Bed bugs are a nuisance and more people are discovering the sad fact that a bed bug infestation has nothing to do with hygiene. Even the cleanest and swankiest hotels and homes could still get them. If you have a cat or several cats for that matter, then you may be wondering if bed bugs can harm them. You also may be wondering if it safe to use regular pest control service for your home with your cats around. Today, I am going to answer all these questions.
Bed bugs on cats pictures
It is difficult to find bed bugs on cats’ pictures because bed bugs are sneaky creatures. They usually come out at night to feed on the hosts. In absence of human hosts, they could feed on your cats or dogs. However, most bed bugs prefer human blood for their blood meals. Here are a few bed bug bites on cats pictures as well as cats chasing bugs images.
Bed bugs and cat litter: does cat litter kill bed bugs?
Many cat owners use cat litter to get rid of bed bugs. Cat litter is nothing but silica gel crystals. You can crush the litter into a fine powder and sprinkle it around your bed, furniture, box springs etc. Bed bugs come in contact with the litter and the crystals shred their insides causing bed bugs’ exoskeleton to get ripped off. This kills the bed bugs. Needless to say this is not a surefire method of getting rid of bed bugs because:
- You will need to use a lot of litter to get rid of all bed bugs.
- The bugs need to come in direct contact with the cat litter powder for this remedy to work.
- Cat litter can be harmful to human lungs so you certainly do not want to use this method of getting rid of bed bugs in your bedroom.
Is there a bed bug shampoo for cat?
There is no specific bed bug shampoo for cats. You can use a vet approved tick and flea shampoo which works on most pests that harm cats. Talk to your vet about the right cleansing product for felines. Never ever use a dog shampoo on cats and vice a versa as this can harm your pets. Also be wary of so called herbal products which promise gentle and effective treatment; many herbs and essential oils are known to be very dangerous, even fatal for cats.
The good news is that cats with thick furs generally won’t have bed bugs on them. This is because; bed bugs prefer dark, cool areas to hide in. If your cat spends a lot of time outdoors in the sun, bed bugs won’t live on the cat per se. However, if your cat is waking up with bite marks all over its body, you might want to check for bed bugs, fleas, ticks, lice or mites etc. Many pests can cause feline itchiness. So do use the right medication to keep these pests off your cat. A spot treatment once a month can protect your cat from most common feline pests including fleas and ticks. You can also use tick collars which prevent bugs from biting your pet.
Do cats eat bed bugs?
Dogs are trained to sniff out bed bugs but you cannot expect your cats to do the same. Sure your kitty might like chasing laser dots or lights but that does not mean that she/he will chase bed bugs and help you save money on expensive extermination treatments. Cats do not eat bed bugs. Any one telling you otherwise may simply be pulling your leg!
Bed bugs live in pillows and yes you can put dryer sheets in them
I had recently covered the topic of whether dryer sheets can kill bed bugs hiding inside pillow covers. Sure you can place as many dryer sheets as you’d like inside pillow cases but these will not kill bed bugs. At the most, they will make your bedroom smell nice and fresh. There is one line of thought that dryer sheets and fabric softeners can repel bed bugs and help you prevent bed bug bites. The only scientific explanation for this may be that the strong fragrance might deter the bugs for a while but overtime you might still receive bites on your legs and feet. Also you will need to replace the dryer sheets every now and then. That said; this is still not a foolproof method of repelling bed bugs or ensuring they do not bite you and your cat.
Where do bed bugs bite mostly?
Bedbugs usually bite humans on the torso, hands, legs, feet back and exposed areas of the body. In absence of human hosts, bed bugs could bite cats and dogs. Cats may receive bites on the tummy area or on the back where it is difficult for them to drive the bed bugs away. If you cat is seeming distressed, do check her out for signs of bug infestation.
Bed bugs treatment when you have cats
If you are getting your home professionally treated for bed bugs, you must remove your cats to safety. Talk to your pest control company about the chemicals they plan on using and whether these are EPA approved and safe around cats. Do find out how soon after the treatment can you bring back your pets indoors. This is the best and safest way to treat your home for bed bugs when you have cats or dogs.
