Tip: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Archived on 09/22/2009
A few days ago, we had to move our dryer to another room - thus, we had to drill a hole in the outside wall for the vent. Our cat has his food and litter box in that room and now ants are swarming in his food bowl.
My husband and I are students and we can't afford to buy ant spray or traps for two more weeks. Does anyone have an idea about how to keep the ants out with something I might already have, like vinegar, baking soda, baby powder, or anything else? Help!
Marie from Idaho Falls, Idaho
Feedback:
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
KimMcG has the answer that works best (for me). I feed a stray kitty outside and always had ants until I read about the moat idea; they won't cross water. I've always used just a touch of bleach, tho, instead of soap to keep the algae and insects out. (08/16/2008)
By doodles
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Sprinkle cinnamon around the hole and the cat's dishes. Ants don't like it and they will change directions and leave. (08/20/2008)
By quiltinlibrarylady
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Did you caulk or seal the access point to prevent the critters from coming in?
Also, I heard that peppermint oil deters ants. (08/20/2008)
By Oberhund
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
I would be concerned about putting bleach into the moat water. Should the cat or other animal decide to take a drink of the water, it could be hazardous if not fatal. (08/20/2008)
By Tripleb
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Move the cat bowl up for one day or night and put cornmeal in that spot where the cat bowl sat. The ants will eat and carry the meal back to their nest. Ants can not digest corn meal so the ants die. (08/20/2008)
By sis
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Simple question and simple answer shouldn't cost you a thing. Take a large bowl put water in it (enough so the ants will drown and smaller bowl won't float) then put a smaller bowl in the large bowl with the food. This has worked for me in a pinch and there is no chemicals to hurt your animal. (08/20/2008)
By candleglows
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Cinnamon works and smells good too! (08/21/2008)
By Mary Moo
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Another thing that has been noted to deter ants is cucumber peel. Best of luck! :) (08/21/2008)
By VTMama
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
I lived in southern Florida for many years and dealt with many different kinds of ants. I was told to wipe lemon juice anywhere you didn't want ants. It did work in my many apartments, but I'm not sure if your pets would like the lemon smell. I was told by someone that ants basically "breathe" through openings on their legs or feet (can't remember which) but all these items mentioned above (powder, cinnamon, vinegar, etc) most likely are breathed in when they walk across it! (08/22/2008)
By keldewber
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Request: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Archived on 08/15/2008
What can I use to keep ants out of the cat food bowl in the house?
Darlene from Danbury, CT
Answers:
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Ants won't walk over chalk so if you can make a chalk outline around the bowl. If the bowl is on a carpeted area find a piece of wood to put it on then draw the chalk around the edges.
Good luck =^..^=
Monique (06/19/2008)
By Monique63
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Try putting a Bounce dryer sheet under the pet bowl. Works for kitchen counters too where those tiny annoying ants like to crawl around. (06/19/2008)
By Mary Lou Campbell
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Ants don't like baby powder either so dust some around the area. All the best. Teresa (06/20/2008)
By Teresa
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
I found the best thing to use for ants was cinnamon, pure cinnamon, no sugar added. I sprinkle it all around my pets bowl and no more ants. Good luck!
(06/20/2008)
By Crafty47
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Spray full strength vinegar around and under the bowl. Let the area dry then put the bowl back down. Also, if you see a trail of ants, spray the trail with vinegar. It removes the scent ants leave behind for others. My daughter is allergic to ants and I have learned that vinegar works the best for quick results. Cinnamon works as a wonderful smelling deterrent, but the vinegar (when sprayed on the ants) will kill them right then. If you use cinnamon, make sure to sweep it up before mopping, otherwise it may stain the surface it's on (learned from experience) then it's really hard to clean it off. (06/20/2008)
By momoffour
RE: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Baby powder does the same as chalk if you don't have chalk. (06/23/2008)
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Tip: Keeping Ants Out Your Pet's Bowl
Archived on 06/18/2008
If ants are eating pet food from your pet's bowl, create a moat around the bowl. To do this, place the food bowl into a pie tin or similar low pan and add soapy water to create a barrier around the bowl.
By KimMcG
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