How to Keep Bugs Out of Your Pets Food and Water Bowls

There is nothing more annoying than finding bugs in your pet's food or water bowls. Not only is it disgusting, it is could also be very unhealthy for your pet. You never know what kind of dreadful diseases bugs are carrying. If the bugs have easy access to your pet's bowls, this could be an ongoing problem. It does not matter if you keep the bowls inside or outside, bugs have a way of finding them no matter where you put them. Read on to learn how to keep bugs out of your pet's food and water bowls.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bowl Stand(s)
• Small Plastic Containers with Lids
• Cardboard
• Dish Soap
• Water

1. Find the best location. Check around your house for a good spot to set the bowls. Try to not place the food and water bowls in an area that is high-traffic or near any windows and doors. You do not want the bowls in a high-traffic area to prevent them from being kicked and away from the places bugs are most likely to enter. If you have your bowls outside, try to find the best location possible.

2. Purchase the right bowl stand (or often called: racks, feeders, or diners). Find a bowl stand that holds both water and food (or you could buy two separate ones for each) and one that is elevated by four distinct legs. There are several options available to choose from. Find one that will work best for your pet. The only requirement is for it to have four individual legs.

3. Get your plastics together. Either locate or buy four small plastic containers (or something similar) that the legs of the stand will fit into without touching the sides. Make sure there is at least 1/8 “ of space between the leg and the side of the container. You can use the tops or bottoms of the containers, whichever works best.

4. Set up your defenses. Fill the containers with soapy water. A drop of dish soap in each one will do and it is safer for your pet to use less. You do not need to fill them completely full, but you should check them daily to see if they need more soapy water added to them.

5. Check to be sure your pets will not get the soapy water on them. Watch your pet a few times when they use the new bowls to be sure they are not getting into any of the soapy water. If they have long hair that gets into it, use the cardboard to create a wall around the plastic containers. Most times if you use the containers (in place of the lids), this will prevent access to the soapy water. The main thing to keep in mind is to not let any of the cardboard touch the legs of the stand to create contact (or a bridge for the bugs) with it.

Tips & Warnings

• The bugs will not be able to get to the food and water bowls, but they will still try. Replace the soapy water when there are several dead bugs in it.