Pets are great companions and provide us with unconditional love. But did you know that they can also attract pests? Our pet cat or dog often attracts unwanted guests like mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and other bugs, which can harm our pets and ourselves. Pests can also be attracted to their food bowls, toys, bedding, litter trays, etc., so these areas must be kept clean at all times to reduce the risk of attracting insects.
To prevent this from happening, we need to take the necessary precautions to ensure our animals stay pest-free. This post will give you some useful tips on how to keep your beloved pets safe from pests!
What Pests Are Attracted to Your Cats and Dogs?
Are you wondering what pests are attracted to your cats or dogs? Here we list the types of pests that may be attracted to your pet.
Ticks: Ticks feed on both humans and animals by feeding on their blood. They usually crawl up from brush, tall grasses, and leaves as they wait for a host to pass by.
Fleas: Fleas live in homes with pets and feed on the blood of the animal and human hair and skin cells. They can also jump onto people who visit the home with a pet if not properly groomed and walk around on them during grooming sessions.
Mites: Mites thrive in moist areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements that have high humidity. Most pet mites stay on the animal and only jump onto humans when they feel neglected or are being excessively stroked though some may live on a human for a while if not groomed properly.
Mosquitoes: Since mosquitoes feed on both humans and animals, they are naturally attracted to pets. They usually bite around the areas of ears, necks, toes, genitals and anus.
Fleas: While adult fleas stay on your pet feeding on their blood, flea larvae and pupae live in your pet’s bedding. They may also live around the home in dark moist areas like under couches and furniture and behind baseboards and pictures on walls.
Cockroaches: Cockroaches get attracted to pets when they eat food crumbs that fall from tables or floors. They may also crawl into your pet’s bedding or favorite hiding place.
Rodents: Rodents are usually attracted to pets when they eat the food left inside dog bowls and litter boxes. They can also get attracted if they find shelter in dog houses or under rugs, cabinets, furniture and closets on the floor.
Birds: Birds such as raptors, crows, and ravens will get attracted to pets when they see shiny objects on them like a dog tag, collar, or a pet’s bell.
Ants: Ants are naturally attracted to dogs and cats, especially if their food area is near their bedding or favorite hiding place.
Why Are Pests Attracted to Our Pets?
Pests, such as mosquitos and rodents, are attracted to dogs and cats because their body temperature is higher than other animals.
They are drawn to the warmth that their skin emits. Also, it is thought that pets release pheromones that attract specific species of insects.
Mosquitos are drawn to the carbon dioxide dogs, and cats exhale. Mosquitoes typically find their prey by sensing heat, moisture, and CO2 in the surrounding atmosphere. They use these to find their prey.
Rodents are also attracted to dogs and cats for these same reasons. Rodents that carry rabies tend to be more aggressive when they are infected with this disease. They can even attempt to bite humans to transmit the virus.
Rodents are also attracted to pet food that has been left outside. This is because they are searching for food containing protein, salt, and fat, all found in animal feed. Pet food is often made with these components, so rodents will search near homes where pets reside. In addition, the substance within the food attracts them to it, so they will remain close.
Pests are attracted to cats and dogs because their urine contains ammonia, which draws them to the areas where they have been. Cats and dogs tend to urinate in places they frequent, such as behind bushes or under shrubs. The ammonia from cat and dog urine can also endanger ants. This endangerment is usually the reason why ants swarm the areas that have been urinated on. This action occurs because ants are interested in the food particles that are left behind. If the ants are extremely sensitive to ammonia, this can be a reason to become elevated.
Birds are also drawn to dogs and cats because birds feed on parasites. So when a dog or cat is infested with these creatures, birds will come near to pick them off the dog or cat’s body.
In summary, when you have pets that live within your home, you may see an increase in the number of insects that enter your home or property. In addition, if you notice that insects and rodents come very close to your pets, there is a good chance that they are drawn in because of the heat and scent that pets emit.
How to Get Rid of Pest From Getting Close to Our Pest?
One of the ways to prevent your pet from getting infested with pests is by grooming them regularly. Another way to avoid pest infestation in your pet is by keeping their living area clean. Keeping your home clean and frequently checking for pest infestations are great ways to prevent a major pest infestation. In addition, make sure to carefully check pet bedding, tunnels, and toys for any trace of pests. A third way to safeguard your pet from pests is by using products that will kill the pests in the household.
If you catch a pest infestation early, it can be relatively easy to handle. However, when pests are left untreated for too long, they will multiply and cause widespread damage. Once this happens, your pest problem may become out of control and difficult to resolve. Contacting a professional exterminator is one of the best ways to get rid of a pest infestation.