The Best Cat litter for cats with sensitive paws is Dr. Elsey's Paw Sensitive Multi-Cat Strength Cat Litter.
Are you having trouble finding the best cat litter for your cats with sensitive paws?
Does he have sensitive paws or is he just extra picky about his kitty litter?
Cats are beautiful creatures, but unfortunately for them, they do not always land on their two feet.
It is no wonder then that multiple cats present with paw problems.
Most of these issues are caused by a sensitive (or even painful) paw.
You have to choose the appropriate cat litter very carefully since cats that have undergone surgery have extremely sensitive paws.
Even the slightest imperfection might cause them discomfort.
It is important to look at what kind of litter you are using right now and try to figure out if it happens to be a good option or not for your recently declawed cat.
A cat is indeed a great gift to anyone.
A wrong choice of cat litter for newly declawed cats may lead to the development of various health problems.
The following article will tell you how to choose the best litter for your cat’s sensitive paws.
It will give you tips and tricks on what to look for when buying this new litter to use after declawing your kitty.
You have come to the right place.
I have reviewed different kinds of cat litter and I found these five to be the best options for you.
The Best Cat Litter for Sensitive Paws Top Picks
If you are pressed for time, here are the top 5 picks for the best litter for cats with sensitive paws that I recommend for your feline friends:
- Dr. Elsey’s Paw Sensitive Multi-Cat Strength Cat Litter
- Yesterday’s News Softer Texture Fresh Scented Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter
- Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Unscented Cat Litter
- Purina Yesterday’s News Unscented Paper Cat Litter
- sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Wheat Cat Litter
Types of good cat litter for sensitive paws
1. Paper Cat litter:
This is the best cat litter for injured paws.
This is ideal especially during the very first weeks post-surgery since it has a soft texture that’s gentle on your cat’s sensitive paws.
Paper is dust-free and non-clumping making it good to avoid infection.
A homemade, short-term remedy is by shredding newspaper and using that as litter even though this doesn’t control odor like the commercially available paper litter in pellet form.
2. Corn litter:
This is a soft cat litter for sensitive paws that’s easy to scoop and clumps well.
It’s soft on the sensitive paws but should be used only when the wounds have healed completely due to the clumping effect of the litter.
It is the best cat litter after declawing to offer your cat.
It has great odor control and may be a little dusty hence tracking can occur.
Corn is a common target for aflatoxin mold growth and can be toxic to cats; hence most cat owners with cats with declawed paws will avoid using corn litter.
3. Wood Litter:
This is suitable for delicate paws but ensures the wounds have completely healed if any.
It is a friendly cat litter for declawed cats.
Go for a non-pellet wood litter that’s specifically designed for cats with sensitive paws.
These are fine granules that have great absorbency and odor control with clumping abilities.
It’s biodegradable too.
Common wood pellets break down into sawdust when wet and the dust has the potential of clogging the cat wounds.
4. Wheat Litter:
This is good for a cat whose wounds have completely healed. It is an ideal soft cat litter for sensitive paws.
This is biodegradable litter that’s natural and has clumping abilities due to the wheat starch.
The enzymes present in the wheat neutralize odors. It has low dust levels too but sticks on the cat’s paws causing tracking.
5. Grass Litter:
It’s good for cats with sensitive paws but only for those that are completely healed in case of declawing.
It is one of the best cat litters for declawed cats.
It has good clumping abilities and is biodegradable since it’s natural.
It does a good job of controlling odors and is easy to scoop.
What litter is best for cats with sensitive paws?
1. Dr. Elsey’s Paw Sensitive Multi-Cat Strength Cat Litter
Dr. Elsey’s Paw Sensitive Litter is 100% natural multi-cat litter with good texture.
It’s the best litter for declawed cats.
Pros:
- It provides great odor control
- It has the ideal granule size and feels for your cat’s sensitive paws
- It is a low dust litter great
- Forms hard clumps that are easy to scoop
- Works well with sifting and mechanical litter boxes
Cons:
- It’s not completely dust-free
- May track
2. Yesterday’s News Softer Texture Fresh Scented Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter
Yesterday’s News Softer Texture litter is an eco-friendly litter with good absorption properties and is made from recycled materials.
It’s one of the softest cat litter options ideal for declawed cats.
Pros:
- It is a soft textured pellet paper litter
- This soft kitty litter has good odor control
- It’s a low tracking cat litter
- It is an environmentally friendly litter
Cons:
- Fecal matter is hard to see, as it’s similar in color to the litter
- Harder to scoop
- The litter scent may be strong on the nostrils
3. Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Unscented Cat Litter
This soft cat litter is free from artificial fragrances, synthetic chemicals, and toxic dyes.
It is easy to clean and has a fresh natural scent to it.
It’s one of the softest cat litter options ideal for declawed cats.
Pros:
- It has an ultra-soft texture for cats with sensitive paws.
- This soft litter for cats is a biodegradable environment-friendly plant-based litter
- This soft kitty litter prevents ammonia odor from being released keeping your house smelling fresh
- This soft litter for cats forms good solid clumps that are easy to scoop
- It is a low dust cat litter
Cons:
- This soft litter for cats is not completely dust-free
- This litter has a very strong pine scent to it
4. Purina Yesterday’s News Unscented Paper Cat Litter
The Purina Yesterday’s News unscented paper cat litter is made from non-abrasive pellets crafted from recycled paper.
It’s a soft cat litter for declawed cats.
It has the following key features:
- There are no added fragrances, hence not a scented litter.
- It is a non-clumping cat litter for sensitive cats.
- Free from harmful chemicals, making it a safe, nontoxic litter
Pros:
- It is easily adaptable by your cat. Cats sometimes can be picky on which type of litter to use and this one has proven over time to be a favorite of cats.
