Looking for the top bed bug killers that are pet friendly?
Perfect! In this Pest Strategies guide you’ll learn:
- What makes a bed bug killer “pet safe”
- Are regular products for bed bug control dangerous for your pets?
- How best to use a bed bug killer around your pets?
- And our top 5 picks!
And much more!
Below is a quick list of all my top picks. Keep scrolling to learn more about my best buying tips and tricks.
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Dr. Infrared Bed Bug Heater
- It kills bed bugs at all life stages
- Large treatment area for a wide variety of items
- Rugged construction
The Dr. Infrared Bed Bug Heater is a portable, chemical-free way to eliminate bed bugs from your home quickly, and it uses no pesticides or toxic foggers.
It works by heating items you place in the unit to a temperature that kills bed bugs. In addition, it’s well suited for luggage, medium-sized personal items, and clothing bags.
This powerful 18 cubic foot bed bug heater can reach a temperature of around 150°F in only a few minutes, making it one of the most efficient ways to kill bed bugs. It also comes with a two-tier rack so that you can treat smaller items as well.
Top 5 Best Pet Safe Bed Bug Killers
Very few cities have stores that stock all these products. Some states also have licensing requirements that restrict the general public from purchasing them, but you can buy all of them online and have them shipped directly to you.
- Ortho Bed Bug Traps
- Dr. Infrared Bed Bug Heater
- HARRIS Bed Bug Killer
- Bed Bug Killer by EcoRaider
- Eco Defense Bed Bug Killer
1. Ortho Bed Bug Traps
Ortho Bed Bug Traps are a favorite to take on long vacation trips. They help monitor possible bed bug infestations in hotel rooms and other locations.
Slip a few under your bed for constant home monitoring. Or simply place several around your house or apartment as part of a comprehensive bed bug strategy.
These easy-to-use bed bug traps come with a unique attractant that will lure them away from your bed, clothing, or linens. They are also safe to use around children and pets.
The Good:
- Simple to use
- Great for monitoring bed bug activity
- Portable and easy to carry along on trips
- Can be used to supplement other treatment methods
The Bad:
- Not meant to be a stand-alone solution to bed bug infestations
Features:
- Simple to use
- Great for monitoring bed bug activity
- Portable and easy to carry along on trips
2. Dr. Infrared Bed Bug Heater
The Dr. Infrared Bed Bug Heater is a portable, chemical-free way to eliminate bed bugs from your home quickly, and it uses no pesticides or toxic foggers.
It works by heating items you place in the unit to a temperature that kills bed bugs. In addition, it’s well suited for luggage, medium-sized personal items, and clothing bags.
This powerful 18 cubic foot bed bug heater can reach a temperature of around 150°F in only a few minutes, making it one of the most efficient ways to kill bed bugs. It also comes with a two-tier rack so that you can treat smaller items as well.
The Good:
- It kills bed bugs at all life stages
- Large treatment area for a wide variety of items
- Rugged construction
- Fully portable
The Bad:
- Not safe for electronic items
Features:
- It kills bed bugs at all life stages
- Large treatment area for a wide variety of items
- Rugged construction
3. HARRIS Bed Bug Killer
Harris Bed Bug Killer uses the active ingredients Imidacloprid, n-Octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide, d-Phenothrin and has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (No. 1021-2597-3) for use at home around people and pets.
It’s an odorless, non-staining formula that comes in a gallon jug. A squeeze trigger nozzle attached to a long hose will pump the premixed solution out the adjustable nozzle. It can be adjusted to a pin stream or wide fan and anything in between.
It kills pyrethroid resistant bed bugs and, to a lesser extent, their eggs. It leaves an active residual for up to 16 weeks after the initial spray. Plus, it kills quickly when it is sprayed directly on bed bugs.
The Good:
- It is easy to use
- It is safe around pets
- Kills pyrethroid resistant bugs
- It has been approved by the EPA
- An odorless, non-staining formula
- It comes with an included spray nozzle
The Bad:
- Leaves a chemical residue for 16 weeks
Features:
- It is safe and easy to use around pets
- Kills pyrethroid resistant bugs
- An odorless, non-staining formula
4. Bed Bug Killer by EcoRaider
This is a botanical-based solution containing geranol, cedarwood oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, glycerol, monooleate, silica hydrate, and water. It blocks Octopamine receptors that only exist in invertebrates, creatures with no spinal column, including insects.
