Looking for the top mosquito killers that are pet friendly?
Perfect! In this Pest Strategies guide you’ll learn:
What constitutes a “pet safe” mosquito killer
The different types of pet friendly killers for mosquitoes
Our top 5 picks for you to choose from
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
Summit Mosquito Dunks
- Each dunk lasts for 30 days
- The bacteria die if your pet ingests it
- Each dunk covers 100 square feet of water
We chose Summit Mosquito Dunks because it is completely safe for people, pets, fish, and birds. The active ingredient is a bacteria that specifically attacks mosquitoes, blackflies, and midges. The larvae eat it and die within a few hours.
But, and this is part we really like, people and pets have natural acids in the stomach that kill the various strains of the bacteria before it can cause any infection.
This means you can put these dunks in Koi ponds and other bodies of water where mosquitoes breed and without worrying about your pets drinking the water. It won’t hurt them, but it will quickly kill the mosquito larvae and keep on killing them.
Top 6 Best Pet Safe Mosquito Killers
Are you short on time or just want a quick answer?
- Summit Mosquito Dunks
- TIKI Brand Bitefighter Torch Fuel
- Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer
- Wondercide Natural Products – EcoTreat
- Terro No Mess Mosquito Larvacide Pouches
- Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray
1. Summit Mosquito Dunks
This pack of 20 mosquito dunks is completely safe for your pets. The active ingredient is a bacteria, thuringiensis subspecies israelensis, that specifically attacks mosquitoes, blackflies, and midges. The mosquito larvae eat it and die within a few hours.
Mammals, such as you and your pets have natural acids in the stomach that kill the various strains of the bacteria before it can cause any infection. This means it is safe to use in pools of water your pets might drink out of. It won’t hurt them.
Each dunk will last about 30 days, covering about 100 square feet of water. You can safely use it in Koi ponds, rain barrels, birdbaths, and other bodies of standing water. It only attacks the larvae, so you need to put them out early in the season.
The Good:
- Easy to use
- Kills mosquito larvae
- Each dunk lasts for 30 days
- The bacteria die if your pet ingests it
- Each dunk covers 100 square feet of water
The Bad:
- Won’t kill adult mosquitoes
Features:
- Each dunk lasts for 30 days
- The bacteria die if your pet ingests it
- Each dunk covers 100 square feet of water
2. TIKI Brand Bitefighter Torch Fuel
The active ingredient in Tiki Torch fuel is citronella. It’s a naturally occurring pesticide found in some varieties of grass. The components in it are citronellol, citronellal, and geraniol. The FDA identifies it as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS).
This means it’s so safe it doesn’t require any special labeling or warnings. That’s good news for you and your pets. Just light the torch and relax as the pleasant grassy fumes fill the air, driving away those irritating little biters.
You’ll need to get some Tiki torches to burn it in, but they’ll last for years with proper care. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work well in windy conditions.
The Good:
- Easy to use
- Fumes have a pleasant odor
- It’s completely safe for your pets
- Drives mosquitoes away for hours at a time
The Bad:
- You need to buy torches to use the fuel in
- Doesn’t work well when the wind is blowing
Features:
- Fumes have a pleasant odor
- It’s completely safe for your pets
- Drives mosquitoes away for hours at a time
3. Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer
Mosquitoes are drawn to light, particularly UV (ultraviolet) lights that humans can’t see. Bug zappers take advantage of this natural attraction to lure mosquitoes into an electrified grid which then electrocutes them.
The 40-watt bulb in this zapper lures mosquitoes in a one acre radius. Position it between the area you’re protecting – your yard or patio – and the area the mosquitoes are coming from. They’ll reach it first, venture into it, and die.
You’ll need to get an extension cord to reach the perimeter of your yard and the trap requires occasional cleaning, but it is designed for outdoor use and is weather resistant. Keep it out of reach of your pets and it’s perfectly safe for them.
The Good:
- Strong 40-watt bulb
- Plug it in and set it up
- Designed for outdoor use
- Kills mosquitoes on contact
- Lures in mosquitoes from an acre away
The Bad:
- Requires an extension cord
- Collection tray needs to be cleaned
Features:
- Strong 40-watt bulb
- Designed for outdoor use
- Kills mosquitoes on contact
4. Wondercide Natural Products – EcoTreat
This concentrate uses Cedarwood Oil, Sesame Oil, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate as the active ingredients to kill ants, fleas, flies, chiggers, chinch bugs, crickets, gnats, Japanese beetles, mosquitoes, no-see-ums, roaches, scorpions, ticks, and more.
This 16-ounce bottle of concentrate will treat 10,000 square feet of yard. Best of all, there are no wait times for re-entry like with other pesticides. It’s safe for your pets as soon as you’ve finished spraying. You’ll need to get a handheld pump-up sprayer.
It requires some mixing but there are no harsh chemicals or fragrances. It has a pleasant plant-based odor. It’s made right here in the United States.
