Is Cutter Backyard Bug Control Safe For Pets?

Whether you opt for commercial products or use alternative methods, pest control is an essential task to keep your yard and home bug-free. Using the right products can help repel harmful pests, such as keeping fleas and ticks off your lawn. But when you have pets, it's crucial to do your best to avoid products that could pose harmful risks to your furry loved ones. Cutter is a well-known brand of pesticides and insect repellants, but not all of its products are safe for use around pets. One example is the Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray, which must be used as directed to prevent accidental exposure for pets and humans.

Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray is said to kill fleas, mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects. Not only are these nuisances for your family, but such pests can also potentially spread diseases to your pets. For this reason, you might have considered using this pest control product to keep both the humans and the animals in your household safe. Still, you'll need to keep in mind that this product, like other commercial pesticides, is not safe for use around pets. It contains an active ingredient called lambda-cyhalothrin, a type of chemical pest control insecticide that has been shown to be harmful to rodents and dogs when ingested. 

As such, the company advises that you do not allow your pets or children to play in your yard until the product has completely dried. Furthermore, you should not use Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray if it is forecasted to rain that same day, or before watering your lawn. 

The potential toxicity of Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray may be reason enough for pet owners to steer clear of this product. However, the same brand offers a product that is specifically marketed for homeowners with pets: Cutter Essentials Bug Control Spray. This product is advertised as being safe for use around both pets and children when used as directed, thanks to natural ingredients such as peppermint and cinnamon oils. Keep in mind you may need to use the product more often to maintain its effects, though. While essential oils may help repel insects to a certain extent, their effects are not long-lasting, and they may not work well against ticks. 

If you're considering Cutter Essentials Bug Control Spray over the chemical-based Backyard Bug Control version, it's important that you still follow all directions carefully to get the most out of the product. Like the conventional version, the Essentials Spray is ready-to-use, so you just need to attach it to a garden hose and apply it to your yard. While the company says it is safe for use around pets, including in their play areas, it's still important that you store the product properly to avoid accidental ingestion so that your pets don't get sick. 

Also, be careful to avoid spraying the product on your pets directly. Despite the "natural" ingredients in this product, essential oils can still be toxic for pets who ingest them, so you may still want to make sure this product is completely dry before letting animals wander around your yard.