What’s The Best Litter For Declawed Cats?
Declawing cats is a procedure that some cat owners turn to, when they want to prevent their cat from scratching and damaging furniture and other items in their home. Declawing means that their claws and toes are removed. A few weeks following the procedure the cat will feel pain and will have sensitive paws. They might not want to use the litter box, because their normal hard litter might be hurting them. That's why it's important to change your cat litter after declaw, and switch to a softer and more delicate one.
Top 7 Cat Litters For Declawed Cats
Products Image Credit: Amazon.com
#1. ökocat Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter (Super Soft)
Editor's Rating: 5/5 Overall Score
This litter is made from 100% sustainable and renewable wood fiber. It has a super soft and lightweight texture, perfect for delicate and sensitive paws. There are no harmful chemicals or added scents. It's easy to clean since it clumps solid, so you can scoop away any waste. It's biodegradable and flushable, so you can scoop and flush one clump at a time. It can be used by kittens as well.
Pros
- Super soft cat litter ideal for declawed paws
- Stops odor for 7 days
- 99% dust free (no airborne dust)
- Clumps solid
Cons
- Some cats will find the texture too different, and have hard time adapting
Click Button Below To Check Current Price On Amazon
#2. Purina Yesterday's News Unscented Paper Cat Litter
Editor's Rating: 4.8/5 Overall Score
This cat litter is U.S. Veterinarian recommended as #1 eco-friendly litter. It's made from recycled paper, and consist of soft paper pellets. It has a softer texture, extra gentle on sensitive paws, so it can dig without feeling any discomfort.
Three times more absorbent than clay, has low tracking and effective odor control. It's unscented with no added fragrance.
Pros
- Soft paper pellets are gentle on cat's paws
- 99.9% dust-free formula
- Low tracking
- Effective odor control
Cons
- Some pet owners complain that it's hard to find poop in the litter due to it's color being similar
- For some, the odor control is not as effective as it should be
Click Button Below To Check Current Price On Amazon
#3: World's Best Cat Litter, Clumping Litter Formula
Editor's Rating: 4.7/5 Overall Score
It looks and feels like sand, but it's actually made from whole-kernel corn, free from any harmful chemicals and artificial perfumes. It's lightweight and is very soft, another very good choice for declawed cats.
It clumps quickly, for an easy clean up, just scoop once and you're done. It's flushable and safe for septic and sewer systems, so you don't have to trow it in the trash.
Pros
- Very soft, feels like sand
- 99% dust free, low tracking and less mess
- Outstanding odor control
- Eco-friendly and all natural
Cons
- Your cat might need some adaptation time, before you fully switch
Click Button Below To Check Current Price On Amazon
#4: sWheat Scoop Natural Fast-Clumping Wheat Cat Litter
Editor's Rating: 4.4/5 Overall Score
This another all natural cat litter, which is wheat based and is 100% renewable resource. There are no harmful ingredients inside (such as: sodium bendonite and crystalline silica found in traditional litter). It naturally neutralizes odors and has no perfumes added.
It's 100% biodegradable and is flushable. Clumps are fast-forming for easy scooping.
Pros
- Light, sand like texture, gentle on declawed cats
- Very good odor control
- Fast-clumping
- All natural, wheat based
- Comes in different package sizes
Cons
- Might track to feet more, compared to other litter
Click Button Below To Check Current Price On Amazon
#5: Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Ultra Cat Litter
Editor's Rating: 4.4/5 Overall Score
Dr. Elsey’s Ultra cat litter is designed as a nonallergic litter that has no perfumes, no harmful chemicals, and no deodorant. It consists of medium grain clay that absorbs moisture and prevents it from reaching the bottom and provides hard clump that would not break easily.
The hard lumps are easy to dispose of. You are assured to have no smells in your home regardless of the fact that you have multiple cats in your home, it serves best for multiple cats. Due to heavy, quick clumping, dust free composition, the litter would not cause tracking issues making it easier to keep the surroundings clean. It can be used for mechanical boxes and sifting setups in the litter box without any issues.
