7 Best Cat Litters for Declawed Cats 2023 – Budget Reviews

Have a declawed cat who refuses to use the litter box? Then it’s time you read our reviews on the best-declawed cat litter for your sensitive feline mate.

If you own a declawed cat, then one of the biggest challenges would be for her to use the litter box. Declawed felines experience pain and discomfort while walking which makes them behave unusual and moody. Moreover, they do not enter the litter box as certain litters may feel very hard on their injured legs.

The dust and litter can come in contact with their open wounds and worsen the condition of your kitty. The dust can also get septic on her wounds and cause permanent amputation.

For this, we help you choose the best declawed cat litter for your feline friend to be able to use her litter box peacefully, without experiencing any pain in her paws.

A Quick Look at our Favorites of 2023

7 Best Litter for Declawed Cats 2023 (Reviews)

1. Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Soft Cat Litter

Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Soft Cat Litter is the best declawed cat litter for felines with injured paws. This litter is biodegradable, eco-friendly, and made of all-natural materials to suit your kitty’s sensitive legs.

The litter offers 3 times better absorption than any other clay litter and you need to use a very less amount of litter for it to work efficiently. The walnut shells also offer superior odor control to keep your cat’s mood in check and not irritate them with the foul smell from the litter box.

Features

• Material: Walnut shells
• Type: Clumping
• Size: 26 lb bag
• 100% Biodegradable
• Non-dusty and Non-sticky

It forms no dust and is non-tracking, which means it would not disturb your feline’s open wounds making it very comfortable for use.

To conclude, we think this is the overall best litter for declawed cats.

Pros

• Gentle and sensitive on feline’s paws
• 100% Biodegradable and eco-friendly
• Works in lesser quantities, long-lasting

Cons

• The litter is very dusty
• Does not eliminate dirty smells effectively

If your kitty has a UTI issue, will recommend you to go for the best cat litter for heavy urination available on the market.

2. sWheat Scoop Natural Cat Litter

sWheat Scoop Natural Cat Litter is a wheat-based cat litter that contains no harmful ingredients and is of premium quality. The litter is 100% renewable and helps in neutralizing odor very effectively. The small size soft pellets are gentle on your kitty’s declawed paws making it a great pick amongst feline owners.

The litter has no dyes or artificial perfumes and comprises noble ion technology which effectively neutralizes foul smells without masking it with overwhelming fragrances. The litter also offers quick clumping which helps in easy scooping and does not form any dust to hurt your feline’s injured legs.

Features

• Material: Wheat-based litter
• Type: Clumping
• Size: 36 lb bag
• 100% Renewable and Biodegradable

Moreover, it is easy to dispose of as the litter is flushable and biodegradable making it eco-friendly and safe for your pet’s paws as well as her overall health.

Pros

• Wheat-based soft litter for cats
• Biodegradable and flushable making it easy to dispose
• Fast clumping action

Cons

• The litter is too dusty
• Not effective at reducing strong ammonia and urine smell

3. Purina Yesterday’s News Soft Paper Cat Litter

Purina Yesterday’s News Soft Paper Cat Litter is the best declawed cat litter under a budget. It comes with a soft texture and is highly absorbing. It is 3 times more absorbent than any clay-based litter. The pellets are made with recycled paper.

It is 99.9% dust free and quite suited for your feline’s sensitive paws. It helps in eliminating dirty smell effectively and is non-tracking which makes it safe for your household and your kitty.

Features

• Material: Paper
• Type: Non – Clumping
• Size: 26.4 lb bag
• 99% Dust Free

It is one of the best low-tracking cat litters has no added fragrance and has a natural smell that does not bother your moody and declawed pet. Your pet can dig and move around comfortably in her litter box without hurting her sensitive paws.

Pros

• High absorbance
• No artificial fragrance to bother your friend
• Low tracking fine particles

Cons

• The litter is too sticky
• Does not control foul smell effectively

4. World’s Best Cat Litter

World’s Best Cat Litter offers outstanding odor control and is suitable for multiple cats. It has quick clumping action and is easy to scrape from the box. It does not stick on your cat’s sensitive paws and is easy to scrape and clean.

The litter allows for easy scooping and is flushable as well as septic safe. It is absolutely light in weight and 99.9% dust-free, meaning safe for your declawed cat’s wounds. It offers long-lasting odor control and is made of an all-natural whole corn kernel.

Features

• Material: Corn Kernel
• Type: Clumping
• Size: 25-pound bag
• 99% Dust Free

It is good for declawed felines who have recovered but need to take care of their sensitive paws. The material has no harmful chemicals or artificial perfumes. It is people as well as planet friendly.

