Yes. Gnats are attracted to litter boxes. Gnats don’t just feed on plant juices, they also feed on animal blood, and they are attracted to pets.
Cats, dogs and other animals are commonly attacked by gnats. As a result, many pet owners have to deal with gnats in their litter boxes.
Well, I’m going to address both of these questions in this article. I’ll also discuss the best way to keep them away from your cat’s litter box and whether the gnats are harmful.
Before we discuss the matter of how to get rid of gnats in litter boxes, let’s first see what causes gnats to be attracted to litter boxes in the first place.
What attracts gnats to litter boxes?
1. Litter
Certain types of litter attract gnats. The most common litter that attracts gnats is moist, clumping clay litter.
This type of litter is made of sodium bentonite. The sodium bentonite reacts with the cat’s urine and forms a gel. This gel gives off an odour that attracts gnats.
2. Pet Waste
Pet waste is another great source of food for the gnats. They feed on the excrement of animals. The breakdown of the pet waste by the bacteria in the litter box allows the gnats to feed on it.
Therefore, if you have a cat and you don’t clean the litter box often, you can expect gnats to come to your house.
3. Dark and Moist Environment
Gnats are attracted to dark and moist places. Moisture is an important factor that attracts gnats to little boxes. In nature, the gnats hide in damp places during the day and come out at night to lay their eggs.
They will lay eggs if there is enough moisture, and the cycle will continue. So, if you have a cat, you should ensure that the litter box is not in a dark and damp place.
4. Strong Odours
Gnats are attracted to strong odours. This is because they can detect the odour of blood, urine and faeces by using their sensitive noses. If you have a cat, you should clean the litter box often. Otherwise, you will have to deal with the gnats.
How to Get Rid of Gnats in Litter Boxes?
1. Clean Litter Box Often
If you have a cat, the best way to get rid of gnats is to clean the litter box often. This is because the gnats usually lay their eggs in the cat’s litter box. The best way to get rid of gnats is by cleaning them daily.
2. Watch Out For Urine Odour
Another way to get rid of gnats is by watching out for urine odour. If you have a cat and the litter box is not cleaned often, you can expect gnats to come. So if you have to get rid of gnats, you should often clean the litter box.
3. Keep the Environment Clean
If you are a cat owner, you should keep an eye on the litter box. This is because cats tend to urinate in the litter box. If you smell any urine odour, it means that your cat has urinated in the litter box.
4. Watch Out for Moisture
Gnats are attracted to dark and moist places. So if you have a cat, you should make sure that there is no moisture in the litter box.
If there is no moisture in the litter box, it will be hard for the gnats to find it. This is because they are attracted to moisture.
5. Fix Potential Entries
If you have a cat and you have a litter box, you should make sure that there are no potential entries for gnats.
This is because the gnats will enter the box through these potential entries. The gnats are very tiny, and they can easily enter the box through these potential entries.
How are Gnats Harmful?
1. They Can Transmit Diseases
If you have a cat and you are not aware of the gnats, they can transmit diseases to your cat. This is because they feed on the faeces of cats. The gnats can also transmit diseases to people by coming into contact with them.
2. They Can Cause Allergies
Gnats can cause allergies to humans. This is because the gnats look like small mites. If you have a cat and you are allergic to mites, you should make sure that you do not have gnats in your house.
3. They Can Cause Skin Rashes
Gnats can cause skin rashes in humans. This is because gnats bite, and then they feed on human blood.
Conclusion
We conclude that, yes gnats are attracted to litter boxes (as are cockroaches attracted to litter boxes). This is because they love places with litter, places with pet waste, dark and moist environments and places with a strong odour.
We have also discussed several ways how you can get rid of gnats in small boxes and here are the ways;
- Clean litter box often
- watch out for urine odour.
- keep the environment clean
- watch out for moisture
- fix potential entries