Why are ants in this kitty's dish?!

preciousmom · Apr 9, 2006

A little background info. first: My friend and I lived together for quite awhile and we both have cats. A few months ago she called me in to her bathroom and there were ants EVERYWHERE including her cat's dishes. Never had an ant problem before! My cat's dishes had been fine and are currently find...no ant problem. (We now live apart)

Now, I am taking care of my friend's cat for a week. The other day I noticed a lot of ants in Ori's food dish and water dish and all over my kitchen floor! I killed all of these ants and restocked her dishes and a few hours later they were back! (Side note: I have never had an ant problem in my kitchen or anywhere else)

I then put her dishes on a dish towel in the living room. This morning I found, not as many ants, but enough!

Why in the world are they gravatating to only Ori's dishes?!?!?! Anyone have any ideas??

cloud_shade · Apr 9, 2006

Ants love cat food. It's possible that Ori's food is something they find especially tasty. When the ants invaded my home, the also headed straight for the cat food. I found that placing the dishes on top of a platter, which was on top of a box (where the box was smaller than the platter) provided the most relief from the ants in the cat's bowls. The idea is that it will take them a lot longer to figure out how to crawl up the box, upside down under the platter and right-side up over the bowl.

I've also learned that ants are big fans of cinnamon, so placing a solid line of cinnamon across the area they are entering (mine came in under the front door) reduced the number of ants willing to come in the house.

kathryn41 · Apr 9, 2006

cloud_shade said:
Ants love cat food. It's possible that Ori's food is something they find especially tasty. When the ants invaded my home, the also headed straight for the cat food. I found that placing the dishes on top of a platter, which was on top of a box (where the box was smaller than the platter) provided the most relief from the ants in the cat's bowls. The idea is that it will take them a lot longer to figure out how to crawl up the box, upside down under the platter and right-side up over the bowl.

Something I have found very useful is to put the cats' food dish in a pan containing water - not so wide that the cats can't reach their food but wide enough that the ants have to swim - and drown - and therefore don't get to the food at all. I have found that pie plans are shallow and wide enough for the job. You may also wish to put the dishes up on top of a table for the time being - the ants are definitely attracted to the food.

taterbug · Apr 9, 2006

Did your friend bring the food in the original bag? I've gotten dry food from the store a few times,only to get it home and find ants in it! Then there were a few times the ants have invaded my kitchen and found the food. Check the bag!!

cflynt · Apr 9, 2006

Yep, this happened to me, too.

Ants, especially the little sugar ants, are extremely easy to
discourage, however, so there is hope.

I would place the bowls elsewhere for the time being. Then use
a borax cleanser (natural insecticide) or some such along the
entry path to the house. All you have to do is break the path
and the ants will go elsewhere.

Good luck!

Carol

hissy · Apr 9, 2006

Cats love cinnamon even if ants don't. They make special pet dishes to break the ant barrier. I will see if I can find the link for you

amykins · Apr 9, 2006

Originally Posted by hissy

Cats love cinnamon even if ants don't. They make special pet dishes to break the ant barrier. I will see if I can find the link for you

You can use clove oil and peppermint oil around your house where you suspect ants are coming in. Ants HATE the smell, so that solves the problem of them coming into your house, AND it's non-toxic so it's safe to use around your kitty.

charmed654321 · Apr 9, 2006

I heard that ants won't cross a chalk line (that thick chalk).

Try drawing a circle around the food bowl, also put some where you see lines they're going too and from, and the doors, windows and water pipes.

I got this from a really neat site that I'm also going to post in Cat Lounge. It's www.wackyuses.com

eupnea · Apr 9, 2006

it sounds like it probably came in the food bad itself.
that's happened to me before, only it was these little moth thingies. Yuck! I didn't buy from that store again.

preciousmom · Apr 10, 2006

Well, I took the suggestions and put cinnamon in my kitchen all around the edges. So far, so good. I also put her dish up on a box in the carpeted living room. She gave me food for her cat in a plastic bag....I didn't see anything else in their besides food but you never know I guess. Thanks!

laureen227 · Apr 11, 2006

Originally Posted by hissy

Cats love cinnamon even if ants don't. They make special pet dishes to break the ant barrier. I will see if I can find the link for you

i got one at petco for the feral's food dish. it's in 2 pieces - you attach the top piece to the dish, then fill the lower piece with water & it kind of screws on. i keep it filled with water in the summer, & it works pretty good - not perfect, but better. last summer it was so dry i was finding ants in the ferals' water dishes!

hell603 · Apr 12, 2006

Give this link a look - looks pretty good

http://theantser.com/

laureen227 · Apr 12, 2006

Originally Posted by Hell603

Give this link a look - looks pretty good

http://theantser.com/

this is the one i got - just attaches to the dish you have. sani-moat

Why are ants in this kitty's dish?!

preciousmom

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cloud_shade

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kathryn41

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taterbug

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cflynt

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hissy

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amykins

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charmed654321

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eupnea

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preciousmom

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laureen227

Darksome Duo!

hell603

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laureen227

Darksome Duo!

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