Keeping bugs out of a cat’s house is important for several reasons. Bugs like fleas, ticks, and roaches can cause discomfort, skin irritation, and even transmit diseases to cats. Additionally, an infestation can spread to other areas of your home. By taking preventative measures, you can help keep your cat healthy and avoid dealing with a difficult pest problem later.
There are several effective strategies for keeping bugs away from your cat’s house. This guide will cover keeping the house clean, sealing cracks, using natural repellents, applying pesticides safely, using traps and baits, and contacting a professional. Following the prevention tips outlined here will help protect your cat from pests.
Keep the House Clean
One of the most effective ways to keep bugs out of your cat’s house is to keep the house clean. Bugs and other pests are attracted to food debris, grease, clutter, and moisture. By keeping things clean and tidy, you eliminate their food sources and breeding grounds.
Be sure to vacuum carpets and sweep floors regularly, especially in areas your cat frequents like their bedding area, underneath furniture, and near their food and water bowls. Vacuuming picks up fallen pet food, fur, and other debris that attract pests.Pay special attention to corners, along baseboards, and under appliances where dirt and bugs can accumulate.
Don’t leave uneaten wet food or water sitting out. Bugs are attracted to moisture and will quickly infest standing water or food remnants. Pick up water bowls and wash them thoroughly each day. Discard any wet food your cat didn’t eat right away.
Take out the trash frequently so food scraps and other waste don’t sit around. Use trash cans with tight fitting lids and empty them regularly, especially in the kitchen. Keep trash areas clean by sweeping up any debris that may fall on the floors.A dirty trash area is a surefire way to attract pests.
Seal Cracks and Crevices
One of the most important things you can do is caulk and seal any openings along floors, walls, ceilings that could allow bugs to enter your cat’s house. According to https://www.purepest.com/common-entry-points-for-pests-and-how-to-seal-them/, sealing cracks, crevices, holes, and other entry points is crucial for pest prevention.
Use a high-quality sealant like silicone caulk to fill gaps along baseboards, where pipes come out of walls, beneath sinks, and anywhere else bugs could sneak in. Pay close attention to potential entry points on the exterior too. Check that windows shut tightly and seal any gaps around doors or vents. Properly sealing your cat’s house can go a long way in keeping bugs out.
Use Odor-Free Litter
Scented litters can attract insects, so it’s best to avoid using them. The added perfumes and fragrances act as bait, drawing in bugs like gnats, beetles, and moths. According to one Reddit user, switching from a scented corn litter to an unscented clay litter helped reduce bugs in their cat’s litter box (source).
Instead of scented options, choose an unscented clumping clay litter. The clumping action helps remove soiled areas where bugs may be attracted. The clay also absorbs moisture better than plant-based litters. Keep the litter box clean and scoop out urine and feces frequently to prevent odors that could also attract pests.
Store Food in Containers
Keeping your cat’s food properly stored is one of the most effective ways to prevent bugs and pests. Dry and wet pet food can easily attract ants, cockroaches, moths, and other unwanted insects. Storing food in sealed containers denies pests access to the food source.
For dry food, keep it in an airtight plastic, glass, or metal container. Transfer the food from the original bag into the container to prevent bugs from getting in. You can store smaller amounts in plastic containers with tight lids.
Refrigerating leftover wet or canned food is also important. Keep opened cans of wet food in the refrigerator and throw away any leftovers after 2-3 days. You can also transfer leftovers to a plastic container with a tight lid before refrigerating.
By keeping pet food sealed away, you eliminate the food source bugs need to thrive in your cat’s home. Be diligent about transferring food into containers and promptly refrigerating leftovers.
Source: https://www.foodstoragemoms.com/keeping-pests-away-from-food-storage/
Use Natural Repellents
There are some natural ways to keep bugs out of your cat’s house without using harsh chemicals. Here are some tips:
Plant mint, basil, garlic and other strong smelling herbs around the outside of your cat’s house. Many bugs don’t like these strong scents and will stay away (Source).
Use essential oils like peppermint, citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, and lavender to create natural repellents. You can make your own bug spray by mixing the oils with water and spraying around the house. Some oils can also be used in diffusers. Just make sure to research which oils are safe for cats before using (Source).
Apply Pesticides Safely
When using pesticides around cats, it’s important to take precautions to limit pet exposure. According to Family Handyman, there are some pet-safe pest control products that can be used carefully in areas cats frequent [1]. Look for products made from natural ingredients like diatomaceous earth, neem oil, or plant-based essential oils.
Diatomaceous earth in particular can be sprinkled in infested areas and entry points to kill insects through desiccation [1]. This mineral powder is abrasive to exoskeletons but safe for pets when used properly. Limit exposure by focusing application to cracks, crevices, and concealed areas.
When applying any pesticide, carefully follow label directions and never spray chemicals directly on pets. Spot treat only infested areas instead of blanketing the entire home. Allow time for surfaces to dry before letting pets back in contact.
Use Traps and Baits
Traps and baits can be an effective way to control and monitor pests in your cat’s house. Roach and ant baits containing boric acid or fipronil work well for these insects. Place small amounts of bait in hidden areas like under appliances, behind furniture, and in closets where roaches and ants may hide and travel. Refresh bait as needed until pest activity reduces. Be sure to keep baits away from areas your cat can access.
Sticky traps are another useful tool. These traps use adhesive to catch pests when they walk across the board or paper. Position sticky traps along baseboards, under appliances, and in closets to trap crawling insects like cockroaches. Check and replace traps frequently to monitor for pest activity. While sticky traps control pests through trapping, they also indicate if you have an active infestation so you know when additional pest control methods are needed.
When using any pesticide products including baits and traps, carefully read and follow label directions. Limit use around pets when possible. Traps and baits, when used properly, can reduce pests without spraying insecticides throughout the home.
Contact a Pest Professional for Severe Infestations
For severe infestations that persist despite your best efforts, it may be time to call in a professional exterminator. They have access to more potent pesticides and can treat the full home and yard to eliminate bugs at their source and prevent re-infestation. According to Angi, signs it’s time to contact an exterminator include persistent presence of pests after DIY treatments, allergic reactions, and pest damage/contamination.
Before treatments, the exterminator will advise on how to prepare the home and protect pets. Pets may need to be kept out of treated areas for some time. According to Hydrex Pest Control, after exterior treatments you must wait 20-30 minutes before letting dogs outside. An exterminator can address not just the interior of the cat’s house, but the full property to eliminate infestations at the source.
Prevention Checklist
Here is a summary of the key steps you can take to help keep bugs out of your cat’s house:
Vacuum and sweep regularly to remove food sources and debris that attract pests (cite https://budgetbrotherstermite.com/pet-proofing-checklist-for-pest-extermination/).
Seal any cracks, holes or gaps in walls, floors, ceilings and around pipes and wires where bugs can enter (cite https://www.petpros.net/essential-flea-prevention-checklist/).
Use odor-free, clay-based litter that doesn’t attract bugs.
Store all pet food in airtight containers.
Use natural repellents like peppermint, eucalyptus or cedar oil around the house.
If using pesticides, choose products labeled specifically for pets and use safely.
Set out traps and baits in appropriate areas to catch and kill pests.
Contact a professional pest control service if needed for severe infestations.
Following these tips diligently can help prevent bugs from becoming a problem in your cat’s house and provide a clean, pest-free environment.
