This morning I woke up and did the first thing I do every single morning...went to feed the cats. Boy, did I get a not so nice surprise...there were hundreds of teeny tiny red ants coving their bowls and a nice trail that led to our back door. To be honest, I was shocked, because we don't usually get ants. I've posted my Homemade Peppermint Ant Spray and Homemade Ant Killer which have always worked for me, but these crazy tiny ants didn't seem to care. They were having a picnic right there in my breakfast nook. Not cool. I sprayed my peppermint ant spray around the perimeter of the breakfast nook and set out my ant killing traps where my cats couldn't get to them, but thought I better do something extra just in case. I started by moving their cat bowls to the breakfast nook table (which doubles as my office space), then I used a little trick that I hadn't used since college...this trick works for to keep ants out of pet food whether you have a cat or dog...or even a different pet!
I placed a barrier around the bottom of the bowl using petroleum jelly. It makes a slippery barrier that ants can't get past.
Those pesty little critters will not be chowing down on the cat food in this house for sure! It works just the same on dog bowls too!
Now I can feed Pearl and Macy and not have to toss ant infested food in the trash...whoop!
And Pearl can enjoy her food ant free!
Hope it helps you too!
Mike D says
Petroleum jelly works for bird feeders too...when squirrels try to climb up and steal it all. They slide right back down :-)
Jessica says
I love that! Would have never thought about it, but makes total sense! Thanks for sharing!
Kim says
Also makes for the BEST YouTube videos????????
Marie says
Thanks it a good idea, even around your cabinet, I trying it now, I see if it work.
Michael Newton says
I'm just wondering,a friend of mine told me about the petroleum jelly around the base of the food bowl,do I have to apply it constantly or what.i'm just wondering cause I'm tired of seeing or finding ants in her food bowl
Jessica says
I usually just add more if I notice it has worn down...usually every couple of weeks. It works wonders to keep the ants away! Hope this helps! Jess
Kathryn Hicks says
No, I just reapply about once a month and that's it!
Anna says
The petroleum jelly is a great idea. I put this around my outdoor pup an literally watched the ants run the other way!!! Thank you for saving my dogs food from being a buffet for ants!!!
Sherrie says
great ideas for ants, thank you
Marilyn Fears says
I live in an older house in FL where the doors and windows don't fit tight enough to keep out sugar ants. I've been keeping my cat's food dishes on a small plate filled with water. Ants won't swim over a moat!
HELEN ELLIOTT says
Marilyn Fears, Thank you for triggering a childhood memory. I grew up in Florida and you reminded me of one year (in the 50's). when the ants were so bad, my mother put the legs of our kitchen table in dishes of water. No ants on the table.
Susan says
Marilyn great minds think alike. I use the aluminum pie plate with water method too. Works like a champ!!
Nickie says
Ok the Petroleum jelly keeps them out of the food bowl but, what keeps them from getting to the bowl. I keep Murphy's food in an air tight container so I know they are not getting in there. I usually do a self feeder but since moving to my new condo it's all about the ANTS. AHHHH. I can't stand it. .
Jessica says
Hi, Nickie! Try dabbing a little peppermint essential oil underneath the bowls (where the animals can't get to it). Ants and spiders hate the smell of peppermint!
Connie Shaddy says
I agree, but the peppermint ant spray didn't keep them outta of the food. I don't feed dry food to my cats, our vet recommends feeding wet food. I spray the homemade peppermint ant spray and the ants don't care. I put homemade traps out...they keep coming. My concern is with petroleum jelly that close to my precious pets. Ugh, I hate these tiny, black ants!!!!!
Kim says
Petroleum jelly is not harmful to pets. At least to cats. If you look at the ingredients in a tube of lubricant for hairballs, petroleum jelly is the main ingredient for helping them pass hairballs in their stool instead of coughing them up. I don't even buy the lubricant. I just put a small dab of petroleum jelly in my cat's mouths if the high fiber dry food doesn't do the trick.
Becky says
Another way to keep the ants at bay is place the food bowl in a pan water. Just be sure no leaves or pinestraw drops in the water, the ants will make a bridge out of things like that.
