrate)
Gentrol Point Source
Advance Roach Bait or Maxforce FC Roach Bait (fipronil)
Phantom

This is the magic potion of roach control.

Don't try to buy these products off the black market. These are professional grade products and unless every apartment is treated, you won't be getting any relief soon.

Answer 2

I used to live in a place that occasionally had roaches and agree that no single factor, like cat food, will draw them out. It is usually a persistent and pervasive problem that has to be countered on many fronts. But you also have to worry about the health of your cat, and you will want to keep her away from roach poison.

I would suggest trying different roach baits; the kind that are housed and not accessible to house pets. Of course keep your food sealed (that's not in the fridge) and your kitchen and bathrooms clean. If none of this helps, you may have to get a professional out.

Your cat may have to be patient while you are at work or school. It sounds bad, but you may want to give her food in the morning and evening ONLY, when you are there, and you can put away the food when you leave. She may not want to eat on a schedule at first, but trust me, she will dig in as soon as you get home from work and she hasn't eaten during the day.

Answer 3

Since you are in an appartment complex, any of the baits, sprays etc that you can get to treat your appmt with won't solve the larger problem. If your appmt has roaches, they all probably do. If you treat your appmt you are just temporarily making them leave to another appmt, and they will return. You need to call and talk with your landlord and ask when the last time the complex was treated for termites, ants, roaches etc. Until the entire complex is treated, they will continue to come back.

Answer 4

Try using the traps that they have to go in, eat the food, then leaver and die. Also read the labels, some say right on them save for animals. If it is due to your neighbors bad hyginene, call the super and complain. they have to then help you get rid of them. Also try only leaving your cats food out during the day, after a few days she will learn that it won't be there all the time and start eatting when it is.

Answer 5

Hygeine has nothing to do with it. My son leaves food all over his room and there are no roaches because there are no roaches in the house. Roaches will thrive even in a spotless house if they have been brought in somehow. You can blame your neighbor if you want, but the roaches are in YOUR apartment and the only way to get rid of them is if your landlord has the whole building fumigated.

Get up in the middle of the night, go to the kitchen and turn a light on. I think you will find that it's not just cat food that is keeping them there.

Answer 6

Sounds like you need to relocate I have never seen a cockroach and would probably die If i did. So please move.