Tick prevention

[ArlyA]

Permethrin is highly toxic to cats.

Ya so don't let your cat drink from the spray bottle? Eat your clothing?

 

[EscapedSuburbia]

Permethrin is highly toxic to cats.

Only when wet. Your clothes with dried permethrin are fine.

 

[John_Mc]

Permethrin is highly toxic to cats.

In it's liquid form it's toxic to cats. Once dried on the clothing, it's not a problem. Our cat regularly sleeps on my clothing - either the stuff I sprayed myself or the factory-treated stuff I buy and has no issues at all.

 

[John_Mc]

Has anyone tried making tick tubes? Supposedly you soak cotton balls in permethrin then stuff them into tubes from toilet paper or paper towel rolls. You then place them in places mice frequent. The idea is the mice take the cotton balls to make nests and end up getting permethrin on their fur which kills ticks. Internet lore claims they significantly reduce tick populations. I bought the supplies to give it a try this Spring but haven't gotten around to it yet.

I have not tried it myself, but a couple of local friends have. It seems very effective in reducing the tick population around their yard.

 

[John_Mc]

The permethrin you spray on your clothing works well. Once dried on, it lasts through 4 or 5 washes. (I could never keep track of the washes, so when I was treating my own clothing, I would just retreat all my "work in the woods" clothing on the first of each month during tick season.

I've switched to using Insect Shield factory treated clothing. The treatment lasts through about 70 washes (by that time, the clothing is starting to wear out anyway.) It's convenient not to have to worry about when the next treatment is due. I've been using various factory treated clothing for more than 10 years. I just don't find ticks on me when working in the woods. (In contrast, lately I take my dog for a walk in those woods and find 8-10 ticks crawling on her.)

They are always running sales. Right now they are offering 25% off women's clothing for their Mother's Day sale. They usually run a sale on men's clothing for Father's Day. Basically, unless you are in a rush, ll of there stuff goes on sale sooner or later.

https://www.insectshield.com/

 

[oosik]

I live way out in the country. Ticks are plentiful here. I can feel them crawling on me and pick them off. A crawling tick will wake me out of a sound sleep.