Best Litter For Declawed Cats of 2025 – 7 Things To Consider
Are you looking for a litter for your declawed cats? If so, read further below to know about the best litter for declawed cats. Most of the times, declawing is not a personal choice of cat owners but an utmost necessity for them. Cats who are suffering from cancers have to undergo this surgery in order to lessen the threat to their limbs or lives. In certain orthopedic injuries where a foot of the cat cannot be repaired by any means, then amputation is the only option for doctors.
Due to declawing, cats have to face many problems and some people renounce their declawed cats. I am saying this because my friend has found an abandoned declawed cat a while ago. He found this cat, Toasty in a parking lot all alone and could not find the owner anywhere after searching for a while. Since then, Toasty is with him and they both are living happily together. He faced some problems in the beginning but it is so much easier now. He has thoroughly searched for things what might be the best one for Toasty and choosing a right litter is one out of them. I am writing this blog to tell you all about the best litter for declawed cats through my friend’s experience.
More...
What Are The Common Problems In Declawed Cats?
Cats need their paws for performing a lot of activities. The declawing in cats is definitely going to be troublesome for cats as they cannot perform activities that need an active engagement of their claws. Declawing is not just removing claws but amputation of claw and its surrounding bone. It is just not only painful but makes them miserable in some ways.
The activities that cats cannot perform any longer after they underwent this surgery include running, walking, balancing off, etc. Cats need their claws even to cover up their eliminations. The declawed cats cannot defend themselves from any predators or other animals. Watch this video to know more.
Toasty finds it difficult to perform all these activities. She is recovering really soon and hopefully, will be able to handle these activities on her own after sometime.
Due to declawed cats’ inability to perform some basic tasks, they tend to become more defensive and aggressive along with some other behavioral change. These declawed cats are often stressed out and nervous due to the post-surgery pain and trauma they have been through during the declawing surgery. It becomes extremely difficult for declawed cats to go to a litter box and hence, they start to avoid it altogether. So, it becomes important to choose a right paw-friendly litter for your lovely cats.
Why Is It Important To Choose The Right Paw-friendly Litter For Declawed Cats?
Cats those have undergone declawing try to avoid litter box after the amputation of their toes. Cats feel immense torture while going to a litter box. Hence, many cats avoid it for the best. If your cat underwent a surgery, then it is better to get a paw-friendly litter before things go out of your hands. Choosing a right litter is really important for declawed cats due to many reasons.
Firstly, a right litter is going to comfort your cat rather than freaking her out while littering. Cats need a comfortable and soft litter after going through a surgery.
Secondly, cats need their claws for digging in their litter boxes. After the surgery, they might not be able to do so. They might find it hard to move large granules.
Thirdly, if you use a sandy, clumping, or clay litters then, it could clump or stick between your cat’s toes or other surgical incisions. It is better to avoid these litters as they affect the health of your cat.
If you would not look after the best choice of litters for them, then it might create a big mess for you. As cats with declawed paws are most likely to reject their litter boxes and prefer a soft spot like sofa or bed for the same purpose. Once your declawed cats start rejecting their litter boxes then, it would be extremely difficult for them to go back to the normal. In order to avoid these circumstances, it is best to opt for a right paw-friendly litter for your declawed cat.
5 Best Litters For Declawed Cats Available In The Market
Product | Image | Our rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
(Editor’s Pick) |  | ||
(Alternative Pick) |  | ||
(Budget Pick) |  | ||
(Upgrade Pick) |  | ||
 |
There are various litters available in the market but you need to know what the best one for your declawed cat is. You can choose from litters as prescribed in the list below as these ones are the best choices for your declawed cats. Choosing a litter might be difficult for you all alone and we tried to make it easier by picking up some great litters for your cats. The best cat litters are as follows:
The best cat litter is made from organic materials i.e. corn husks. It does not contain any toxic chemicals, which makes it one of the best options available in the market. Its particles are very light-weighted having a pleasing aroma. The corn aroma of this litter is not much overwhelming and most of the cats adapt it easily. It offers superb abilities for clumping.
The corn husks present in the litter absorb moisture in an excellent way and thus, reduce the growth of bacteria rooted from odor. World’s Best Cat Litter is a flushable product. It might be expensive than other litter brands but this one is surely worth it. Being a 99% dust free litter, it has become the editor’s pick!
Pros
Cons
This product is made from all natural components like wheat, grains etc. It is designed to eliminate foul odors. For this, the company has used Noble Ion technology, which helps to eliminate negative ions present in pet odors by reacting with positive ions of this litter due to the presence of wheat enzymes, starches, etc. These wheat starches and enzymes neutralize odors effectively.
sWheat Scoop natural litter does not consist of any chemicals, clay, or silica dust. It clumps really faster than other litters. Its granular texture makes it good for sifting and absorbing faster. This litter is safe for compostable and flushing off. It might not be suitable for recently declawed cats but the best product for declawed cats after recovery. This litter is highly recommended by veterinarians and hence, makes it the best alternative pick due to its soft texture.
Pros
Cons
This cat litter is another good option for declawed cats. It is completely made up from natural ingredients. It even comes with an aluminum shield in order to control odor. The texture of this litter is similar to coarse sand but it surely does not have any dust issues. It provides fast clumping features, which does not shatter easily. Hence, ensures no mess around the house.
Its hard and quick forming features for clumping makes it easy for scooping out. This cat litter is unscented whereas really effective in killing odors. It retains the cat litter box scent free and fresh all the time.