Pros

• Dust-free and fast clumping
• Easy to dispose of by flushing

Cons

• Does not remove odor effectively
• Users complain of the litter being infested with bugs

5. So Phresh Paper Pellet Cat Litter

So Phresh Paper Pellet Cat Litter is light in weight and absorbs odor easily. This cat litter has paper pellets that are extremely gentle on your feline’s paws. The litter is made of around 95% post-consumer paper and has baking soda for effectively trapping dirty smell.

The paper is collected from the PaperGator Recycling Program and is sustainably used to make soft litter pellets. The pellets have baking soda along with zeolite to block strong ammonia smell. These odor-removing pellets get activated upon coming in contact with moisture. The particles are highly absorbent too.

Features

• Material: Post Consumer Paper
• Type: Non-clumping
• Size: 25 lbs
• Contains Baking Soda and Zeolite

They do not form clumps and are non-sticky which makes it suitable for your feline’s declawed paws. The paper pellets do not prick or cause any pain as they are extremely soft. These pellets are very effective to be used.

Pros

• Made of paper which is recycled
• Lightweight
• Highly absorbent and non-sticky
• Eco-friendly

Cons

• Does not remove foul smell effectively
• The pellet size is too large

6. ökocat Natural Wood Cat Litter

ökocat Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter is the next generation plant-based litter that is soft and gentle on your cat’s sensitive paws. The litter helps maintain a clean and healthy environment at your home and your feline’s litter box.

The material is highly absorbent and clumps efficiently. It is also dust-free meaning it does not enter your feline’s open wounds after declawing. The particles also have no artificial chemicals or fragrances. The litter is biodegradable and flushable.

Features

• Material: Wood
• Type: Clumping
• Size: Large
• Odor control
• Biodegradable and Flushable

The litter is known to be long-lasting for up to 7 weeks. It is light in weight and easy to sift as well as pour. There are 3 types of litter available, this one being the softest amongst all. It naturally eliminates strong ammonia odor as well.

Pros

• Dust free small pellets
• No synthetic chemicals or artificial fragrances
• High absorption
• Long lasting litter

Cons

• The product is not worth the price

7. Dr. Elsey’s Premium Cat Litter

Dr. Elsey’s Premium Cat Litter is one of the best hypoallergenic litter, which is also unscented, and absolutely paw-friendly for your cat’s sensitive legs. It is suitable for multiple cats and is good for households who are prone to allergies. The grain size is medium and the clumping litter also helps prevent moisture.

The litter is ideal for sifting and suitable for all litter boxes. It forms tight clumps that are not sticky but easy to scoop. The superior odor control keeps your kitty’s litter box smelling fresh all day.

Features

• Material: Clay
• Type: Clumping
• Size: 40 lb
• Superior Odor control
• 99.9% dust-free

The litter needs scooping twice a day and is unscented which does not irritate your moody kitty. The litter is 99.9% dust free and causes low tracking as well.

Pros

• Dust-free and hypoallergenic litter
• Suitable for multiple cat households
• Forms hard clumps that are non-sticky

Cons

• Does not control tracking
• Pellet size is too large

Read more

• Cat litter for asthmatic cats
• Substitute cat litter
• Litter for long-haired cats

Declawed Cats | Stress and Behaviour

Cat Declawing^[2] involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. The standard method of declawing a cat is by using a scalpel for amputating or by using a clipper.

Cat declawing is a matter of controversy in the veterinary and feline world. In human beings, it would be like cutting off each finger from the last knuckle. It is actually quite unnecessary because one can easily train their feline to not scratch and use their claws carefully to not harm anyone or anybody.

The wounds after declawing are treated by stitching or by using surgical glue. Another method that can be used for declawing is laser surgery. This will also have the same amount of complications like pain and lameness that accompanies post-surgery.

Declawing is a very painful procedure for cats. It can include various medical complications like pain in the paws, infection, tissue necrosis, lameness, and back pain. Each time they come across an uneven surface or even the floors of your house, they may experience a level of discomfort.

It could even lead to the regrowth of claws, nerve damage, or bone spurs. This can cause behavioral changes as your declawed cat may refuse to use the litter box. They may not feel comfortable with the type of litter in the box if it is too grainy or hard on their injured paws.

As a cat parent, you can definitely consider replacing the litter in the box with a soft type like paper or any natural litter that is gentle on their paws and encourages them to use the box.

What is Declawed Cat Litter?

Declawed Cat Litter is made of soft and natural ingredients that are gentle on your cat’s sensitive paws which helps them to use the litter box comfortably.