Pros
- Quick and hard clumping and no-tracking
- Free of odors and smells
- Moisture and dust free litter
- All natural with no added proteins of substances
Cons
- Clay is harder than the other litters mentioned above
Click Button Below To Check Current Price On Amazon
#6: Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Litter
Editor's Rating: 4.3/5 Overall Score
Arm & hammer is another option for your cat, as it comes up with the features like quick clumping that would not break easily and has no dust issues. It is also capable of supporting multiple cats using it. In addition to that, it kills odors and may not leave your home messy and smelly in any way. It promises to keep your home odor-free for 7 days.
Pros
- Clumps quickly and clumps would not break
- No more odors
- No moisture
- Safe and reliable for cats
Cons
- Must be used following an appropriate replacement time
Click Button Below To Check Current Price On Amazon
#7: Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Litter
Editor's Rating: 4.3/5 Overall Score
Another litter for declawed cats since it clumps quickly and efficiently while keeping the odors locked in the clumps. The overall texture is like a course sand but there are no dust issues at all. Since it gets clumped quickly and the clumps would not break easily there would be no mess in the box. The litter is not scented at all, and the compound is made with all natural ingredients with added aluminum shield for better odor control.
Pros
- Keeps the litter box fresh and odor free without any scents
- Least dust
- Clumps hard and quick
- Easy to scoop out
Cons
- May cause dust when pouring in the box
- May cause tracking when you have put fresh cat litter in the box
If your still not sure if you should have your cat undergo a declawing procedure, make sure you read about the scratching behavior in cats, declawing and non-surgical alternatives, a useful article written by VCA Hospitals.
Cat litter for declawed cats
Cats will face several challenges after declawing, one of the main ones is their toilet and litter box habit. The products we have mentioned above can by used by kittens, young or mature cats. We've picked products which do not form tracking clumps and have soft texture to ease toilet habits. A suitable mixture of the natural litter without any chemical agents will tempt declawed felines to come and sit. All granules are made in small and non-tracking sizes, so that cats will not feel any pain when digging and turning over the soil with declawed paws.
Odor-free litter will be suitable for all cats, especially ones who are sensitive to strong smell, even though some products are still made with natural perfumes or promising pleasure scent. Using a stainless steel litter box, as opposed to a plastic one will help reduce odor as well, learn more here.
Things to consider when buying special litter for declawed cats
Due to the fact the declawed cats are more irritable, they might become pickier as well when it comes to using the litter. Since they have no claws, such cats need soft, non-stick, moisture free litter for better keeping their paws clean. So, here are a few things you need to consider when buying cat litter after declaw:
Should have no smells
Stinky smells are intolerable for the cat owners and the cat as well because it doesn’t feel comfortable. You need to be sure that the litter has odor locking system without emitting any kind of strong artificial scents. Due to the fact scents and fragrances may not be tolerated by felines and may cause issues for the pet owners also.
Should not stick or track
As your cat has been declawed you need to be sure that the little will not stick to their feet as it may cause irritation for the cats and result in tracking that causes a mess for the owners as well. You can find the Best non tracking cat litter here.
Make sure the litter clumps quickly
The cat litter should have the ability to clump quickly providing hard and dry clumps for easy scooping and leaving no mess behind. Such litter compounds are considered good because declawed cats may get messed up and feel irritated when the soft, wet clay clings to their limbs.
Litter should be moisture free
Litter should be moisture free so that the cat may feel easy to use the litter when needed. Most cats would not prefer using a litter that is wet and messy.
How long after declaw use regular litter
This depends on how your cat is recovering from the procedure. It's best to wait several weeks until you see if your feline shows signs of pain when stepping onto hard litter. You might have to wait a few months until it has fully recovered, but it depends on each cat physical condition. If you see that your feline is adapting well to their new softer litter, you might want to reconsider using regular litter.
Cat litter for sensitive paws
If your cat just has sensitive paws, after suffering an accident or getting injured, you can still get one of the mentioned litters on this list. They have a gentle and soft texture, and are a good option if your cat has sensitive paws.
Final words
After careful research our number 1 recommendation for litter for declawed cats is the ökocat Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter. It has super soft texture, so it will be gentle and soft when your cat steps on and digs in the litter. It is all natural, free of any chemicals, and controls odor very well. Make sure you check out all our recommendations on this list and read their customer feedback, so you can choose the best for your little feline. If you're looking to replace your litter box, with one that is easier to maintain and clean, make sure you read about getting an automatic litter box for your cat.
