Is Boric Acid Safe Around Cats?

Cat safety and health

Boric acid, a boron compound, was once used as a treatment for diaper rash, but this practice was discouraged after doctors found it to be unsafe because of its toxicity. Today, it is more commonly used in powder form as an insecticide against fleas, cockroaches and ants. It's considered safe for cats, but there are some precautions to take.

Considerations

Apply only minimal amounts of boric acid when using it inside the house. Over-treatment can cause respiratory and skin problems for both animals and humans.

Precautions

Do not allow your cat access to the area during treatment. Boric acid powder is highly concentrated and tends to hang in the air during application. This also may cause breathing and skin problems.

Carpet Treatment

Remove water dishes, food bowls, cat toys and other items before you begin. Apply a minimal layer of powder, and leave it on the carpet for 24 to 48 hours.

Ingestion

When using boric acid as bug bait, place the container in an area the cat cannot access. Boric acid is not considered toxic if ingested, but large or repeated doses can cause gastrointestinal tract irritation.

Warning

Do not use boric acid directly on a cat. Since cats use their tongue and paws to groom themselves, they could ingest a fairly large amount causing eye or throat irritations.

References

• Boron compound
• Carpet treatment
• Ingestion by cat