Eradicating your cat’s poop and pee from their litter field is one factor, however on the subject of discovering nasty little bugs in there, it may be an excessive amount of for a cat father or mother 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 may 1) grow to be a bug skilled concerning your cat’s litter, 2) do away with these pests rapidly, and three) be certain that 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 Sorts of Bugs Can Be Present in Your Cat’s Litter Field?
Listed below are the most typical bugs which will invade your cat’s non-public rest room.
- Fungus Gnats: These tiny black flies seem like mosquitoes however don’t chunk. They often invade our houses when the temperature warms up. They reside 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 seem like fungus gnats, although when you look intently, you could possibly make out their reddish eyes. You’ll see them flying round not solely your cat’s litter field but in addition 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 likely 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 company want no introduction. Sadly, your cat’s litter field is usually a haven for these nasty bugs, particularly if it hasn’t been modified shortly.
- Silverfish: These might be discovered throughout your house, particularly in humid, heat areas. These shiny, grey, scaly bugs with slender our bodies can develop as much as 1 inch lengthy. They often wander into your cat’s litter field to feast on decaying waste.
- Maggots: Since they’re fly larvae, the presence of maggots relies on whether or not the litter was already visited by flies. Subsequently, when you haven’t modified the litter for some time and it’s scorching exterior (best circumstances for flies and different bugs), you danger discovering maggots in there.
- Tapeworms: These tiny, pale, yellow parasites might be fairly tough to identify in your cat’s litter field. Seeing tapeworm segments in feces not solely implies 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, apart from tapeworms. Should you discover tapeworms in your cat’s feces or across the anus, you’ll need 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
Fortuitously, it’s pretty simple 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 Complete Litter
It’s time for a giant clear! Throw the complete contents of the litter field right into a rubbish bag that you simply seal fastidiously to forestall the bugs from escaping.
2. Wash and Disinfect the Field Totally
Wash the field totally with a gentle detergent or litter field cleaner. You can too spray white vinegar, however remember to dilute it properly, because the remaining acidic scent might delay your cat. Sprinkling just a little baking soda diluted in water might be simply as efficient.
3. Think about Altering the Sort of Litter That You Use
If you’re utilizing natural or “all-natural” litter, this can be the issue. One of these substrate tends to remain moist, which may entice bugs that feed on decaying natural matter. Think about changing it with a clay-based or silica-based litter, a minimum of for some time, to see if it makes a distinction in your insect downside.
That’s it! You removed all these nasty bugs. However now the actual query is: How do you be certain that they by no means come again?
How you can Forestall Bugs From Getting Into Your Cat’s Litter Field
The simplest answer to forestall these nasty critters from invading your cat’s rest room is to maintain it clear. Meaning scooping out the poo and urine day-after-day and washing it totally a minimum of as soon as per week, notably when you use pure litter.
Professional Tip: Ditch the Lid on Coated Litter Containers
Covered litter boxes tend to retain moisture, as there’s no outlet for it to flee. This trapped dampness creates a great atmosphere for bugs and flies to multiply, so do away with the highest when you can.
Wrapping Up
The mix of moisture, urine, and cat feces makes the litter field an actual magnet for pesky invaders. Worse, they will lay eggs within the litter, which may keep on with your cat’s paws and spread throughout the house. Fortuitously, eliminating these nasty bugs is sort of easy, as a result of usually, the infestation will disappear as quickly as you clear the litter field totally. Then, all you need to do is preserve good hygiene practices so your feline buddy can do their enterprise in a litter field freed from undesirable company.
In the end, though litter field bugs are gross, they’re typically not harmful. Nevertheless, when you suspect that your cat has tapeworms, it’s best to take them to the vet.
Featured Picture Credit score: New Africa, Shutterstock
