A cat's safe place during pest control is outside the treatment area. For a whole-home treatment, take your cat to a trusted friend's home or a boarding facility. Do not bring your cat back until the pesticide label or pest control company says it is safe and the required drying and ventilation time has passed. Some outdoor products require cats to stay away for 24 hours or longer.
The precautions depend on the treatment. Sprays, gels, bait stations, foggers, outdoor chemicals and flea products all have different safety requirements.
Cat Safety During Pest Control at a Glance
| Pest control method | What to do with your cat |
|---|---|
| Indoor spray treatment | Remove your cat before application. Bring it back only after the product has dried and the label's re-entry time has passed, whichever takes longer. |
| Bug bomb or fogger | Remove all animals from the home. Do not leave your cat in another room. |
| Gel or bait stations | Keep your cat away while the stations are placed. Make sure every station is inaccessible afterward. |
| Outdoor spray | Keep your cat indoors or away from the treated area until the product has dried and the label allows re-entry. |
| Granular outdoor treatment | Follow the product label. Some products require watering in and a longer exclusion period. |
| Flea treatment applied to a cat | Use only a product labeled for cats, kittens of the correct age and the correct weight range. Never use a dog flea product on a cat. |
What Should You Do Before Pest Control Arrives?
Remove your cat from every area that will be treated, then confirm the product and re-entry instructions with the pest control company.
Ask What Product Will Be Used
Ask the pest control company for:
- The product name
- The active ingredient
- The areas that will be treated
- Whether the treatment uses a spray, dust, bait, fogger or granular product
- The required pet re-entry time
- Whether windows, fans, heating or air conditioning should be used afterward
- Whether food bowls, water bowls, bedding and toys must be removed
The pesticide label contains the required use and safety instructions. The applicator should also be able to explain the precautions for pets.
Remove Your Cat and Its Belongings
Take your cat out of every room that will be treated. Remove its food, water, bedding, toys and other belongings from the application area. Never allow pesticide to be sprayed near food or water bowls.
For a whole-home treatment, taking your cat off-site is safer than keeping it in one room. Airborne products and fumes can move through the house.
Make Transportation Less Stressful
Put your cat in a secure carrier before the technician begins. Bring familiar bedding, water and any essential medication.
If your cat has respiratory disease, is elderly, pregnant, very young or medically fragile, ask your veterinarian whether boarding or another location is the better option.
How Should You Handle Different Pest Control Treatments?
The treatment method determines how far away your cat must stay and when it can return.
Indoor Sprays and Crack-and-Crevice Treatments
Keep your cat away while the pesticide is being applied. Do not rely on a carrier or closed room if that room is being treated or shares circulating air with the treatment area.
After treatment, wait until:
- The product has dried fully.
- The label's re-entry period has ended.
- The home has been ventilated as directed.
- Any treated surfaces your cat could lick or chew have been handled according to the applicator's instructions.
The label or applicator's instructions take priority over a general drying estimate. National Pesticide Information Center guidance says pets should stay away until the label-specified time has passed or the sprayed pesticide has dried completely, whichever takes longer.
Bug Bombs and Total-Release Foggers
Take your cat completely out of the house when using a fogger. Do not leave it in a bedroom, bathroom, garage or another room that seems untreated.
Foggers release a fine aerosol that can spread through the home. Follow the fogger label for the full evacuation and re-entry procedure, including any instructions involving fish tanks and ventilation systems.
Indoor Bait Stations and Rodenticide
Ask the technician where the bait will be placed. Bait should be secured in a tamper-resistant station or positioned where your cat cannot reach, chew or drag it away.
Rodent and insect baits can attract pets. Never leave loose pellets, blocks or exposed bait where your cat can investigate them.
Outdoor Pest Control
Keep your cat inside during yard treatment. Do not let it walk across treated grass, soil, plants, patios or decks until the product has dried and the label allows access.
Some granular products require watering into the soil and may require pets to stay away for 24 hours or longer. The required period depends on the product, so follow the label rather than assuming a short drying period is enough.
What Should You Check Before Bringing Your Cat Home?
Before returning your cat:
- Confirm that the required re-entry time has passed.
- Check that sprayed areas are dry.
- Ventilate the property as instructed.
- Remove or secure leftover pesticide containers.
- Confirm that bait stations cannot be accessed.
- Put clean food and water bowls back only after the treatment area is safe.
- Follow any additional instructions about treated plants, floors, baseboards or objects your cat may lick or chew.
If the pest control company cannot clearly explain when your cat may return, do not guess. Ask for the product label instructions or contact the company again before re-entry.
Can You Use a Dog Flea Product on a Cat?
No. Use only a flea product labeled for cats and for the correct age and weight range.
Permethrin is especially dangerous for cats. Dog flea products containing permethrin must not be used on cats. Exposure can cause poor coordination, muscle tremors and seizures, which may be life-threatening.
If your home has both dogs and cats, keep the cat away from a recently treated dog until the product is dry if the label requires separation. Cats can groom another animal and ingest pesticide residue.
What Should You Do If Your Cat Is Exposed to Pesticide?
If your cat walks through wet pesticide, licks a treated surface, chews bait or develops symptoms:
- Move the cat away from the exposure.
- Prevent further grooming if you can do so safely.
- Contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control service immediately.
- Keep the product packaging, label, receipt or a photograph of the product available.
- Do not induce vomiting or give food, oil or home remedies unless a veterinarian or poison professional tells you to.
Possible signs of insecticide toxicity include excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, wobbliness, muscle tremors, difficulty breathing and seizures. Breathing difficulty, tremors, seizures, unconsciousness or severe weakness require immediate veterinary care.
If a veterinarian or poison professional tells you to wash pesticide from your cat's fur, mild liquid dish soap and plenty of water may be recommended for some topical exposures. Do not use harsh cleaners, solvents or additional flea products.
In the United States, you can contact:
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435
- National Pesticide Information Center: 800-858-7378
- Your veterinarian or nearest emergency veterinary clinic
If you cannot confirm the product instructions and re-entry time, keep your cat away from the treated area and ask the applicator before bringing it back.