Jessica says
I love this idea!!
Susan says
My finicky cats wouldn’t go near a food bowl if I sprayed peppermint any where in the vicinity!!
helen says
I use petroleum jelly at the base of my sheperds hooks to keep the ants from climbing to get to the humming bird feeders.
Jessica says
What a great idea!!! I'll definitely give that a try this summer!
Michelle says
Love this!
Donna Isbell says
Thank you. Thank you for this advice controlling ants and let food bowls....Will apply immediately....also will try on hummingbird poles....
Lisa Cannon says
Hello
Thank you so much for these wonderful ideas. We have many ant hills. I will be using these ideas all over the place.
Hudson Turman says
Hi I stumbled upon your page while trying to save my beloved cats from ants in their food. I settled on a combination of the ideas you presented. I actually built a riser out of the plastic attachment from the bottom of plastic champagne flutes. I glued the bottoms together so the bottoms we both facing the outside. I made four so I was able to set a pan on the homemade risers. I then mixed some petroleum jelly with peppermint oil creating a peppermint jelly that the ants hate! ( I tested it by finding a path elsewhere and slathered it directly in their path, they turned and high tailed it away!) I've also used the petroleum peppermint mixture around windowsills and counter edges to keep ants away with much success. Just wanted to let you know what I was able to come up with and to thank you for your help. My cats thank you as well!
Miguel Monteiro says
I’m thinking about changing my house name to the Anthouse , because my house is situated literally on top of several anthills. I live in a beach house in North Portugal, and i have this trouble in and outside with my cats and dogs and I use cinnamon, I put cinnamon around they hate cinnamon, I never kill an ant, at least I do not deliberately kill them , because I love to see ants working and communicating, I respect them , sometimes I feed them ...yes, I look for the entrance of the anthill or the small hole, and I just give them food lol ???? . They are only working. I’m crazy I know .
Paul Massen says
I found another way too. I place a sheet or 2 of paper towel on the floor and add the crunchy cat food in the centre. The ants simply stay away. Why? I don't know and don't care either but.......problem solved!
Kim says
Petroleum jelly is not harmful to pets. At least to cats. If you look at the ingredients in a tube of lubricant for hairballs, petroleum jelly is the main ingredient for helping them pass hairballs in their stool instead of coughing them up. I don't even buy the lubricant. I just put a small dab of petroleum jelly in my cat's mouths if the high fiber dry food doesn't do the trick.
Michelle says
Thanks so much for this idea to keep ants out of my dog food bowl. I have had hell trying to keep them out of my baby's food bowl.
Deborah Nelson says
I have a method I think would work well with the petroleum jelly. I have used this method for many years here in South Florida. When you discover the ants in the bowl follow the ant trail back to where they enter your house. Sprinkle baby powder on the trail and cover the place they are coming in with powder. Wait a few days to vacuum up the powder. It really works to stop them. If you can't find the entry point, turn on a flashlight and lay it on the floor shining across the floor. The little buggers marching along show up well in the beam of light.
Jessica says
Love this...thanks so much for sharing! xoxo, Jess
Margaret says
I found putting the cat bowls in a small tray (like an old toaster oven tray) of water deterred the ants very nicely, Just have to put less than an inch, and keep the water from dehydrating. The ants won't cross the water to the bowl.
Bobbie Shikle says
I'm about to get some puppies and had actually forgotten about the ant problems that I had before. Thank you for the reminder and the solutions to the problems. My precious little babygirls will no doubt appreciate it.
Andela says
How do you make the homemade peppermint ant spray
OM Cowan says
I would appreciate your receipe for peppermint ANT spray!!!! I am engulfed with ants after my pet's dog food!!!
Thank you so much!!!
[email protected]
L Bitting says
Easy, All ants HATE THE SMELL OF WHITE VINEGAR. I take a empty spray bottle & create a barrier, around entraces & windows. If you see some spray them, It kills on contact.
Bird feeder & Hummingbird feeder.
Put grease on poles, they cant climb.
Jessica says
Here is the link to the step by step instructions for the Homemade Peppermint Ant Spray