Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Off topic forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old September 11th, 2009, 03:06 PM
ancientgirl's Avatar
ancientgirl ancientgirl is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 15,069
Ideas welcome to keep ants away!

I'm having an issue with ants getting into the gangs plates. I used to have a problem when I fed them near the back door, but when I switched their location to the dining area I was fine. Now in the last cuple of months, I'm getting ants in their dishes!

I was thinking of getting a large very shallow cookie sheet and adding some water, then putting their plates in there. I will have to get them different plates, but I'm thinking ants might not make it past the water so they'd keep out of their food.

Does this sound like a good idea? Anybody have another idea?
__________________
There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1.

http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old September 11th, 2009, 03:33 PM
Winston's Avatar
Winston Winston is offline
Mom of 3 precious Angels
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hamilton Ontario
Posts: 7,300
AG do you know where their coming in from? If so I have heard that if you place baking soda in their tracks they take it back to the nest and digest it and die. Havent tried it though? how about ant traps?

Good luck
__________________
Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013
Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010
Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011
Sophie Aug 30, 2011

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old September 11th, 2009, 03:33 PM
sugarcatmom's Avatar
sugarcatmom sugarcatmom is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 5,357
I was going to suggest the water thing. Not sure what your dishes are like, but you could just put each dish on its own plate or shallow bowl and then fill that with water. Or, you could always get The Antser!
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb

“We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old September 11th, 2009, 05:31 PM
ancientgirl's Avatar
ancientgirl ancientgirl is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 15,069
Winston, I have no clue where they are coming from. I can only guess from the baseboards.

SCM, holy crap! That's the coolest thing! Right now I feed them on dishes. I think what I'm going to do is take out their old bowls, put the bowls on the dishes and put water on the dishes.

I'll do that until I can afford to get that Antser, because it looks like it would work perfectly. And I wouldn't have to constantly change the water and have like 10 dishes to worry about every time I feed them.

It's a bit pricey, but I'd really only need 3. I can easily put two bowls or dishes on each platform.

Thanks!
__________________
There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1.

http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old September 11th, 2009, 09:33 PM
Gail P's Avatar
Gail P Gail P is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Ontario
Posts: 1,301
Are the ants converging on the plates the minute you set them down, or are the plates left down after feeding? If they're left down the easiest way to deal with this would be to pick up the plates and remove the food source for the ants. At one time my dogs used to eat slower or be pickier and wouldn't always clean up all of their food. Then mice would sometimes get into it so I started picking up the bowls when the dogs seemed to be done with them. Now they all eat up everything in their bowls right away and then I pick them up anyways, just so there aren't bowls all over the place to be tripped on. Not to mention it's quieter that way. For some reason several of my guys think "flip and smash" the stainless steel bowl is the funnest thing ever.
__________________
Beware of Mushers...They will suck you into their addiction!

If your dog thinks you're the best, don't seek a second opinion!

http://www.racingrescues.com
http://www.goodbyegoose.com
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old September 11th, 2009, 09:53 PM
Dee-O-Gee's Avatar
Dee-O-Gee Dee-O-Gee is offline
You can call me DOG!
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Niagara, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 5,645
PbPatti had a problem a while ago and I suggest this recipe:

Ant Ambrosia:
4-5 tbsp of cornmeal
3 tbsp of bacon grease
3 tbsp of baking powder
3 packs of baker's yeast

Mix cornmeal and bacon grease into a paste, then add the baking powder and yeast. Dab the gooey mix on the sides of jar lids and set them near the anthills or the problem spot. They'll love it to death!

Unforunately, I've never had an ant problem but the ingredients are readily availabe for a quick fix!

Good luck AG.
__________________
A dog wags his tail with his heart
Dogs have Masters--Cats have Staff

Rest in Peace Bailey: 12/10/95-1/9/09 (Golden Retriever)
Rest in Peace Kitty: 7/1/2000 - 10/7/2013
Rest in Peace Gryphon (sounds like Griffin): 10/15/2004 - 11/18/2017 (English Springer Spaniel)
Bella: 3/09/2005 LHD Cat adopted by/from Child
Mollie: 6/2/2009 (English Setter)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old September 12th, 2009, 10:38 AM
ancientgirl's Avatar
ancientgirl ancientgirl is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 15,069
Gail P, yeah not leaving the plates out would fix the problem, but my gang don't eat all their food at one shot. They eat a little, then leave it, then come back periodically. If I picked the plates up before I left for work, they'd spend the day very hungry, since they don't eat all that much when I first put the plates down for their morning feeding.

klmccallum, I'm wary about actually putting something out they might eat. I know if this is something pbpatti it isn't harmful, but I'd constantly be worried they were munching on it.

The product SCM posted the link for I think is what I'll be using. I wanted to use water as a deterrent and I think this will help.
__________________
There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1.

http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old September 12th, 2009, 11:16 AM
Tundra_Queen's Avatar
Tundra_Queen Tundra_Queen is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Northern Ontario
Posts: 5,603
I have used this recipe to kill ants but I only use it outside with a lid on the container.

3 parts white sugar
to 1 part borax laundry detergent
mix it up dry

put it in a covered margarine dish with a couple of tiny holes cut in it and the lid taped on just to be sure.

set the container where u see the ants travelling. the ants will pick up the sugar with the poison and bring it back to the ant hill and within a month the hill will be dead as it eventually kills the queen.

