Hello, I lost my cat 2 months ago so I worry all of the time about my other cats being okay. I live in the southwest where it is really hot and we just had an outbreak of ants. I thought it was from my daughter throwing her juice cup or dropping food but when I found a bunch in my downstairs bathroom I knew that wasn't the case. I guess they get bad when it gets hot out no matter what you do. Here is the problem. I have 2 cats and since losing Meiko I am extremely worried about having someone come out and spray. I called and talked to a pest control place and they said that there chemical is diluted by weight so it is safe for children and pets. I am still worried though. Has anyone had anything happen and do you think that it will be okay? I freak out at the smallest thing that has to do with my cats because I am so scared of losing another one. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I can understand your concern cause I've also worried about losing more cats - I've lost 2 in the past 6 months and have 5 others, and losing Magic and Groucho were devastating experiences. But, I think a few calls to pest control companies will probably set your mind to rest, if they all say the same thing. I don't think they'd risk their licenses and clientele if they treated your place and any of your kids or pets got sick. You could also call the Better Business Bureau if you have any doubts about what any of the companies claim, and to check them out to make sure that none of them have any complaints lodged against them in the past. I hope everything works out - any pests are creepy in my opinion, and some can be downright dangerous.
Take care - Barbara

from what i have read, indoor pest control has been formulated to be safe for humans and animals. one distinction from this is rodent poison, the pellet kind that looks like guinea pig food. this stuff is dangerous, so homes with animals should use well-concealed glue or snap or cage traps instead.

outdoor chemicals are often considerably stronger, and precautions should be taken for a determined length of time (talk to your exterminator). same goes for lawn fertilizer products. upon initial application, these products are generally not safe for children or pets...after a few days, they are less harmful. again, talk to the person who distributes these products, they will know best.

Another harmful chemical to cats is antifreeze. For some reason, (veterinarians believe because of its sweet flavor) pets enjoy the taste of this chemical, which is readily found on the garage floors and driveways of most homes. It is best to mop up any spills or leaks once they are found.

As others said here, you should be ok. If you're really worried the only other suggesting would be to have them stay with a relative for a couple of days. I've sent mine to Grandmas for a night or two just to be safe. But in the end the company will not take the chance to kill off our pets or they'll be out of business real quick.

Chris

The man showed up to spray and I told him that I wasn't interested in the service anymore. I am so deathly scared of something happening to one of my cats. Meiko died unexpectedly at the vets and my life has changed forever. When I got the new kitten from the shelter for Sasha I actually felt fear a few weeks later because I knew that I was falling in love with him. Life is so short and we have to take each moment for all it's worth. My heart still aches so much for Meiko. I am now petrified that I am going to lose another cat. I just couldn't handle it if one of my cats died because of something I did.

MyMeiko
These days, the insecticides used to control ants is relatively harmless to mammals unless consumed in large amounts. If your pest controller was to spray, once the formulation is dry, it will not bother the cat (there is probably much, much more active ingredient in flea collars, dusts and Frontline than used by the pest controller.
Finally, cancelling a service whe the PCO arrives on your doorstep is not nice. In fact it is irresponsible.
It is not his/her fault you have lost your cat. These people have to earn a living and when you book them in, you take up an appointment time that could have been used by another client who would have paid a full fee. Even if you paid a cancellation fee, (and I am guessing you didnt) it would not cover the loss of earnings. Do your research before you interfer with the livelihood of others trying to mearn a living

If you had any doubts whatsoever about the safety of the insecticide, you did the only moral thing possible by cancelling the appointment. Don't give it a second thought, other than to research safe ways to rid your house of ants.

In fact, the exterminator who is used by the housing complex in which I live NEVER sprays poisons when people have pets or babies.



Best wishes,

Daisy's Mommy

Frankly, I wouldn't use any sprays myself, and haven't for probably 15 years, in OR outside. Since our baby had CRF and the kidneys are affected by all sorts of toxins, ( plus, I'm an environmentalist for the most part ), I refused to compromise her health.

We also get ants in one section of our house ( and outside sometimes in spots that are really inconvenient, like in front of a main door ) and they 'erupt' a few times during the summer. I've used the ant killer products that are in those solid cans, but have then covered the cans with inverted plastic containers, with only small openings cut out of the bottoms at intervals so the ants can get in, but not even a paw would fit, then put something like a brick or large rock on top so that the entire thing can't be moved, by either a cat or a squirrel ( if outside )...then I would check the traps every few days, just to make sure no one had tried to move the weight off ( if outside; if inside, it just required a quick glance each time I passed by ) But what I found to be more effective is diatomecious earth, which has been around for decades and most better garden centers carry - can probably be ordered online, too. If sprinkled anywhere where someone could pick it up on their paws, or shoes, I then covered it with a carpet section or something else suitable, even thought it's supposed to be safe for mammals unless inhaled. It needs reapplying if it gets wet, though, like if it rains outside.

I've known many folks who claim Round-Up, for example, is so safe you could drink some...but when I challenged them to demonstrate this supposed theory, they didn't want to take me up on it. I've been educating myself for YEARS on chemicals, many of the household variety that most people take for granted are safe.....and they aren't, period. And flea collars are notoriously dangerous and can cause kidney and liver damage....so why take the chance? I think you're wiser than most if you make these kinds of things a concern and educate yourself before even considering them. As for antifreeze, they now also make a type that doesn't contain the same ingredient that causes kidney failure in mammals. And a note to everyone who cleans their floors with those all-too-common-now Swiffer products -- they've killed dogs ( and probably cats, too ), plus aren't safe for children, either.

And another note, about ants.....they're actually a very beneficial insect, so if they aren't swarming your cupboards or making royal nuisances of themselves, there's always the option of just leaving them alone to eat the many other bad insects that plague us....unless the colony starts to get huge and becomes really disruptive.