Eradicating your cat’s poop and pee from their litter field is one factor, however relating to 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’ll be able to 1) turn out to be a bug skilled relating to your cat’s litter, 2) do away with these pests rapidly, and three) be sure 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 commonest bugs that will invade your cat’s non-public rest room.
- Fungus Gnats: These tiny black flies appear to be mosquitoes however don’t chunk. They normally invade our houses when the temperature warms up. They stay 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 to be fungus gnats, although in case you look carefully, 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 visitors 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 will be discovered throughout your own home, 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 depends upon whether or not the litter was already visited by flies. Due to this fact, in case you haven’t modified the litter for some time and it’s scorching outdoors (very best circumstances for flies and different bugs), you threat discovering maggots in there.
- Tapeworms: These tiny, pale, yellow parasites will be fairly tough 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 normally doesn’t require something out of your veterinarian, aside from tapeworms. In the event 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’ll 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
Thankfully, 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 Complete Litter
It’s time for an enormous clear! Throw your entire 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 Completely
Wash the field completely with a light detergent or litter field cleaner. It’s also possible to spray white vinegar, however you should definitely dilute it properly, because the remaining acidic scent could postpone your cat. Sprinkling a bit of baking soda diluted in water will 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. The sort of substrate tends to remain moist, which might entice bugs that feed on decaying natural matter. Think about changing it with a clay-based or silica-based litter, at the very least 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 true query is: How do you be sure they by no means come again?
The best way to Forestall Bugs From Getting Into Your Cat’s Litter Field
The simplest resolution to forestall these nasty critters from invading your cat’s bathroom is to maintain it clear. Meaning scooping out the poo and urine day by day and washing it completely at the very least as soon as every week, notably in case you use pure litter.
Professional Tip: Ditch the Lid on Coated Litter Containers
Coated litter packing containers are likely to retain moisture, as there’s no outlet for it to flee. This trapped dampness creates a perfect surroundings for bugs and flies to multiply, so do away with the highest in case 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 might keep on with your cat’s paws and unfold all through the home. Thankfully, eliminating these nasty bugs is kind of easy, as a result of most often, the infestation will disappear as quickly as you clear the litter field completely. Then, all it’s a must to do is preserve good hygiene practices so your feline pal can do their enterprise in a litter field freed from undesirable visitors.
In the end, though litter field bugs are gross, they’re typically not harmful. Nevertheless, in case you suspect that your cat has tapeworms, it’s best to take them to the vet.
Featured Picture Credit score: New Africa, Shutterstock
