Glycosulphate weed killer and cats

[FenceFurniture]

There is an enormous weed problem on this property, and it's just not possible to keep up with it all by hand weeding (otherwise that's all I would ever do).

In certain areas I would like to spray some glycosulphete (Round Up etc), bit i have three cats who habitually eat some greens in order to barf up their fur balls.

It's no big deal to keep them inside for a couple of days, but I wonder if that is long enough? They'll also roll around and get stuff on their coats, and then groom themselves.

Any input would be appreciated.

Cheers
Brett

[artme]

Get in touch with your vet.

[Bushmiller]

There is an enormous weed problem on this property, and it's just not possible to keep up with it all by hand weeding (otherwise that's all I would ever do).

In certain areas I would like to spray some glycosulphete (Round Up etc), bit i have three cats who habitually eat some greens in order to barf up their fur balls.

It's no big deal to keep them inside for a couple of days, but I wonder if that is long enough? They'll also roll around and get stuff on their coats, and then groom themselves.

Any input would be appreciated.

Cheers
Brett

Brett

This a difficult one. (I think the active ingredient is actually glyphosate, but I know what you mean). The company, Monsanto, maintain that there is minimal residual in the soil and that after contact with water and a short period of time the product is effectively neutralised. They apparantly say that mammals are unaffected by it. The caveat is we are talking about a multi- national chemical company :( .

There was somebody in our local region who drank some Roundup to prove a point, but he went bonkers so it is difficult to get a sensible response to questions now. (Only joking - about the bonkers bit).

I wouldn't feed it to your moggys in their drinking water, but under normal useage I doubt that it would have short or long term effects particularly if you keep them confined for a few hours after you have sprayed just to be sure.

Regards
Paul

[NCArcher]

Glyphosate itself is relatively non-toxic. It works by obstructing certain pathways in plants that are not found in animals so is very low in toxicity. Some of the surfacants that the glyphosate is packaged with are more toxic to humans and animals but overall I think there is a very low risk to your feline friends.
Some more reading here (http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Actives/glyphosa.htm).

[FenceFurniture]

Thanks chaps. After reading that fact sheet it would seem that the plan of keeping them in for a day should be plenty.

Now all i have to do is pick when it won't rain within 48 hours of application (not so easy here!).

[IanW]

Sorry - a bit late with my response, been elsewhere....

If used sensibly & according to directions, I don't think you run any risks by spraying your weeds with glyphosate. In my reasonably long career, I have never diagnosed, nor heard of, toxicity related to glyphosate in cats or dogs from normal use. The other common weedicides, 2,4, D (totally diffrent chemical from glyphosate) and its allies have been implicated in some acute and chronic intoxications, but that's a long & contentious story. As NC says, it doesn't work on mammals the way it works on plants, but that doesn't preclude it from being toxic - many poisons work on different systems in different species. It is toxic to mammals if you ladle it into them in sufficient quantity, but with an acute oral LD50 of about 5,000mg/kg, it is about 5 times less acutely toxic than table salt.

As a very famous chap noted many hundreds of years ago, "All things are poison and nothing is without poison, only the dose permits something not to be poisonous."

Cheers,

[FenceFurniture]

Goodo, thanks Ian.

[whitewood]

I tried to post a few days ago but the system wouldn't transfer it. Then my Knee replacement acted up and i didn't use the computer.

So for what it is worth the period to avoid rain is normally 8 hours not 18. I have found that a small shower after 2 hours has little effect on the result so don't get too hung up on weather forecasts when planning to spray.

Whitewood

[FenceFurniture]

Good to know - thanks Whitewood.

[Cliff Rogers]

Have you thought about shaving the cats? :think: