Greenthumb lawn treatments safe for cats??

harpo1

Please help we have just gotten a new cat. And cats like to eat grass. And roam on the grass and lick their paws. And the lawn has just been treated by Green thumb - no notice they just did the garden while I was out . - the summer treatment a granular feed and selective herbicide. Is it really safe to let the cat out after the spray has dried?? . I'm very fond of my cat . Please advise if you have been in a similiar situation . Thank you soo much. Very worried

spadoosh

Most lawn treatments arent safe for animals. That said there are some that are. You will probably need to speak to the person that did it to determine which treatment theyve used.

On their website it says people should keep off the grass as it can stain carpets. And the grazing animals (rabbits and guinea pigs)should be kept off for two weeks.

harpo1

Thank you very much Spadoosh, but I really think I need to contact someone with cats and who has used Green thumb without any harmful effects

Linda32

Personally, I would ask the Green Thumb. They are duty bound to have safety data sheets on their products. I'm quite sure they will have this information.

I found this link from their website

https://www.greenthumb.co.uk/help-and-advice/frequently-asked-questions

Scroll down to the last question.

stokesley

Ring Green Thumb and ask them what is in their lawn treatments, then ring your vet and ask them if it's safe.

Thereafter, swop to a local independent lawn maintenance contractor, one who contacts you before treatments. We tried Green Thumb once and never again - we didn't have your problem, but they plagued us with evening telephone calls asking when they could do the next treatment.

glasgowdan

Greenthumb basically use the same lawncare plan for all of their customers. There's nothing tailored or custom about it, it's pretty poor. Certain months they chuck out the same feed on every lawn. Jan-March they scarify, almost regardless of the weather, which leaves the coldest wettest months plenty of time to repopulate the lawn with moss before spring. They are also obliged to use the feeds supplied and cannot select from a full range to suit the lawn being treated. I could tell you how many customers a typical GT office services but not on here! They are the McDonald's of lawn care. Loads of marketing, many people don't even know that independent firms do lawns better as they see the GT ads and brochures everywhere.

The staining refers to the use of Iron, which is used before or after scarifying. This is not the case with your lawn. Your lawn will have a general spring/summer (read super high Nitrogen = the cause of overly fast growth and excess thatch problems, which they scarify in winter, the worst possible time!) feed on it, and a selective spray, likely Praxys, Longbow or one or two others. This is not ideal for pets, and you can't water it in either as it'll wash off. It's not ideal doing a granular feed AND a liquid weed on the same visit.

Best advice is to water the lawn on Sunday, if it has not already rained. Then it'll be safe for the pets.

harpo1

Thank you all. Id read the website but there is no datasheet for any of the chemicals. I'm raging about this. They must have arrived when I was out yesterday. At present my lawn is littered with DIY stuff that we are doing in the house - hoses, tables and wood which should have been moved before anything was sprayed, and which they must have worked around. And I would have cleared away if Id known they were coming. So I imagine whatever was done is going to have significantly patchy results. Also my veggie raised bed is now covered in who knows what granular fertilizer. Maybe they thought they were doing me a good turn.
I had to let the poor cat out as he was going nuts last night- the grass was dry but I've been washing his paws which he hates, but might protect him. Going to water the garden now as suggested . And cancelling Green thumb. I will look at an independent - I didn't realise they existed .

gamston

I've put a couple of different lawn fertilzers on my lawn over the years, all said they were pet friendly, but each time I had to take one/both of our cats to the vets as they were not well, nothing found wrong, but vet gave them a "pick them up" injection
I can't prove it was the Fertilizers, But a big coincidence

harpo1

Thanks for that. The cat seems okay but I have washed his paws to ease my worries. Appreciated

malebolge

If you're still worried about your cat, perhaps this will help short term. Get a cat harness & lead, so you can let your cat out but keep her away from the grass. I have a ragdoll cat, and have a harness for her and a 5m & 8m lead. Ragdolls are indoor cats, but she does love coming outside with me when I'm gardening. I have various stakes around the garden that I hook the lead onto, and she happily explores. Obviously it depends on the layout of your garden. Also, NEVER use just a lead - that would break a cat's neck, a harness is perfectly safe though. I get mine from Amazon. (there is a reason for me keeping her on a lead - ragdolls are not like other cats, they get frightened easily and just flop on the floor - like a ragdoll so are very vulnerable outside).