How to keep flies off outdoor cat food? Keeping flies off outdoor cat food is important for your pet’s health. Flies carry diseases that could adversely affect your cat, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. The two most common diseases affecting cats are toxoplasmosis and salmonellosis.
This post will offer 5 different ways to keep flies off outdoor cat food. These suggestions will work in both urban and rural areas with certain changes to protect the environment when in rural areas (i.e., changing the scatter-free trap).
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Best 5 Ways How To Keep Flies Off Outdoor Cat Food
Here are 5 ways to keep flies off outdoor cat food:
1. Keep The Food In A Sealed Bag
By keeping the food in a sealed bag, you will avoid flies from your outdoor cat getting to it. The best way to do this is by using a plastic shopping bag with a drawstring opening.
After filling the bag with fresh cat food, close the top, put on an elastic belt, or tie it. If flies are still around, dump out the food and refill the bag with new fresh cat food.
2. Keep It Away From The Ground
If you choose where your cat’s food is located, you should at least provide a well-hidden place. This way, the flies will still be able to find it, but they won’t find anything else on the ground.
This can include laying the food out on a hard surface, such as on a wooden table in your cat’s house, or by placing it in an old cardboard box that has been cut apart and paper taped over the bottom and sides.
3. Treat Outdoor Cats With Flea Medicine
Flea medication costs around $15 per month, but it will be cheaper than putting your cat to a vet. This can be purchased in most pet supply stores, and the amount used will depend on the size of your pet.
As an alternative, you can stop using flea medication when it becomes ineffective. This is around when fleas mature and fly away from your pet.
In some cases, fleas have developed resistance to these medications. This can cause more severe symptoms and more serious complications in your pet.
4. Install a Scatter-Free Trap
If you would rather not use flea medication, an alternative is a scatter-free trap. Although this may be more expensive than using flea medication, it will provide greater protection for your cat. This can be purchased at most pet supply stores and is about $30 for a package of 2.
The scatter-free trap works by luring the fly into a sticky area with food. The fly will get trapped and eventually die, eliminating the need to use flea medication.
This can be used in conjunction with flea medication to eliminate any remaining flies, or it can be used by itself if your cat’s yard is not too large.
5. Clean Up After Outdoor Cats
Flea medications will also help keep the flies away from your cat. However, they may not be able to keep up with your cat’s constant movement outside. The best way to help reduce flea numbers is by following these simple steps:
a) Clean all areas where your cat has been, including any grass around the house, in and around the house, and on any other outside furniture.
b) Clean the cat’s food bowls in your cat’s house. (Kitchen and bathroom to be the best areas)
c) Treat all indoor plants with a spray or soap.
d) Install screens on all windows and doors to keep out flies.
e) If you have outdoor cats, eliminate them from outside as much as possible. (If you have another outdoor cat that is not affected by flea treatments, you can keep them outside so they can play together, and both benefit from their time outdoors.
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What Happens When Flies Sit On Cat Food?
Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. This can be treated by giving your cat a warm bath or warming up the food in a pan of boiling water before feeding.
If these steps fail to help, your cat could have a serious bacterial infection of the intestines. Contact your vet immediately for treatment advice.
We recommend that you provide a place for outdoor cats to go outside, away from the flies and the ground.
What to do Next
Before you call your vet, try these measures yourself:
1. Use flea shampoos and sprays on your cat
2. Sprinkle the yard with borax powder and water to kill the eggs
3. Treat your cat with Advantage or Revolution for cats
4. Check your pet for ticks, fleas, or intestinal worms to rule out other possible causes of illness
5. Contact a veterinarian if you have taken these steps and your pet is still not getting better after a few days. It may be best to consult a veterinarian if any conditions occur.
DynaTrap DT160SR Mosquito & Flying Insect Trap
What Happens If A Cat Eats Food With Fly Eggs?
If the fly eggs were not fertilized, it would have no effect. If they are fertilized, there is a risk that your cat could get tapeworms.
This is because the larval stages of the tapeworm live in cats’ intestines and absorb their food; cats can become ill if too many tapeworms develop.
If an adult cat eats another animal infected with fly eggs, there is also a risk of toxoplasmosis infection.
Does Cat Food Attract Flies?
Cat food does not attract flies unless it is unsanitary. If you make sure your cat’s food is always fresh and clean, the flies will never find their way to your cat.
The flies that attack outdoor cats are different from the domestic fly, Calliphora (dog fly). Therefore, if you feed indoor cats outdoors, they can have problems with these flies. Also, if they eat fish outdoors, they can have fly-borne parasites that may affect them.
Can Flies Lay Eggs On Dry Food?
Yes, they will lay eggs on any food substance. They require warmth not to lay as many eggs in cold weather.
Can Eat A Fly Make A Cat Sick?
Yes, a cat can become ill if they eat an infected fly. This illness is called Cytauxzoonosis, which can be fatal. The parasite lives in the intestines of flies and can infect cats who eat infected flies. Sometimes the parasites live in ticks, other insects, and warm-blooded hosts (mammals).
Conclusion
These are some of the most effective ways to prevent flies from damaging your outdoor cat’s health. Some of these steps may be more practical than others, but they all offer something worth trying.
As with all parasites, the key thing is prevention. The best way to prevent flies from affecting your cats is by keeping them indoor cats. Fly eggs and larvae can be eliminated by cleaning their food bowls or feeding them dried or canned food without any water in it for two weeks before feeding.
Hi there! My name is Koushik; I am a cat lover. I specialize in writing about pet care & food. I have a wealth of knowledge on cat food niches and related subjects. I have worked in the pet industry for over 5 years and am passionate about helping cat owners provide the best care for their furry friends. With knowledge of cat food and nutrition, I aim to share their insights and help cat owners navigate the world of cat food niches. I enjoy playing with my two cats, reading, and exploring new cat food brands in my free time.
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