Can borax ant traps harm cats, even if not directly ingested?

Borax is toxic to cats and you can see vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and excessive thirst. This really does have to be checked out by a vet immediately, and emergency vets should be open all night. Please take Rocket Girl into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

There isn't a great answer to your question, i.e. nothing that is absolutely completely safe to use, however you can mix boric acid (1 part) and powdered sugar (3 parts) and sprinkle it in the areas where your cat can't access, and where you have seen the ants (i.e., under cupboards). It's not completely safe because the boric acid can cause GI upset if ingested, so if you can keep your cat from walking through these areas and subsequently grooming the substance off his/her feet, it will eventually work. It takes a bit of time, maybe a couple of weeks, but the ants will carry the mixture back to the queen and eventually all will die. Hopefully you can keep your cat from this area of the house for a couple of weeks, until this method works.

Borax is toxic to cats, and while it it low on the toxicity scale, if Sweet drank some borax, it's best that she is seen by a vet now. Symptoms of borax toxicity include diarrhea and vomiting to muscle weakness and seizures, and are usually seen shortly after ingestion. I would take Sweet into an ER vet or find vet on call to see her now.

You are right in saying that certain chemicals should be avoided around cats. This should include permethrins, pyrethrins, and any of the chemicals derived from these compounds. However, most studies have already shown that as long as your kitty isn't actively licking this chemical, being directly sprayed with it,or eating dozens of the ants killed by it, the level of toxic exposure required to cost significant harm or death in a cat is pretty unlikely. That is not to say that ultimately it would be safer to relocate your cat during the extermination process or use a different chemical that kills ants. There are many different insecticides that have very limited intoxication potential. If you have any concern about what to use, I would advise you to reference the pet poison healthline website. You can also call them if you want specific advise concerning your pet. Here's the website: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/ Good luck in your ant killing journey!

Terro has a very low toxicity to humans and animals but if he is acting lethargic then he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. Your vet can run blood-work, if needed, to help diagnose the problem and then determine if treatment is needed.

Borax can be toxic to dogs if enough is ingested. It would be best to contact your vet or an ER clinic ASAP if he ate some. You can also contact the Pet Poison Helpline (there is a fee for this service) at https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/ if you know how much he ate to see if it was a toxic amount that requires monitoring or immediate care. If you don't know the amount, seeking care in person ASAP is best.

If ingested in high doses, indoxacarb can lead to seizures in cats. However, this medication has a relatively high margin of safety in both dogs and cats. I do not know how many indoxacarb-containing cockroaches would constitute a toxic dose., but it is unlikely that eating an infected cockroach or two will cause significant problems. Obviously try to avoid ingestion of any cockroaches if at all possible. Ideally consider kenneling Fox or sending him to a friend's house while you are treating your home for cockroaches to avoid exposure.