Pet Safe Ant Killer: How to Kill Ants Without Putting Your Dog or Cat at Risk

TL;DR

• The safest choice is an enclosed, tamper-resistant bait station with a PCP number, placed where your pet cannot reach it.
• "Natural" does not mean safe. Peppermint, tea tree and other essential oils, coffee and lemon are all listed as risky for dogs and cats.
• Skip homemade borax and sugar bait. It can harm or even kill pets that eat it (University of Saskatchewan).
• Place baits behind appliances, in cracks and crevices or in a child-locked cabinet, never bury them in the yard, and check them daily.
• If your pet eats ant bait, call your veterinarian right away with the product label in hand, even if your pet seems fine.
• Need help? Get a quote from a recommended local exterminator through Pest Agent's referral form.

Shopping for a pet safe ant killer often leads straight to the kitchen cupboard, and that is where several of the risks sit. Peppermint and tea tree oil, coffee grounds and lemon all show up in online ant remedies, yet each appears on a veterinary or animal poison control list of things that can make dogs and cats sick.

The products that clear ants best create the opposite problem. Slow baits work because the colony eats them and carries them home, and the same food ingredients that draw ants can draw a curious dog or a cat that chews packaging.

No single word on a label settles the question, whether it says natural or not.

What Makes a Pet Safe Ant Killer?

A pet safe ant killer is a product your dog or cat cannot reach, registered for home use and applied exactly as the label says. That definition matters, because almost every product that kills ants can also harm a pet that eats enough of it. "Natural" does not mean safe, and "chemical" does not always mean dangerous. What protects your pet is the right product, in the right packaging, in the right spot.

Why Baits Attract Pets

Baits attract pets because they are made to taste good. Health Canada warns that pesticide baits are often prepared with food ingredients that pets find attractive, and that pets often dig up buried baits. According to Pet Poison Helpline, some ant traps use peanut butter, butter or strong odours, and cats may even chew the plastic and cardboard packaging. A dog that finds a bait station will often try to eat the whole thing, so out of reach has to mean truly out of reach.

The PCP Number on the Label

The PCP number on the label is your first safety check. Health Canada says to choose products identified by a Pest Control Products (PCP) number, which shows the product has been approved for use in Canada, and to read and follow every label direction. For borate ant baits sold for home use, Health Canada requires the label statement "Apply/use only in areas inaccessible to children and pets." Health Canada also advises never making homemade pesticides, which rules out many of the mixes shared online.

Low-Toxicity Active Ingredients

Low-toxicity active ingredients lower the risk if a pet gets a small taste, but they do not remove it. Health Canada notes that baits containing boric acid are generally of low toxicity to other animals, and the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) at Oregon State University describes spinosad, a natural substance made by a soil bacterium, as low in toxicity to people and other mammals. On the other hand, Pet Poison Helpline lists abamectin, hydramethylnon, indoxacarb, thiamethoxam and pyriproxyfen among the more toxic trap ingredients for cats. Check the active ingredient on the label before you buy.

Which Ant Killer Is Safe for Pets?

The ant killer safest for pets is an enclosed, tamper-resistant bait station placed where pets cannot reach it, backed up by non-toxic methods that keep ants out. Here are the options, from the most useful to the most limited.

Enclosed Bait Stations

Enclosed bait stations are the most effective pet-friendly way to kill an ant colony. Worker ants carry the bait back to the nest and share it, so you kill the ants you never see. Penn State Extension recommends enclosed, tamper-resistant bait traps, and Health Canada adds a few rules that make them work:

• Place stations directly in the path of foraging ants, out of the reach of children and pets.
• Use plenty of stations; two different baits at the same time give better results.
• Keep baits available for at least two weeks, and replace them if needed.
• Do not spray the ants while baiting, or the bait system will not work.

Look for pre-filled, child-resistant stations, which are sold at Canadian retailers such as Canadian Tire. For tested product picks, see our guide to the best ant killer.

Gel Baits

Gel baits are a good choice when you can push them deep into a crack your pet cannot reach, such as the gap behind a countertop or a baseboard. Since 2018, Health Canada only allows home-use borate ant products as sealed bait stations or localized gel treatments, and some gels, such as Green Way Ant Bait Gel, are registered in Canada. Apply small dots only where the label allows, never on open floors or on surfaces a pet can lick.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is one of the few ant killers Health Canada describes as non-toxic to humans and pets. It is a powder made from fossilized diatoms that kills insects by absorbing the oils and fats from their outer layer until they dry out (NPIC). Put a thin layer in cracks, crevices and entry points, not across open floors where your pet will walk through it and breathe it in. Breathing the dust can irritate the nose, and it can irritate eyes, so apply it with care. It only works while it stays dry. Learn more in our guide to killing ants with diatomaceous earth.

Soapy Water

Soapy water is the simplest pet-friendly tool you have. Ants follow chemical trails, and Penn State Extension recommends wiping them up with soapy water or a vinegar and water solution. It does not kill the colony, but it removes the trail that leads other ants to your pet's food. Our guide on whether vinegar kills ants explains what vinegar can and cannot do.

Physical Barriers

Physical barriers keep ants out without putting anything toxic in your home. Health Canada and UC IPM suggest:

• Caulking cracks and gaps along baseboards and around pipes
• Sealing small cracks temporarily with petroleum jelly or duct tape
• Wrapping two-sided tape around the legs of a pet food stand or plant stand, since ants will not cross sticky barriers

Ant Killer Safe for Dogs

An ant killer safe for dogs is one a dog physically cannot get to, because dogs tend to eat baits whole. Pet Poison Helpline notes that smaller dogs can have more pronounced symptoms. Choose child-resistant stations, place them behind appliances or inside cabinets your dog cannot open, and check them every day. For yards, keep in mind that dogs dig: Health Canada warns that pets often dig up buried baits.

Which Home Remedies Are Risky for Pets?

Home remedies for ants are not automatically pet safe, and several popular ones can make dogs and cats sick. Health Canada advises against homemade pesticides in general. Here is what to know about the most common ones.

Borax and Sugar Bait

Borax and sugar bait is the most common homemade ant killer, and it is not pet safe. The University of Saskatchewan says borax mixed with sugar is not recommended as a pesticide for killing ants, because if children or pets eat it, it can harm or even kill them. Health Canada also tells Canadians not to make homemade pesticides using boric acid, and borax can produce boric acid. If you want a borate bait, use a sealed commercial station instead. Our guides to using borax and boric acid ant killers explain the safer, store-bought options.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are often sold as natural ant repellents, but many of them are toxic to pets. The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine lists peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus, cinnamon, lemon, orange, pine and lavender oils, among others, as toxic to pets. Cats are especially at risk: oils sprayed or diffused in the air settle on their fur and are swallowed during grooming. Pet Poison Helpline also warns that ant sprays and repellents are dangerous to cats. Some store-bought plant-based sprays contain these same oils, so read the label and ask your veterinarian before using them. See our guide on peppermint oil for ants for more.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds are a poor choice in a home with pets. No authority source shows that they control ants, and the ASPCA lists coffee and caffeine among the foods to keep away from pets: signs of poisoning include vomiting, hyperactivity, an abnormal heart rhythm and, in severe cases, seizures.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is not the harmless option it seems. The ASPCA lists lemon as toxic to dogs and cats because of its essential oils and psoralens, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and skin irritation. Wiping a counter with diluted lemon is unlikely to be a problem, but do not soak floors, pet beds or areas your pet licks.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is low risk as a kitchen spice, but it is a weak ant barrier. In a Texas A&M student study, 11 of 20 fire ants still crossed a line of cinnamon to reach food within 20 minutes, a result the authors did not find significant, compared with 18 of 20 with no barrier. Cinnamon oil, unlike the spice, is on the Texas A&M list of oils toxic to pets. Read more in our guide to cinnamon for ants.

How Do You Use Ant Killer Safely Around Dogs and Cats?

Using ant killer safely around pets means clearing the area first, putting every bait out of reach and storing the rest where pets cannot get into it. These steps come from Health Canada's advice for pet owners.

Before You Treat

Before you treat, remove your pet's food bowls, water bowls, bedding, toys and chew bones from the area. Health Canada advises keeping pets out of treated areas while a product is being applied and until the area is dry. Close doors or use a baby gate to keep curious pets out.

Where to Place Baits

The best places for baits are spots that ants use and pets cannot reach. Health Canada gives examples of areas children and pets can't access, such as behind appliances, in cracks and crevices, or in enclosed bait stations. Inside a cabinet with a child lock, under a heavy appliance or high on a shelf along an ant trail all work. Never bury baits in the yard, and check stations daily for chew marks or movement.

Extra Care for Cats

Cats need extra care because they climb and groom. A countertop that is out of reach for a dog is often within reach of a cat, so use closed cabinets and gaps behind appliances instead. Avoid sprays and essential oil diffusers in rooms your cat uses, because cats can breathe in fumes or lick residues from their fur (Pet Poison Helpline, Texas A&M).

Pet Food Bowls

Pet food bowls are often what draws ants indoors. Health Canada suggests placing your pet's dish in a shallow dish of water, since ants cannot swim, and sweeping or vacuuming often around the feeding area. Pick up leftover food when your pet has finished eating.

Storage

Storage is where many pet poisonings start. Keep ant products in their original container, out of sight and reach of pets, and Penn State Extension recommends a high, locked cabinet. Keep the label: you will need it if your pet gets into the product.

When to Call a Pest Control Professional

Calling a pest control professional makes sense when baits have not worked after a few weeks, when ants keep coming back, or when you are unsure which products are safe for your pets. A licensed professional can choose and place products for you. Before booking, ask which products they plan to use, where they will apply them and how long your pets need to stay out of the treated area. You can get a quote from a recommended local exterminator through Pest Agent's referral form, or read our full guide on how to get rid of ants first.

What Should You Do if Your Pet Eats Ant Bait?

If your pet eats ant bait, call your veterinarian right away with the product label in hand, even if your pet seems fine. How serious it is depends on the active ingredient, the amount eaten and the size of your pet, and only a veterinarian or an animal poison control service can assess that. Do not try to treat your pet at home.

Signs to Watch For

Signs of ant bait poisoning can include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea or bloody stool
• Heavy drooling
• Coughing
• Unsteadiness or poor coordination

Pet Poison Helpline advises going to an emergency clinic right away if your dog is drooling uncontrollably or coughing.

What to Tell Your Veterinarian

Your veterinarian needs facts about the product, not just the brand. Health Canada recommends telling the vet the name of the product, how much your pet may have eaten, your pet's symptoms and the time it happened, and bringing the container or label with you. Afterwards, you can report the incident to the manufacturer, who must report it to Health Canada, or report it directly to Health Canada for products with a PCP number.

For more ant control options, visit our ant guide hub.