But it is toxic to animals and children if they eat it.

Debbie
__________________
~Friendship is like a bank account. You can't continue to draw on it without making deposits~


~Tegan 9 year old yellow lab~
~Wilbur 9 year old LH cat~
~Mirabelle 18 mos dsh~
~O'Shawnnessey 18 mos dsh~
~Darby 1 year old dsh~
~Mindy 7 yr old shih tzu~
~Dexter 10yr old Salmon (large goldfish)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old September 12th, 2009, 11:35 AM
ancientgirl's Avatar
ancientgirl ancientgirl is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 15,069
I'd be constantly worried about the gang getting into it.
__________________
There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1.

http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old September 12th, 2009, 12:43 PM
Marcha's Avatar
Marcha Marcha is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Greater Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 510
Ants won't cross a line made of chalk, cayenne pepper, turmeric or baby powder. You could perhaps draw a line of that around the eating area?
Sprinkle turmeric into an opening of an ant nest nearby, and the ants in that nest will stay far away from that opening in the future.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old September 12th, 2009, 01:18 PM
ancientgirl's Avatar
ancientgirl ancientgirl is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 15,069
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcha View Post
Ants won't cross a line made of chalk, cayenne pepper, turmeric or baby powder. You could perhaps draw a line of that around the eating area?
Sprinkle turmeric into an opening of an ant nest nearby, and the ants in that nest will stay far away from that opening in the future.
Chalk? That's a good idea. I like the cayenne pepper and tumeric, but I'd be afraid one of them would start licking at it. I can certainly try the chalk first.

Thanks.
__________________
There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1.

http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old September 12th, 2009, 07:53 PM
Schwinn's Avatar
Schwinn Schwinn is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Georgina
Posts: 2,258
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcha View Post
Ants won't cross a line made of chalk...
I think that's only vampire ants...unless you invite them in.

My only thought about the pan with wter is that your guys would drink the water, then they'd be at it again. But I got thinking about the pan, and looking at the anster, I think it may have the same effect. Maybe give it a try and see if they can climb it. The anster looks like it works because it's too difficult to climb, I'd give the cookie sheet a try just to see.

Oh, and I heard of the baking soda trick too, but my neighbour added icing sugar to it because it attracted them, but they couldn't tell the difference between baking soda and icing sugar. (Hmmm...mine tastes funny, try it. Does it taste funny to y...AUGH!) And I don't think it'd be harmful to the pets, either.
__________________
Hagar:"What kind of dog is that?"
Man with dog:"He's a nice dog!"
Hagar:"You know, at the end of the day, that's always the best kind."
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old September 12th, 2009, 08:45 PM
ancientgirl's Avatar
ancientgirl ancientgirl is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 15,069
I'm going to do the water and cookie sheet first, since I'm not going to have the $$ for the antser for a while.

Czari is the only one who isn't a sweet lover, but Vlad, Oksana, Maks and Kiska all love sweet stuff, so anything I'd put down that was sweet, they'd be all over!
__________________
There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1.

http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old September 12th, 2009, 09:58 PM
Gail P's Avatar
Gail P Gail P is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Ontario
Posts: 1,301
Quote:
Originally Posted by ancientgirl View Post
Gail P, yeah not leaving the plates out would fix the problem, but my gang don't eat all their food at one shot. They eat a little, then leave it, then come back periodically. If I picked the plates up before I left for work, they'd spend the day very hungry, since they don't eat all that much when I first put the plates down for their morning feeding.
Yeah but it probably would only take once or twice and they'd figure it out pretty quickly. Eat now or go without. My dogs used to eat the way you describe but I've got them all converted now. Since I've only got 2 hands I put down 2 bowls, 2 bowls, 2 bowls, 2 bowls and by the time I get to the last 2 the first 2 dogs are almost done eating. Everyone finishes quickly and then I pick up the bowls and put them away.
__________________
Beware of Mushers...They will suck you into their addiction!

If your dog thinks you're the best, don't seek a second opinion!

http://www.racingrescues.com
http://www.goodbyegoose.com
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old September 12th, 2009, 11:34 PM
sugarcatmom's Avatar
sugarcatmom sugarcatmom is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 5,357
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gail P View Post
Yeah but it probably would only take once or twice and they'd figure it out pretty quickly. Eat now or go without.
Cats are a little different though, and are better suited to eating frequent small meals throughout the day (as they would in "nature"). Their unique metabolism doesn't down-regulate when calorie intake ceases, and while some cats may do just fine with only 2 meals a day, most are naturally inclined to eat an average of 13 meals/day.
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb

“We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old September 13th, 2009, 07:48 AM
ancientgirl's Avatar
ancientgirl ancientgirl is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 15,069
Gail P, I tried doing that about a year ago. I found it was worse for them. They would then eat their evening meal so fast, because they were hungry, that Maks and Kiska would wind up throwing up after they ate.

I'd read something SCM wrote about it being okay to leave the canned out so I decided to just let them have their food out. The drawback of course being the ants. It's also been a wet summer hear so I'm sure that hasn't helped.
__________________
There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1.

http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:30 PM.