When cats are usually declawed, litter box issues are amongst the common problems that one may have to face as a feline parent. Declawed cats may behave unusually which can also include peeing anywhere around the house and not using the box.

One of the easiest ways to encourage them to use the box and make them feel relieved and comfortable is by using a cat litter suitable for declawed cats. It is usually made of paper or other natural soft materials that do not hurt their paws while walking.

Since they are mostly made of natural materials, these types of litter are cheap as well as highly absorbent. They are renewable and long-lasting. Cat litter can be made of various materials but there are only a few that are most suited for declawed cats:

• Paper: The most frequently recommended type of litter immediately after your cat’s declawing surgery. It is non-dusty and available as soft pellets.
• Corn: These are tiny, soft, and gentle on the paws. Corn litter is easy to clump as well as a scoop. Since the texture is not as smooth, this litter is not recommended immediately after surgery but can be used for completely healed cats.
• Wood: This type of litter converts into sawdust and can get dusty. It can be considered after your cat’s wounds have completely healed as the dust should not stick to their paws.
• Wheat: Wheat litter is known to be soft but does not clump efficiently like other litter types. It is advisable to use a non-clumping type of litter until your cat heals completely.
• Grass: Grass offers a soft and fine texture and is great for your cat’s sensitive paws. However, it is not recommended to be used immediately after surgery and can be considered post-recovery.
• Clay: Clay can get very dusty and the dust and fine granules can enter your cat’s fresh wounds and cause problems. They have fine grains and can be considered after complete recovery.

How to Choose the Best Declawed Cat Litter?

Here are the steps you must consider before choosing the best declawed cat litter^[1] for your feline mate:

Soft and Gentle

Cats take time to recover almost immediately after declawing. Hence, you need to choose a litter that is soft and gentle on their injured and sensitive paws. Hard pellets and large grains can be rough on your cat’s legs especially when they are recovering. Paper is the best declawed cat litter for your feline’s paws.

Non Clumping Litter

For the initial days of recovery post declawing, the litter should be non-sticky and non-clumping. Clumping litter can form large clumps that can stick to your cat’s open wounds and cause problems.

Even some natural types of litter like wheat, corn, etc. are soft but form clumps that can stick to your cat’s toes. Once your kitty has started recovering post declawing, you can always switch to clumping litter for ease of cleaning and scooping.

Avoid Fragrances

Declawed pets show various behavioral changes. One of them includes running away from peculiar smells and fragrances. Therefore, avoid using overwhelming fragrances like sweet or flowery scents that can irritate your cat and discourage to use the litter box.

Any dirty smell coming from the box can also deter your feline from using it. The litter should smell as natural as possible and should not have any artificial fragrances or dirty smells. Simple and natural feline litters will attract your kitty to use the box often.

Low-Dust

Small granules can cause dust and particles to spread and settle in the surroundings. Usually, clay or fine-textured litters are small and light in weight, which means they form more dust. This dust can settle on your cat’s open wounds and cause unwanted sepsis.

Paper litter is the best declawed cat litter that can be used as it forms no dust and is sensitive to your kitty’s injured paws. Once they have fully recovered, you can consider choosing a different litter type.

Natural Materials

Litter made from natural and renewable materials is soft, and sensitive, unlike clay litters which are granular and hard. Choose a litter made of ingredients like paper, wheat, corn, wood, grass, etc. These are soft and gentle on your feline’s paws and encourages them to use the litter box.

FAQs

Bottomline

Declawing is a very painful process for cats. It involves removing the claws and toes which is unbearable for felines even after the surgical process is complete. Many feline parents believe in declawing their cats because of the fear of getting scratched, injured, and to protect their belongings from getting torn or destroyed.

Scratching in cats is a natural phenomenon and is not done with the sole objective of destroying or tearing objects. If your kitty is trained well, they can eventually stop scratching at people and places, for which declawing is not the solution.

However, if you have adopted or plan to adopt a declawed cat, then it may be very difficult for them to use the litter box due to various reasons like the pellet size, the texture of the litter, etc. Our reviews above suggest the best-declawed cat litter that is gentle and comfortable on your feline’s sensitive paws.

After all, declawed cats deserve equal care and comfort like any other kitty!!

References:

1. PetMD Editorial. (2022a, August 18). What’s the Best Litter for Declawed Cats? PetMD. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.petmd.com/cat/care/whats-best-litter-declawed-cats
2. What, Exactly, is Declawing? (n.d.). City of Albuquerque. Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://www.cabq.gov/pets/news/what-exactly-is-declawing