- Cats instinctively go for fine, sand-like litters that resemble the natural soil. This litter has been designed to mimic this.
- It is one of the best cat litter after declawing that’s virtually free from dust
- It is a non-tracking cat litter with almost zero tracking in the house.
- It has effective odor control inside litter boxes.
- It absorbs 3x the urine moisture by mass than your traditional clay cat litter.
Cons:
- Litter box scooping isn’t that easy since the litter doesn’t fall through the scoop seamlessly from the litter boxes.
- Some tiny particles do track
- The odor control may not be excellent in some case
5. sWheat Scoop Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Wheat Cat Litter
Description
Good for multi-cat households since the litter box frequency is high.
It is free from added perfumes, dust, or dyes, hence not a scented litter.
It’s a soft cat litter for declawed cats.
Key Benefits
- It is a natural ultra-absorbent litter and eco-friendly due to its biodegradable nature.
- It has good odor control due to the wheat starches and the natural enzymes that neutralize the ammonia odors.
- It’s a flushable litter for sensitive cats.
Cons:
- It doesn’t clump well and sticks to the litter box and when cats pee on it
My declawed cat won’t use the litter box: How do I solve this issue?
Sensitivity can be heightened by declawing your cat.
Declawing is the process of removing the cat’s claws and toes up to the first joint. This is an invasive process and affects how your cat steps on the litter.
As a result, the cat paws are extremely tender and sore thus requiring special attention and special cat litter.
After your feline friend leaves the surgical room, using the litter box can be painful for days and weeks due to the declawed paws.
Your cat will then begin avoiding the litter box due to the pain he experienced while stepping on it.
They will then opt for a more comfortable space like a couch or bed.
The traumatic declawing procedure and post-operative pain are sources of stress for cats and stress and anxiety are common triggers for a cat to avoid its litter box.
Retraining your cat later to use the litter box associated with pain after he has healed can be a tall order.
For this reason, getting a cat litter for cats with injured paws and a cat litter that doesn’t stick to fur will be ideal during this recovery period.
This will ensure your cat doesn’t help himself on your favorite couch and will save you the stress and time needed to retrain your cat to use the litter box again.
Pro tip: Adding a pheromone spray to the cat's litter or catnip can act as an attractant and draw your cat to use the litter box, while they help him calm their nerves.
Caring for declawed cats:
Once healing has progressed and it’s time to remove the bandages on the declawed paws, you should take extra care to ensure the infection doesn’t set in.
This can occur due to the litter box bacteria plus the dust that would clog and infect the wounds. This is common with clay-based kitty litters.
Ensure you are cleaning the litter box with proper diligence and sanitizing it daily to prevent infection. This should continue until the wounds heal.
Quick-fire tips on taking care of your cat paws:
- Once your cat tolerates you handling his paws, ensure you examine them daily.
- Before and after inspection, use a soft cloth to wipe the cat paw pads, as well as around the pads and between the toes. This removes any dirt and unwanted foreign objects from his toes.
- Treat your cat’s dry paw pads by moisturizing them with olive or coconut oil. Confine him in a bathroom afterward until the oil absorbs completely to prevent him from tracking it through the house.
If your cat has undergone a declawing procedure and he’s not completely healed, the only and best cat litter to use that I recommend is the paper litter.
Pro tip Summary:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can litter hurt a cat’s paws?
Yes, clumping litter can hurt your cat’s paw pads.
If they get any of this material stuck between pads and toes, it can dry out the skin and cause irritation and infection.
Be sure to wash your cat’s paws after they use the litter box before they have a chance to lick them.
Some cats are sensitive to the texture of certain litters. If your cat seems to be avoiding the box, it could be that he doesn’t like the litter you’re using.
If your cat is overweight, look for a lightweight litter that can help him feel more comfortable getting in and out of the box.
Cats who are very sensitive to it might have a problem with cat litter that is too rough for their paws, such as clay litter with large grains.
Any kind of abrasive litter can hurt cat paws, but some types can cause serious injury or illness.
Some cats may even develop painful sores on their paws if they use harsh cat litter.
The best way to protect your cat is to use a good-quality litter that is soft on its paws, dust-free, and contains no chemicals.
What kind of litter doesn’t stick to paws?
The best kind of litter that doesn’t stick to your cat’s paws is a non-clumping litter that forms hard pellets when it gets wet.
Another option is clumping litter made from corn, paper, or wheat.
These litters are flushable and biodegradable, so they don’t stick to your cat’s paws or fur.
The downside is that it doesn’t absorb urine as effectively as clumping litter does. Ensure you keep the box clean by changing it often.
How do you keep cat litter from sticking to paws?
- Invest in a quality kitty litter mat. These mats come in all shapes and sizes. When the cat exits the box, his paws land on the mat. As he walks off the mat, the excess litter gets shaken off his feet and is trapped by the mat.
- Use a finer grain litter such as newspaper pellets instead of clay litter.
- Invest in a litter box with a ramp on its entrance. This helps get the litter off the cat’s paws as he leaves the box.
Conclusion:
Litter is a sensitive subject for people and their pets, no pun intended.
There are a lot of things you can do to ensure that your cat avoids having itchy, irritated paws.
But the best thing you can do is find the most absorbent and natural cat litter for sensitive paws.
There are many factors to consider when trying to determine the best cat litter for sensitive paws.
Luckily for you, this guide will save you headaches of research and ‘scammy products’.
Avoid cat litter that’s made with artificial dyes to avoid irritating the cat’s sensitive paws.
Once he has healed and no wounds exist and the paws are no longer sensitive, you can use the other recommended litter options based on his preference.
If you are interested in my cat litter comparison chart that will help you pick the best cat litter for sensitive paws, let me know!
