Are Pest Treatments Safe for My Pets and Family in Cambridge?

The products that control pests work because they affect living things. That is the reason to be careful, not a reason to panic. Handled properly, with the right product in the right place and clear instructions followed, treatment can be planned around the children and animals in a home. The part that makes the difference is you knowing exactly what is happening.

What We Tell You Before a Treatment

Before any work begins, you will hear from us, in plain words:

• What is being used - the type of product and why it suits this pest
• Where it is going - which rooms, and which parts of each room
• When rooms can be used again - and whether anything needs to dry or settle first
• What to do with pets - where they should be during and after the visit, and for how long
• Anything to prepare - clearing access, covering items, washing bedding

What to Tell Us When You Book

The plan depends on who lives with you. Tell us about:

• Babies, toddlers, and anyone pregnant in the household
• Anyone with asthma, allergies or a respiratory condition
• Every animal in the home, including cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, reptiles and fish
• Pets that spend time in the loft, garage or garden where treatment may go
• Any treatment you have already tried, including sprays and powders

This is not a formality. Some products used against insects are handled very differently in a home with cats, and fish and other aquatic animals are particularly sensitive to many insecticides. Birds kept indoors need their own arrangements. Knowing in advance lets us choose the approach and give you the right instructions.

How Different Treatments Are Handled

Rats and mice

Rodent bait goes into tamper-resistant boxes or places that children and pets cannot reach, and we tell you where every point is. Do not move or open them. If you are worried a pet has eaten something it should not, ring your vet straight away and tell them what was used. For the rodent services themselves, see rat control and mice control.

Insect treatments in rooms

For pests such as fleas, bed bugs and carpet moths, a treatment is applied to the affected rooms. You are told how long to keep people and pets out, and when the room can be used again. Fish tanks usually need covering, and you may be asked to switch off an air pump for a period; we tell you if that applies. Our post on how long flea treatment takes explains what happens in the days after.

Wasp nests

Treatment goes into the nest entrance, and the main advice is to keep children and pets away from that area while the wasps die off. See our wasp nest removal service for how that works.

Pets and Your Vet

If you have a question about a particular animal, especially one that is elderly, unwell, pregnant or very young, speak to your vet before the visit. Tell them what pest is being treated and we will give you the product details to pass on.

For fleas, the animal and the house are treated separately. Pet treatments come from your vet; the house treatment is ours. Do not use a household product on an animal.

The instructions are the safety measure. Follow them, and ask when you are unsure.

Health Worries and When to Get Help

If you or anyone in the household has a health question about a treatment, speak to a pharmacist or your GP, and have the product details to hand. If someone shows signs of a severe allergic reaction, for example after a wasp sting, such as swelling of the face or throat or difficulty breathing, call 999.

Every treatment is guaranteed: if the problem comes back within 14 days of treatment, we return and re-treat free of charge. That matters here too, because it means nobody is tempted to fill the gap with shop-bought sprays of their own. Prices for every service are on the pest control cost page, or call 01223 902388 to talk through your household before booking.