Need Fast Opinions

The pest control man is coming today to do our termite inspection and pest control. He sprays around the house, porches and garage. We pull up the landscaping paper and straw and he sprays. We leave it that way until it dries and then put the paper and straw back down. The cats are moved elsewhere until all this is completed. My question is this. He usually sprays around the walls in the garage. We have had the cats sleeping in a cat cage in the garage since Muffin was attacked in October. Do you think it is safe for him to spray as usual there. It will be dry by the time the cats are put in there tonight and they sleep in a cage.

are there going to be fumes? how well ventilated in the garage?

we can leave the door up all day and keep the cats elsewhere until tonight.
Also, next week we are having a split system heat pump put out there because it will get too hot this summer.

When the guy sprayed for spiders here, the cats had to be kept away until it dried. But I don't know what your guy is using.

I am sure the company has dealt with animals and probably can tell you. If they can't I wouldn't get it done by them. They should be completely knowledgeable.

You should have asked what they use. And if they haven't shown up yet, ask when they do and write it down.
The commonly used pesticides are:
Pyrethrins and permethrin types - These are very toxic to cats. Some synthetic versions of these are slightly less toxic to some animals, like dogs, thus get mislabeled as "pet safe when dry". These are used as repellants, too, and are common in barrier sprays.
IMO, all of these I've encountered smell - either chemically or sort of sweet.

Imidichloprid and Fipronyl (fipronil) - We use these in pet dosed forms under the names Advantage and Frontline. Less toxic to mammals provided that they don't get too large of a dose of it. Harmful to birds and fish, specifically small birds eating insects that have come in contact with the pesticides.
These will tend to be scentless and need more frequent reapplication. (such as monthly)

Chlorfenapyr - I'm not as familiar with this one and it's toxicity in animals, other than knowing that it's toxic to insects after it's metabolized and possibly birds.

Generally all of them should be ok when dry provided that your cats will not be walking on the areas. Unlike dogs, cats lick their feet several times a day and the "safe when dry" doesn't apply to something that's still being ingested.
Hopefully you have a little wind this afternoon to help air the garage out better.

Also, if the pest control company didn't explain this to you, termites and other pests love moist decaying matter like straw and mulch they can hide under. It will attract them up to a structure. Consider changing the landscaping a little to make it less habitable to them and other insects like roaches.

Generally speaking - yep - as long as the cats aren't there, and the poison has plenty of time to dry and air out - IMO it should be safe enough.

I guess you've probably already asked the pest control people, and they've reassured you.

I guess I'd just ask them to make sure the spray gets directed to only the places necessary and not sprayed into places the cats may be walking. I'm just silly, I guess - but even though the poison is dry, I do wonder if the cat's paw can still pick it up somewhat, and then ingested when the cat grooms ???

We don't let our service spray on the inside of the house - only the outside perimeter and yard - and it's been enough to keep the ants out of the house.

(All our cats are inside now 24/7.)

Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946

Do you think it is safe for him to spray as usual there. It will be dry by the time the cats are put in there tonight and they sleep in a cage.

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It depends on what he is spraying. Ask him which one is safe around infants and small animals, and if you don't trust him, once you have the name you can google it as there is a plethora of information online.

I didn't bother with ours as the pest guy is a family friend and a fanatic about insect control and so knows the ins and outs and assured me its no issue to the cats when dry.