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I have never killed one yet! :-)
I do advise my clients that whilst all products that I apply can be considered (as much as possible) pet safe and in fact I usually apply the same treatments on my own lawns (two dogs and two cats) they have never encountered any issues. However sensible precautions should be followed.
If possible try keeping the pets (and humans, i.e. no picnics) off the lawn for N number of hours or until the product has been rained in or as applicable. Each product would have slightly different requirements.
The problem with using a high iron (FE) content is more the risk of staining, the cat walks over the area just sprayed and then onto the patio or cream carpet. I have only ever seen this happen once!
The worst product I have used that had an effect on dogs was the organic granule feed – they wouldn’t stop licking, eating and rolling in it!! Smell and a little sick but no adverse effect.
If you are unsure try talking to your supplier for guidance but good luck, I asked the same question a year or two back and whilst they said for the bulk of the treatments I applied for home use that they were considered pet safe they wouldn't put anything in writing.
Check the MSDS data sheet and product label – this will tell you how harmful the product is to humans and environment etc. one can assume that the same risks apply to pets, so no spraying the cats in their eyes.
Pete,
My own cats stay clear when I've treated our lawns with similar Scotts products and suspect their extreme sense of smell over-rules any "curiosity". I tend to water-in as soon as possible.
Would suggest you ask for a copy of the Product Sheet & Safety Data Sheet (SDS) that must be available from supplier or Producer.
At least that shows due diligence and you could give a copy yo your client/neighbour.
Would be useful to hear if you get any clear guidance...
I have a daft cat - which will sniff anything and sit next to it confused FE included and has never come to any harm despite spending its summer living in a shed full of the stuff. Its safe, as it has no appeal for cats so they wont even taste it to see what it is.
Dogs on the other hand - I;ve seen them licking lawns after fe application, but then again, ive seen dogs eat horse muck out of borders ive just spread it on.
Oh the things I have seen - dogs licking cow pats off the road in the village I grew up in.
The thing I worry about most is applying lawn chemicals where the owner has rabbits and the run is moved around the lawn. I knew someone who moved to a rented house and took their rabbits with them. After a couple of weeks of the rabbits being kept on the lawn both of them were dead. They never found out what killed them.
High N feeds will kill rabbits - Ive seen alot od dead rabbits on pasture after Prilled urea is applied, apprently they like to eat the prills and it does something awful to their gut - dead pretty damn quick, and a very - "liquidy" death.
That said the same prilled urea is eaten by cows and many farmers feed Urea prill fertilizer direct to cows and sheep - so what works for one animal can be deadly to another.
http://www.dairy-direct.co.uk/?page_id=324
I contacted Thomas Elliot direct and they got back to me very promptly with this reply.
There are no health issues to cats (or any animals) if they stray onto an area treated with Thomas Elliott Mosskiller. It may be beneficial to keep the cats away from the treated area though, if possible, if only to improve the product's effectiveness, i.e, so as not to disturb where it has been placed.
Make sure that you water the area after treatment if no rain falls within 48 hours.