How can I kill ants without killing my cat?

Question

I have tiny ants in my house. In the past, I would use those traps that they crawl into and take the bait back to the colony and poison all the other ants. Are these safe for cats? Mine likes to lick things, and I don't want him sticking his tongue in one of the ant trap holes. Are there any cat-safe ways to wipe out ants?

For those of you who are suggesting non-poisonous alternatives, how do you apply them? Do I fling grits/spray vinegar all over my apartment?

Answer 1

Can't use something to chase them away, without killing them? . That way, cats will be safe too. I googled it and it seems spearmint and catnip chase ants away.

Answer 2

First thing you want to do is clean, clean, clean your living area. Where the ants go, there is either grease or sugar of some kind. Take it away from them! Keep a tidy house and you will find the problem much more manageable. Second thing to remember: insects hate vinegar. Spray it onto any/all affected surfaces after you clean. Even for a couple days after it dries up, insects will avoid the area., but they don't die unless you drown them in it. If you want to kill them, use Windex or any glass cleaner stuff you have lying around. Cover your cat's food and water bowls with a book if you are going to kill the ants with this method. Also: cats don't like the smell of vinegar, either. It won't harm them like the Windex can do if used improperly. Another method to lessen the ant problem is to buy one of those big lollypop sucker things, and put it under your neighbor's porch or something. That'll divert the bulk of them for a while, but it does nothing to slow the colony's development. It actually stimulates a growth in the number of ants, I'm pretty sure. But If you are at wit's end, it may be a good option. Lots of Luck!

Answer 3

Fill a spray bottle halfway full with water, put 1 tsp or so dish soap in, mix a little, spray the ants (if you can find where they're coming in, that would be the best place, but if you can't find it, spray somewhere out of the way from the cat, if there is a place out of the way...). Leave them there for a little while (ants behind them will come across that spot, and not come back...) then clean it up.

Or, use citrus rind oil (or citrus peel) and water. You can find the rind oil at a herbal supply store... spray it, and it will kill the ants. It also kills fleas and most types of garden pests...so if you have a garden, spray it with this stuff.

Answer 4

Become a super sleuth. Follow those little critters to their outside source and poison them outside the house. The inside ants cannot survive long without a queen. Spray all around the outside of your house and any place in the yard where there is an ant infestation. As a last, expensive resort call an exterminator. If your neighbors use an exterminator their ants will coming running to you for safety.

Answer 5

I use Terro baits trap it works really good, and its in a container that cats and other pets can't get into. Only ants and other bugs can. But you have to cut it the right way so ants can get in and out good. the only reason they can get out so they take the liquid back to the hole and kill the hole group. It works really good if you put it by the hole they come in from.

Answer 6

You can use Home Defense by Ortho in the green jug in and outside your house. Spray it around windows, doors and all around the edges of the inside and outside of the house. Allow it to dry,(it doesn't take very long) before letting the cats near the areas and your cats should be fine. It might take two applications, two weeks apart but this stuff works. I've used it in my house for several years and the cats have no ill affects.
You can also spray your outdoor plants to kill bugs and it doesn't harm the plant, not even roses.

Answer 7

These may be odorous house ants. If you crush them they have a distinct odor. They probably live both inside and outside your house. Call a pest control company. They will kill the ants inside the house and lay down a barrier around the outside of the house to keep them away. Good luck.

Answer 8

I used the bait that comes in a syringe. I put it in the back of my cabinets out of the reach of my cats. It got rid of the ants and other bugs. This was well over a year ago, and I haven't had any since.

Answer 9

You can use the ant traps or purchase powdered Sevin and 'blow' it into the cracks of the doors and windows or where ever you know the ants enter.

Answer 10

Put some grits where u see the ants. Wait a day and yo'll never see them again