Flies lay their eggs on animal manure, so they are attracted to your cat's litter box. Keeping flies out of the house can combat a lot of the problem, but once the pests are in, you need to get rid of them permanently -- and sometimes a flyswatter isn't enough.
Step 1
Hang fly strips around the litter box. This inexpensive trap is basically a sheet of sticky paper, covered in an attractive scent. When the flies check it out, they get trapped and eventually die. Discard the paper when it is full.
Step 2
Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spray the flies on and around the litter box. Rubbing alcohol is an effective and inexpensive fly killer, and you probably already have it at home.
Step 3
Use a food-grade fly spray on the flies in the litter box. Made from concentrations of plant extracts or oils, it is safe enough to use in restaurants around food; it will kill flies without hurting your cat. Numerous brands are available at restaurant stores or even garden centers.
Step 4
Set up a baited fly trap near the litter box, but where Kitty cannot access it -- such as up on a shelf or cupboard. These can be baited with food -- such as ripe fruit -- and also trap the flies for disposal. You can purchase these traps at garden centers and home improvement stores, or make them at home.
References
Resources
Tips
- Scoop out the litter box on a regular basis -- at least one to two times a day -- to remove anything of interest to flies.
Warnings
- Avoid spraying rubbing alcohol when your cat is in the area of the litter box. Although rubbing alcohol will not hurt your kitty if he gets it on his fur or paws, you do not want to spray it in his eyes by accident.
Writer Bio
Lori Lapierre holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science in public relations/communications. For 17 years, she worked for a Fortune 500 company before purchasing a business and starting a family. She is a regular freelancer for "Living Light News," an award-winning national publication. Her past writing experience includes school news reporting, church drama, in-house business articles and a self-published mystery, "Duty Free Murder."