The Good:
- Made in America
- All-natural ingredients
- No wait times for re-entry
- Kills dozens of different insects
- 16-ounce bottle covers 10,000 square feet
The Bad:
- Requires mixing
- You’ll need a handheld sprayer
Features:
- No wait times for re-entry
- Kills dozens of different insects
- 16-ounce bottle covers 10,000 square feet
5. Terro No Mess Mosquito Larvacide Pouches
Terro makes mosquito control easy with these microbial insecticide pouches. The active ingredient kills developing mosquitoes when added to standing water.
They can be safely used in:
- Fish ponds
- Rain barrels
- Decorative fountains
- Gutters
- Birdbaths
Unlike competing brands, these Terro Mosquito Pouches are convenient to use. Simply drop one into any stagnant water pond, and the powerful larvacide does the rest.
The pouches are entirely self-contained. So, you stay dust and chemical-free while using them. In addition, they are EPA-approved and safe for the environment.
The Good:
- Easy to use
- Long-lasting residual action
- Kills mosquitoes before becoming adults
- EPA-registered and approved
The Bad:
- May take up to a week to start seeing results
Features:
- Easy to use
- Long-lasting residual action
- Kills mosquitoes before becoming adults
6. Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray
Terro makes mosquito control easy with these microbial insecticide pouches. The active ingredient kills developing mosquitoes when added to standing water.
They can be safely used in:
- Fish ponds
- Rain barrels
- Decorative fountains
- Gutters
- Birdbaths
Unlike competing brands, these Terro Mosquito Pouches are convenient to use. Simply drop one into any stagnant water pond, and the powerful larvacide does the rest.
The pouches are entirely self-contained. So, you stay dust and chemical-free while using them. In addition, they are EPA-approved and safe for the environment.
The Good:
- Easy to use
- Long-lasting residual action
- Kills mosquitoes before becoming adults
- EPA-registered and approved
The Bad:
- May take up to a week to start seeing results
Features:
- Contains Natural peppermint oil
- Safe for use around trees, gardens, and pets
- Includes hose sprayer attachment
What Are Pet Safe Mosquito Killers?
A mosquito killer is any substance or device for killing mosquitoes. It could be a mosquito repellent (many of which also kill mosquitoes), a mosquito trap, a mosquito zapper (there’s a difference), or an insecticidal mosquito spray.
Mosquito killers can be a natural insect repellent made from essential oils such as peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. It can also be a natural product with bacteria that target mosquito larvae.
Any product that meets the above requirement(s) is a mosquito killer. One that does it without endangering your pets is a pet safe mosquito killer.
Combining the two is where the rubber meets the road. If you’ve got pets, you need both to combat mosquitoes.
Eliminating mosquitoes is important because they carry and transmit so many diseases, such as West Nile, Dengue Fever, Zika, and others. The CDC lists a whole page of dangerous diseases carried by mosquitoes.
For your pets, they can also carry things such as heartworms. In short, mosquito bites carry a whole raft of infectious diseases. You need to stop them in a way that doesn’t present additional dangers to your furry companions though.
What Are The Different Types of Pet Safe Killers For Mosquitoes?
There are several methods available for killing mosquitoes that don’t entail risk to your pets.
Mosquito dunks are absolutely the safest way to kill mosquitoes without endangering your pets. Your pets can even drink the water the dunks are in. That’s safe!
Bug zappers are a great way to kill mosquitoes. Even though they’re electrical, they normally hang from a stand or rafter where they’re out of reach of your pets.
Citronella torches are also a pet-friendly way to kill mosquitoes. The fumes gently fill the air, creating and maintaining a protective “bubble” around you. The small flames are high and out of reach of your pets.
Natural products with essential oils and organic products have been used for hundreds of years to drive away or kill mosquitoes, but won’t hurt your pets in the process.
The use of pyrethroid-based insecticides, with proper precautions, can also be a safe method of mosquito control.
What Makes A Mosquito Killer Pet Friendly?
Effective mosquito control that doesn’t create risks for your pets or has risks that are easy to mitigate, would be considered pet-friendly. A few examples will suffice.
- Your pets can’t reach the pest control method while it’s in operation
- Using a technique in the presence of your pets doesn’t endanger them
- Allowing them access to a treated area without waiting
- Allowing them access to a treated area as soon as it’s dry
Any method that is suspended in the air like bug zappers or citronella torches would be a method or technique that is out of reach of cats and dogs, in addition to being safe to use when they’re around.
If you’re using a spray made of all-natural ingredients, you can often allow your pets to enter the treated area even when it’s still wet or soon after. Most pyrethrin insecticides are pet safe as soon as they’ve dried.
Are Regular Mosquito Killers Unsafe For Dogs And Cats?
We haven’t included any lotions such as DEET, Cutter, or Picaridin because they require direct contact with the skin. Many pets are sensitive to the chemicals in them and you should only use those that are specifically made for pets.
A fogger will kill many mosquitoes but the results are short-term and the air is filled with hazardous fumes while you’re fogging. Cats and dogs are vulnerable to air-borne chemicals.
Many mosquito killers that are used as a yard spray can be safe for pets if they are used correctly, and we included one of them as an honorable mention.