Pros
Cons
This wood litter is extremely comfortable and soft on declawed paws. These litter particles are similar to clay litter, which is processed into small and fine granules of wood. Due to wood particles, this litter absorbs moisture and odor effectively. It can even trap odors for up to a week, which helps in keeping the house fresh and free from any smells all the time.
It causes clumping and therefore, best suited for cats who have recovered from declawed surgery. It is an eco-friendly product that is made from fallen or reclaimed timber. It is an unscented litter product. It is the upgrade pick as it offers such advanced features. Go for it! Read more okocat litter reviews here.
Pros
Cons
Paper litter is the best choice if your cats have undergone any kind of paw surgery. Purina’s Yesterday’s News litter is prepared with compressed bits of recycled newspaper, which makes it best for sensitive paws. This litter is environmental-friendly as it is fully biodegradable. This product is even recommended by many veterinarians after the declawing surgery.
It has good absorption capacity as it absorbs moisture three times better than clay litters. It does not stick to fur or paws as compared to other litters like clumping or clay. It does not contain granules, which makes it safe from causing any kind of scratches. Being not sticky, your cats cannot lick off or ingest the content from their paws. It is one of the best choices in the market as it is scent as well as dust free.
Pros
Cons
7 Things To Keep In Mind While Choosing The Best Litter For Declawed Cats
Choosing the best litter for your declawed cats is undoubtedly a difficult task for cat owners. You cannot buy just any litter for your feline friends after they have undergone the declawing surgery. You have to be very careful while making a decision of what might be the best for your cat. If you are thinking of buying a right litter for your declawed cat, then you have to look after certain points.
The things you need to keep in mind while purchasing a litter for declawed cats are:
Soft litter
If your cat has undergone the declawed surgery, then your first preference for a litter should be its soft texture. After the surgery, cats avoid going to litter boxes and it is something very common. In order to avoid this situation, better go for an extra-soft litter.
Cats cannot walk over a hard surface with mutilated toes. So, they need an extra-soft litter so that they would not feel immense pain while walking over it. It should be definitely comfortable on walking. Even after declawed cats have completely recovered from their surgery, they need a comfortable and soft litter.
Small and fine-grained litter
You should opt for small and fine-grained litter for your declawed cats. The declawed ones could not walk over a hard surface or large granules with utmost comfort. It is better to go for fine particles that would not stick on your cats’ paws or would not cause pain and discomfort on walking over it.
Cats with declawed paws could find it hard to dig in the litter with large granules. Therefore, go for a fine-grained litter instead of large ones.
Non-tracking
In declawed cats, the problem of tracking is the biggest one. The litter that results in tracking could be a real mess for you to handle. You can easily track your cats down if you have not opted for a good litter. The best litter is one that does not stick to cats’ feet.
There are various litters in the market, which claims non-tracking in cats. If you have not paid attention to this factor, then it would not only cause irritation in your declawed cats but also create a mess for you. You have to make sure that the litter does not stick to fur or paws of your cat.
Low-dust
After the surgery, you have to opt for litters that contain fewer dust particles. After removing bandages from cats’ feet, you have to keep them away from dust as not to contaminate their wounds. It is best to avoid clay litters during this time due to their fine granules.
In order to prevent infections, you have to choose a litter box that has low-dust particles. It is even important to clean the litter box every then and now. When your cats have fully recovered, then you can go for other litters.
No smell
Before buying a litter, make sure that it has abilities for removing odors. Cats do not like stinky smells and could not go to even stinky places. These smells are intolerable by them and even to the cat owners. So, it is better to look for a litter that has odor locking mechanism.
On the other hand, the litter should not include any strong artificial fragrances or scents. Cats cannot even tolerate these kinds of smells. Therefore, opt out an unscented litter for a better choice.
Non-Clumping
Clumping litters are mostly preferred by many cats but after the surgery, they might not be the best option for your cats and not even biodegradable ones like wheat, corn, wood, etc. If your cats have recently declawed, then clumping litter might cause serious infections by sticking to their feet.
You can go for clumping litters after your cat has fully recovered from the surgery as clumping litter boxes are easier to clean and preferable by cats.
Moisture-free
While choosing a litter, always pay attention to whether it is moisture free or not. Mostly, cats do not prefer damp litters including my lovely Toasty. The wet litters make surroundings even messier, which sticks to fur or paws of cats. It makes cats dirty and untidy. Cats avoid going to wet litter boxes and therefore, a moist litter is not a clever choice for cats.
Choose a litter that is easy for use, which cats can use whenever they wanted to. So, always go for a moisture-free litter to avoid any mess.
What To Do If Your Declawed Cats Avoid The Litter Box?
You might be aware of the fact that declawed cats often reject going to litter box altogether. Cats feel immense pain and discomfort while walking over a litter box. Therefore, declawed cats prefer to poop over soft surfaces like sofa or bed so as to reject going to a litter box. It might create a big mess for you if cats have taken over this habit. It would be difficult for you to make them go back to a litter box once again.
In order to avoid these situations, you can try out some methods to make them go back to a litter box.
Conclusion
So, if your cats have undergone the declawing surgery due to any reasons, then you should make them feel comfortable instead of making things worse for them. You cannot make them go to their litter boxes forcefully. For this, you have to choose a right litter for them based on their needs.
It might be possible that you have to try more than one litter for your declawed cats in order to know what might be the best one for them or suits best for their needs. So, do not feel exhausted and try to find the best product for your cat because your cat might be suffering more than you at the moment.
If your cat is still avoiding the litter box, then you should consult your doctor in order to know if there are any other health issues related to this problem. You can ask any queries or questions related to this topic in the comment section below. You can even share your experiences with us. We would love to hear them and respond to them as well.
