Indoor plant infestation........can you help?

[run_dmb]

I have just noticed some extremely small white bugs crawling amongst the base of some of my house plants.

Cant find any concrete info on the web to define what they are or how to get rid of them.

I have 2 inquisitive cats so if i were to put chemicals on the plants it would need to be cat freindly

anyone have any ideas??

[cdonline]

Not to panic, you cats will be OK with this

http://www.rtfract.com/rtfract/GASMASK.jpg

[CamberwellOz]

Sounds like aphids to me. Ladybirds eat them but if you don't have some of them flying about garlic spray also works a treat.

[giggirl]

Cats smelling of garlic - you're in for a real treat there - good luck with that

[Asset]

are they flying? If so, whitefly.

crawling white bugs, not sure. If they are fluffy looking then mealy bug but they usually attack stems and leaves rather than base.

a weak solution of washing up liquid and water sprayed on will usually kill bugs without harming the plant.