Ants!!! WTF? Help!

[huskerlaw]

Ok, so I recently moved to SoCal from a climate which wasn't very kind to bugs. Imagine my shock when I wake up this morning and find a trail of tiny little ants...leading all the way from my balcony door, across the living room, straight to the cat's food. We're talking thousands of the little buggers.

Question 1: How do I get rid of them?
Question 2: Where do I keep the cat food, since obviously "in a dish on the floor" is no longer an option.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Sugar ants. They suck!

Follow the trail back from where they are entering your abode. Then try cleaning that spot. The ants follow a familiar smell. I think boric acid works, too. You can sprinkle that over the entrances.

[Reciprocity]

2. I use Adams flea spray.

Yes it's a bit pricy ($14.00) and I can only buy it from the feed store, but it's safe for cats and deadly for ants.

[Mutley]

3. When I had them I set up those ant motels...

and moved the food bowl. Then clean the spot where they're entering your house, because they navigate by smell. I never saw them again after I did all that.

[AllegroRondo]

4. peppermint soap

seriously!

Ants hate peppermint. So do most bugs. The peppermint oil is a natural deterrent to insects.

Get some peppermint soap. Some lawn and garden stores carry it, some bigger grocery stores do too.
Wash all the surfaces where the ants travel with this soap and water. Look for any places where they may get into the house and wash these also, like doors or corners.

Good luck!

[nini]

5. ants will come in for water too this time of year

you may find them in the bathroom too.

the tips the others listed are all good.

Welcome to So Cal btw: :hi:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

6. Get some ant baits at the grocery store

There are some which have see-through tops - you can see the little buggers feasting on the bait. Those have worked tremendously well for us.

As for the cat food, make sure it's stored in an airtight container, and maybe move their food bowls to an uninfested area. You may have to monitor this vigilantly! Good luck!

[evlbstrd]

7. Brand name plug: Ortho And-B-Gone bait.

That stuff worked for me.

[miss_kitty]

8. Since you have a cat

I would opt for the non-Ortho and nonpoison options. Interrupt the trail of formic acid they follow to the food-I like the Pepperment oit solution-teatree oil and citric smell will mess them up-put some Dr Bronners in some water and a spray bottle and spray the outdoor trail too.

I would keep the cat food on a washable mat that you clean often-even take up with the food.

good luck!

[Lisa0825]

9. I had the same problem recently.

I put a bunch of ant baits around and sprayed the place where they were coming in with some Raid for ants. It turned out they had tunneled in from between my hardwood floors! I totally soaked that little crevace, and then wiped the floor around it so it would be safe for kitty. That was about 2 weeks ago, and I haven't had a problem yet.

I have had issues with both the sugar ants and the black ants. I had sugar ants in my bedroom. I sprayed the baseboards and put baits around, and all seems well now.

In the midst of these ant problems, I apparently have developed an allergy to the buggers. I woke up with hives all over me, and a my thoat feeling swollen. I had to take two benadryl. When the hives went away, I found ONE lousy ant bit on my upper arm!:mad:

A week later, I got bit on my feet, and both of them swelled up really big!

[huskerlaw]

10. Ant Update...

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

I ran to the grocery store and got Raid ant baits, placed them strategically around the living room/kitchen/balcony, and then cleaned up the cat food area, and the area of entry. I put the cat food dish in a pan of water...an ant moat, if you will. The cat is highly confused by this development, but I'm sure he'll figure it out sooner or later.

There are significantly fewer ants already, thank goodness.

[Robb]

11. LOL!

I love the moat! Clever! :D :thumbsup:

[huskerlaw]

12. It was a suggestion from a friend

who used to live in Puerto Rico...and dealt with creepy crawlies far worse than sugar ants. ;)

[Robb]

13. Now just leave an oil slick

...and keep a match handy. That'll show 'em, if any get the bright idea to build a raft! :D

If Saturday morning giant-ant movies have taught me anything, it's that you can't play games with these guys. ;)

[huskerlaw]

14. ROFL!

I dunno, the apartment complex might have issues with the lit oil slick...but I'll keep it in mind. ;)

[GOPisEvil]

15. Keep some boiling oil on hand, too.

That'll teach the little bastards. :D