A few weeks ago, my cat was outside on the patio, and I noticed ants crawling all over his food bowl. After that, I start working on natural remedies and conventional methods that work well to keep the ants away from the food bowl.
These methods are not pretty expensive; most of the ingredients involved in these remedies are available in every house.
When ants attack the cat food bowl, it’s not only the insect infestation but also the risk of poisoning your pets with ant bites! It is time to take back control of your home and keep ants out of cat food bowls outside.
So, let’s learn how to keep ants out of cat food bowl outside?
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Let’s move on to the solution:
How to Keep Ants Out of Cat Food Bowl Outside
1. Wash the Food bowls Regularly
The first step is to clean the cat food bowl regularly. Ants are very attracted to dirty areas, and if you keep the food bowl clean, they will not be able to invade it as easily.
You must clean the bowl every time before serving the food to the cat and also after your pet is done eating.
2. Keep Feeding Area Clean
The next step is to keep the feeding area clean. Make sure you sweep and mop the floor around the bowl regularly. This way, you will eliminate any traces of food that might be attracting the ants in the first place.
3. Serve Required Amount of Food Only
One of the best ways to keep ants out of the cat food bowls outside is to serve only the required amount of food. You can feed your pet once or twice a day, depending on the type and age of your pet.
If you want to give additional snacks, try placing them somewhere else and not next to the food bowl.
4. Shift Feeding Area To Another Place
If you find it challenging to keep the feeding area clean in one place, try shifting the food bowl to another location. This way, there is less of a chance for ants to invade your pet’s food bowls when they are not expected!
5. Apply Food Jelly Outside of Food Bowls
Another effective way to keep the ants off the cat food bowls outside is by applying a thin layer of jelly on top of them. Of course, you can use any jelly for this purpose, and the ants will not be able to cross it.
When they reach the bowl area, they won’t be able to feed and would eventually move on.
6. Put Bay Leaves or Citrus Peels Near the Bowl
Another natural way to keep ants away from your cat’s food bowl is by putting bay leaves or citrus peels near it. The pungent smell of these ingredients will maintain the ants at bay.
7. Mark a Boundary Around Bowl
One effective way to keep ants out of your cat’s food bowl is by marking a boundary around the feeding area. You can use chalk, lemon juice, or other natural ingredients that will be safe for your cat and act as an ant deterrent.
The ingredients which you can use to mark the boundary are:
- Chalk
- cinnamon
- coffee grounds
- chili powder
- ash
- petroleum jelly
- vinegar
- lemon
- Baby powder
- Food grade diatomaceous earth
8. Use Essential Oils
It’s the most Natural and Healthy Way to keep the ants away. The ants don’t like the smell of essential oils, so that you can use this to your advantage.
You can use essential oils in different ways; you can spread on the area where you place the bowl, apply on the outside of the bowl, and use these to mark the territory.
Some essential oils that you can use to keep ants away are:
- Peppermint
- Spearmint
- Clove
- Orange
- Lemon
- Eucalyptus
- Thyme
- Cinnamon
- Cedarwood
9. Use a Lure to Attract the Ants
If you find it challenging to keep the ants away from the food bowl, you can try using a lure to attract them. This way, you can quickly get rid of them with less effort.
You can use sugar or water as a lure and put it near the food bowl. When the ants reach the bait, they will be attracted to it and taken away from the cat’s food.
After a few days or weeks, you can see if this solution worked for you or not. This method is adequate if you do not find any more ants near the bowl!
10. Sticky Tape and Vaseline Also Work Well
If you are looking for a cheap and easy way to keep the ants away, you can try using sticky tape or Vaseline. These methods work well in keeping the ants away from the food bowl.
All you need to do is apply a thin layer of Vaseline or sticky tape on the surface around the bowl. It will stop the ants from coming close to the cat’s food bowls.
11. Make Homemade Ant Killer Spray or Boric Acid
If you find it challenging to keep the ants away from your cat’s food bowl, you can try making a homemade ant killer spray or boric acid.
You can make the ant killer spray by mixing equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Then, add a few drops of dish soap and shake well. Finally, sprinkle the mixture on the ants and around the food bowl. The vinegar will kill the ants, while the dish soap will help to break their surface tension and make them drown.
You can also use boric acid as an ant killer. It would be best to sprinkle a little bit of it near the food bowl and around the area. The boric acid will kill the ants and help keep them away.
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Lastly – Invest in an Ant-Proof Pet Bowl
If you find it challenging to keep the ants away from your cat’s food bowl, you can try investing in an ant-proof pet bowl. It will be a much more permanent solution and will help keep the ants away for a longer time.
There are many different types of anti-proof pet bowls available in the market. You can choose the one you think will suit your cat’s needs and preferences.
These bowls usually come with lids, easy to clean and maintain. For this reason, most people prefer using them over other solutions.
If you cannot find an anti-proof pet bowl in your local store, consider buying these below-listed ones.