It kills nymphs and adult bed bugs for up to two weeks after the initial treatment, then you’ll have to spray again. Continue spraying every two weeks for two months to give all the eggs a chance to hatch and be exposed to the solution.
Because it’s all-natural, it is safe to use around children and pets. It is non-toxic, has a strong minty smell to it, and is easy to use in its 16-ounce spray bottle.
The Good:
- Non-toxic
- Easy to use
- Lasts for up to two weeks at a time
- Safe to use around pets and children
- Attacks specific invertebrate receptors
The Bad:
- Requires multiple treatments to kill all the bed bugs
Features:
- Lasts for up to two weeks at a time
- Safe to use around pets and children
- Attacks specific invertebrate receptors
5. Eco Defense Bed Bug Killer
Eco Defense uses the active ingredients Sodium Lauryl 4.00% and Geranium oil 0.50%, both of which are registered as FIFRA Act section 25B, compliant ingredients. The rest of the ingredients are distilled water, citrus acid, and ethyl lactate.
This is a fast knockdown that kills bed bugs and nymphs on contact then vanishes as it dries. It doesn’t leave any harsh chemicals behind and has no residual effect on insects.
It comes in a 16-ounce spray bottle and won’t stain your clothes or furniture fabrics.
You can apply it directly to sheets, mattresses, and bed covers without worry. There are no fumes and hardly any noticeable odor.
It is made in the United States, specifically in Florida. It also comes with a 100% money-back guarantee.
The Good:
- No harsh chemicals
- All-natural ingredients
- Simple and easy to use
- Kills bed bugs on contact
- 100% money-back guarantee
- Won’t stain your clothes or furniture
The Bad:
- Doesn’t kill anything after it dries
- It has to be sprayed directly on bugs to kill them
Features:
- All-natural ingredients
- Simple and easy to use
- Kills bed bugs on contact
What Are Pet Safe Bed Bug Killers?
If you think you’ve got bed bugs, don’t panic. You can eliminate them without endangering your pets or your family.
Dr. Tina Wismer of the ASPCA wants to remind people that bed bugs don’t live on the body of their host like ticks or lice.
They primarily feed on humans instead of cats and dogs and hide in cracks and crevices during the day. They try to remain as close to where people sleep as possible, often in the seams of mattresses or box springs.
Since they attack primarily humans and don’t stay on the host, it means you can use a wide variety of methods to eradicate bed bugs without subjecting your pets to harsh chemicals and dangerous long-term residues
What Are The Different Types of Pet Safe Killers For Bed Bugs?
The primary types of bed bug killers that are safe for pets are heat, traps, botanical pesticides, and essential oils.
- Heat is self-explanatory and traps are usually sticky boards. Botanicals and essential oils, on the other hand, are similar but distinct from each other, with some overlap.
- Botanical pesticides are naturally occurring chemicals that are extracted from plants or minerals. They’re also known as natural insecticides. Some, such as pyrethrum are extracted from chrysanthemum flowers. Despite being natural extracts, they’re not always pet safe.
- Essential oils are plant extracts but only some of them act as pesticides. Most of them are known for their repellent properties rather than killing insects. The concentration is what usually determines how safe they are for your pets.
What Makes A Bed Bug Killer Pet Friendly?
Pet friendly or pet safe bed bug killers don’t leave harsh chemical residues after they have been used. As soon as the treatment is finished, your pets can safely return to the treated area.
Pet friendly bed bug killers don’t have to be used directly on your pets. The use of collars, drops, and lotions all suffer from the fact that pets lick and/or scratch, often ingesting chemicals that are dangerous for them.
Are Regular Bed Bug Killers Unsafe For Dogs And Cats?
Many pesticides, such as Deltamethrin, can have strong adverse effects on dogs and cats, such as excessive drooling, coordination problems, muscle tremors, and vomiting. This happens if they lick or sniff products containing Deltamethrin as the active ingredient.
Other “regular” pesticides can have similar effects on your pets even when those pesticides are not considered dangerous to humans.
