for the last several years during the summer, had to deal with very similar situations. Ants come inside. For us they head for cat food or water or in this years case my leather shoes. (?!?!!! WTF, why were they trying to eat my shoes!!??!!1!!) What we have found that seems to work well (and not risk the safety of the cats) is made by "Victor (R)" and under the "Safer Brand (R)" "Roach & Ant Killing Powder" Put it along whatever trail you can find and along the edge of carpet against the wall whereever they may be coming in (be liberal in length against the wall) lay a stream of the powder. It's boric acid and powdered sugar. The sugar attracts them and they take it back as food for the mound. It'll take a couple of days to completely be rid of them but you'll notice the drop within a day. And after they're gone, the stuff just vacuums up.
We have,
What we have found that seems to work well (and not risk the safety of the cats) is made by "Victor (R)" and under the "Safer Brand (R)" "Roach & Ant Killing Powder" Put it along whatever trail you can find and along the edge of carpet against the wall whereever they may be coming in (be liberal in length against the wall) lay a stream of the powder. It's boric acid and powdered sugar. The sugar attracts them and they take it back as food for the mound. It'll take a couple of days to completely be rid of them but you'll notice the drop within a day.
And after they're gone, the stuff just vacuums up.