The 5 Best Litter For Declawed Cats

Cat Litter December 10, 2024
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The 5 Best Litter For Declawed Cats

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Cat declawing, also known as onychectomy, means to surgically remove the cat’s third and final toe bones. This procedure is carried out on the front paws, and sometimes on the back paws. declawed Cats need softer texture litters due to their sensitive paws. Keep on reading to read our recommendations for the best kitty litter for declawed cats

As a matter of fact, the declawing of a cat is often done for the owner’s benefit, and not the cat’s.

The declawed cats could go through a lot of pain, discomfort, and complications during and after the declawing. Not to mention that this could even permanently mar them, physically and otherwise.

It is important to get the kind of litter box that’s easy for such sensitive cats to use. It is necessary to deal with litter avoidance issues and also to aid their declawed gait.

The best litter for declawed cats must provide them with comfort and safety while using the litter box. It should help them heal fast and must be well-textured with fine particles.

It should keep them clean at all times. Most veterinarians recommend paper litter for newly declawed cats because of its soft texture, zero-dust and non-clumping properties.

Not to forget that corn, wood, wheat and grass litters are only recommended when the cat’s wounds from declawing have completely healed.

At the same time, for newly declawed cats, clay litter must be completely avoided because it is usually too harsh, dusty and has fine granules. These properties could cause serious infections and discomfort for the cats.

To help with this process of finding the best litter for declawed cats, here are some suggestions.

Compare Best Litter For Declawed Cats

Overall Best
So Phresh Odor Control Paper Pellet Cat Litter

1. So Phresh Odor Control Paper Pellet Cat Litter

Runner Up
Yesterday's News Softer Texture Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter

2. Yesterday's News Softer Texture Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter

Premium Choice
Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Ultra Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

3. Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Ultra Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

Best For Odor Control
World's Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter

4. World's Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter

Best For Budget
Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter

5. Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter

Material
Recycled Paper
Material
Recycled Paper
Material
Clay
Material
Corn
Material
Walnut
Type
Non-Clumping
Type
Non-Clumping, Unscented
Type
Clumping, Unscented
Type
Clumping, Flushable, Unscented
Type
Clumping, Unscented
Tracking
9.5/10
Tracking
9.1/10
Tracking
8.5/10
Tracking
8.5/10
Tracking
8.5/10
Absorption
9.5/10
Absorption
9.5/10
Absorption
9.0/10
Absorption
8.5/10
Absorption
8.5/10
Odor control
10/10
Odor control
9.5/10
Odor control
9.0/10
Odor control
9.0/10
Odor control
8.5/10
Overall Best
1.

So Phresh Odor Control Paper Pellet Cat Litter

Product Info

  • Material: Recycled Paper
  • Type: Non-Clumping
  • Tracking: 9.5/10
  • Absorption: 9.5/10
  • Odor control: 10/10
Pros
  • 99.9% Dust-free
  • Lightweight pellets
  • Eco-Friendly
  • Powerful clumping to control odors
Cons
  • Tracks easily
  • Quite expensive
This litter is great for newly declawed cats as it is made from paper pellets. Also it is farmed in the United States of America. Moreover, it claims to be 50 percent lighter than clay litter, 99.9 percent more dust-free and also has strong clumping properties, is eco-friendly and easy to scoop. However, the biggest drawacks are its prrice and the issue of tracking.
Runner Up
2.

Yesterday's News Softer Texture Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter

Product Info

  • Material: Recycled Paper
  • Type: Non-Clumping, Unscented
  • Tracking: 9.1/10
  • Absorption: 9.5/10
  • Odor control: 9.5/10
Pros
  • Little dust
  • Absorbs moisture very well
  • Great for allergies
  • Controls odor averagely
  • Low tracking
  • Eco-friendly
Cons
  • No clumping
  • Needs frequent cleaning
  • Soiling is hard to detect
This litter made with pellets of a softer-texture absorbs three times more moisture than clay. It is an eco-friendly litter that is 99.7 percent dust-free, unscented and tracking-free. It, however, does not clump well enough and does not completely remove odor. Therefore, it requires frequent cleaning to keep the litter box appealing to the declawed cat and the house smelling fresh.
Premium Choice
3.

Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Ultra Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter

Product Info

  • Material: Clay
  • Type: Clumping, Unscented
  • Tracking: 8.5/10
  • Absorption: 9.0/10
  • Odor control: 9.0/10
Pros
  • Nice texture for declawed paws
  • Forms hard clumps for easy scooping
  • Hypoallergenic
  • No odor or smell
  • No harmful proteins or chemical fragrances
Cons
  • Tracks a bit more than other litters
  • Has larger granules
  • Quite heavy
  • Gets awfully dusty as the litter ages
  • Requires timely litter replacement
This litter has different varieties to meet the needs of different cats. Its all-natural formulation made from medium grain clay absorbs moisture quite well, forms hard clumps, and is non-allergic. Also it is free from perfume, harmful chemicals and deodorants to give your declawed cat a safe and comfortable litter haven.
Best For Odor Control
4.

World's Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter

Product Info

  • Material: Corn
  • Type: Clumping, Flushable, Unscented
  • Tracking: 8.5/10
  • Absorption: 8.5/10
  • Odor control: 9.0/10
Pros
  • Absorbs moisture very well
  • Great litter texture
  • Lightweight
  • Eco-friendly
  • Flushable
Cons
  • Little tracking
  • Expensive
  • Bad urine clumping
  • Not for recently declawed cats
This litter's corn kernel texture, great odor control, and effective clumping is loved by cats and cat owners. However, it is not free from drawbacks like any other product. Its drawbacks include dustiness, tracking, and breeding of grain mites, moths and molds. However, it is eco-friendly and a great option for multiple cat households.
Best For Budget
5.

Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter

Product Info

  • Material: Walnut
  • Type: Clumping, Unscented
  • Tracking: 8.5/10
  • Absorption: 8.5/10
  • Odor control: 8.5/10
Pros
  • Gentle on the cat’s paws, fur and skin
  • Controls odor very well
  • Very little tracking
  • Flushable
Cons
  • Quite dusty
This litter comes in several variations to meet the needs of a variety of cats. Made from compact walnut shells, it has a gentle texture. As a result, its texture is gentle on your cat’s paws, fur and skin, while it also and safeguards your environment. It ensures that your cat does not have ingestion issues due to its no-toxin property. Also it is compostable and hundred percent renewable.

How To Chose The Best Cat Litter For Declawed Cats?

Considering the fact that declawed cats are quite sensitive, aggressive and uncomfortable, it is important to pick a litter that will make them unopposed to using the litter box. For the litter for declawed cats, here are a few properties that you should consider in order to buy the best litter for them.

  • The Litter Should Have Low-Dust- This is particularly important so as to not contaminate the wounds after the bandages have been taken off. It is advisable to avoid clay litter products because of their dusty and fine-grained litter. The low dust will keep your cat’s lungs healthy, and help avoid allergic reactions. More dust means more reasons to make your cat uncomfortable considering the discomfort it is already experiencing from the surgery.
  • The Litter Should Not be Sticky- While the declawed cat’s wound is still healing, it is the best to avoid clumpy and sticky. That’s because such litter usually sticks to the cat’s toes and wounds, and that may lead to infection. Also, the sticky litter that’s stuck to the cat’s toes will cause tracking. As a result, it will create a problem for the owner.
  • The Litter Should Not Smell- Trying to encourage newly declawed irritable cats to use the litter is hard enough, having litter with stinky smells or strong scents may only further irritate the cat. As a result, the cat may completely avoid using the litter box.
  • The Litter Should be Soft- Soft litter will definitely be pleasant for your cat’s tender paws. This will provide some form of relief for your declawed cat.
  • The Litter Should be Dry- Cats being very clean animals will not like to use the wet and messy litter. To encourage your declawed cat to use the litter, you have to keep it moisture-free.

Final Thoughts

To begin with, the declawing of cats is a severely painful process that can result in permanent damage and harmful consequences for them. Also, these consequences are more severe when the surgery goes wrong.

Therefore, it may probably be much easier to see some of your favorite furniture scratched than to watch your cat go through so much pain. That’s because scratching is a major part of a cat’s lifestyle, and so they can simply be provided with scratching surfaces like scratching posts and mats.

You can also train your cat to not scratch forbidden surfaces like your skin and furniture. At the same time, you can also consider other alternatives like nail caps and regular trimming of nails. That’s primarily to avoid the potential damage that declawing can cause to your cat. On the other hand, if you have already declawed your cat then you must take the necessary steps to ease the cat’s discomfort. One of those measures is to give your declawed cat the best litter.

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Kate Barrington holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and is the published author of several self-help books and nutrition guides. Also an avid dog lover and adoring owner of three cats, Kate’s love for animals has led her to a successful career as a freelance writer specializing in pet care and nutrition. Kate is also a blogger for a number of organic and natural food companies as well as a columnist for several pet magazines.
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