Eradicating your cat’s poop and pee from their litter field is one factor, however in terms of discovering nasty little bugs in there, it may be an excessive amount of for a cat guardian to bear! What are these tiny bugs, and extra importantly, how do you do away with them? Don’t fear—right here we stroll you thru every step so you’ll be able to 1) change into a bug professional concerning your cat’s litter, 2) do away with these pests rapidly, and three) make certain they don’t come again.
So, seize your magnifying glass (excellent for a close-up inspection) and your latex gloves, and let’s get began!
What Varieties of Bugs Can Be Present in Your Cat’s Litter Field?
Listed below are the commonest bugs that will invade your cat’s personal rest room.
- Fungus Gnats: These tiny black flies appear like mosquitoes however don’t chew. They often invade our properties when the temperature warms up. They dwell and breed in decaying natural waste and damp plant beds, most likely why your cat’s litter field can entice them.
- Fruit Flies: These tiny, big-eyed pests like to fly round your fruit bowls, particularly when bananas are overripe. They appear like fungus gnats, although in the event you look carefully, you might be able to make out their reddish eyes. You’ll see them flying round not solely your cat’s litter field but additionally your trash can and different kitchen waste.
- Phorid Flies: Your cat’s poop is an actual magnet for phorid flies! These little brownish pests are inclined to deposit their eggs in animal feces and different decomposing waste. Phorid flies are simply acknowledged by the bumps on their thoraxes, giving them their nickname, “humpback flies.”
- Cockroaches: These notorious friends want no introduction. Sadly, your cat’s litter field could be a haven for these nasty bugs, particularly if it hasn’t been modified shortly.
- Silverfish: These may be discovered throughout your property, particularly in humid, heat areas. These shiny, grey, scaly bugs with slender our bodies can develop as much as 1 inch lengthy. They sometimes wander into your cat’s litter field to feast on decaying waste.
- Maggots: Since they’re fly larvae, the presence of maggots will depend on whether or not the litter was already visited by flies. Due to this fact, in the event you haven’t modified the litter for some time and it’s sizzling exterior (excellent circumstances for flies and different bugs), you danger discovering maggots in there.
- Tapeworms: These tiny, pale, yellow parasites may be fairly troublesome to identify in your cat’s litter field. Seeing tapeworm segments in feces not solely signifies that your cat is contaminated with tapeworms, however they might even have Certainly, the tapeworm is an intestinal parasite that makes use of a flea as an intermediate host to enter your cat.
Ought to You Take Your Cat to the Vet?
Seeing most of those bugs in your cat’s litter field often doesn’t require something out of your veterinarian, aside from tapeworms. If you happen to discover tapeworms in your cat’s feces or across the anus, you will want to go to your vet for a correct examination. They may present a dewormer given within the type of a pill or injection to rid your cat of worms, together with anti-flea medicine.
The three Methods to Get Rid of Litter Field Invaders
Happily, it’s pretty straightforward to do away with all of the bugs and flies which have taken up residence in your kitty’s litter field.
1. Get Rid of the Entire Litter
It’s time for an enormous clear! Throw all the contents of the litter field right into a rubbish bag that you just seal rigorously to forestall the bugs from escaping.
2. Wash and Disinfect the Field Totally
Wash the field completely with a light detergent or litter field cleaner. You too can spray white vinegar, however remember to dilute it nicely, because the remaining acidic odor could delay your cat. Sprinkling a little bit baking soda diluted in water may be simply as efficient.
3. Contemplate Altering the Sort of Litter That You Use
In case you are utilizing natural or “all-natural” litter, this can be the issue. This kind of substrate tends to remain moist, which might entice bugs that feed on decaying natural matter. Contemplate changing it with a clay-based or silica-based litter, at the least for some time, to see if it makes a distinction in your insect drawback.
That’s it! You removed all these nasty bugs. However now the true query is: How do you make certain they by no means come again?
How you can Forestall Bugs From Getting Into Your Cat’s Litter Field
The best resolution to forestall these nasty critters from invading your cat’s bathroom is to maintain it clear. Meaning scooping out the poo and urine on daily basis and washing it completely at the least as soon as every week, significantly in the event you use pure litter.
Professional Tip: Ditch the Lid on Coated Litter Bins
Coated litter packing containers are inclined to retain moisture, as there’s no outlet for it to flee. This trapped dampness creates a great setting for bugs and flies to multiply, so do away with the highest in the event you can.
Wrapping Up
The mixture of moisture, urine, and cat feces makes the litter field an actual magnet for pesky invaders. Worse, they’ll lay eggs within the litter, which might keep on with your cat’s paws and unfold all through the home. Happily, eliminating these nasty bugs is kind of easy, as a result of typically, the infestation will disappear as quickly as you clear the litter field completely. Then, all you need to do is keep good hygiene practices so your feline pal can do their enterprise in a litter field freed from undesirable friends.
Finally, though litter field bugs are gross, they’re usually not harmful. Nonetheless, in the event you suspect that your cat has tapeworms, it’s best to take them to the vet.
Featured Picture Credit score: New Africa, Shutterstock
