Is Cockroach Spray Harmful to Cats?

Cockroach spray is a common way to get rid of roaches, but is it toxic for cats? The answer is yes, but there are ways to keep roaches at bay without putting your cat in danger. One option is to use catnip, a natural roach repellent that contains the active ingredient nepetalactone, which is completely nontoxic. To use this technique, you should pinpoint where the roaches are congregating, and place small sachets or clumps of catnip around. Cats will be able to move the toys before the roaches will, which is an excellent deterrent.

You should also keep your cat away from areas where you’ve used a pesticide, and you should keep them out of the treated areas for at least two to three hours. The amount of time you need to isolate your cat depends on the chemical used and what your exterminator recommends. If you’ve used a more concentrated spray, you can keep your cat outside for about 30 minutes or an hour after the spray has been applied. Just be sure to keep your cat away from the area where the pesticide has been applied, and make sure it has completely dried before letting your cat out.

While cockroaches are pesky insects, they’re not dangerous to cats. Typically, they’ll make themselves scarce when they see a cat or other larger animal. This is because they see these bigger animals as potential predators. Consequently, they’ll run for cover as soon as possible.