How do I keep ants out of the cat dish?

Question

We have a bit of an ant problem where in Oregon... I'm not comfortable spraying poison so I usually just make sure not to leave any food out. This works brilliantly, except for the cat dish. There is always a bowl of dry food on the floor and there is almost always an ant superhighway leading to it. Anyone have any tips on how to keep ants away from the cat dish?

Answer 1

A great way is to put the bowl of food in a shallow dish of water.  The cats can lean over the water dish and eat the food but the ants can't swim.  Problem solved!

Note: It doesn't take that much water, you don't have to put the food dish in a deep bowl or anything, just a plate with a layer of water will do.

Answer 2

Go with what Christina said but add a little soap to the water.  Ants can't swim, but they can walk on water.  They are tiny enough not to break the surface tension.  But when you add in just a little soap they will sink.

Although some ants won't even try to cross the water, the ones we get here (CA) will so I have to use soap. Water alone may be enough for yours.  

Answer 3

put it on a plate of water

Answer 4

Pour vinegar around the out side of the dish.

Answer 5

My mom and me use peppermint oil.  You can find it at a cake store and there's nothing sugary in it, it's just the oil.  There's something about the mint family that ants and a couple of other insects hate.  

Put some of the oil on a cotton ball and place underneath your cats food dish.  Or just rub some of it on the bottom of the dish.