Questions To Ask Before Declawing Your Cat
- How long will this cat be in my home safe from predators?
- What happens if I can no longer keep this cat in my home?
- Will I ever wish that my cat could go outside?
Since removing the claws of a cat leaves them vulnerable to predators, it is imperative that they remain solely an indoor house cat. They need to be completely sheltered from any predator or tormentor. I only have the 2 cats right now. One I have had for over a decade. She does great but absolutely never goes outside. The other is only 2 years, but has adapted extremely well as well.
If you choose to alter your cat you are choosing a path that makes you responsible for that being for it’s life.
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Why Do Declawed Cats Refuse To Use Their Litter Boxes After Surgery
Feline experts believe that there are two main reasons why cats refuse to use their litter boxes after surgery and these are due to physical pain and mental stress.
The presence of pain from the surgical site is the most obvious reason why cats avoid using their litter boxes, especially during the immediate post-operative period.
And this can be expected considering that the aftereffects of the surgery include pain, swelling, and tenderness from the surgical site.
Hence, as mentioned earlier, to alleviate his pain and discomfort, its crucial to choose an appropriate cat litter that features soft materials, such as recycled papers.
Mental stress is a lesser obvious reason for cat litter avoidance after declawing surgery, but it can happen.
And you can better understand this by looking at the world from the eyes or perspective of your cat. As we know, cats perceive and move through the world with their claws and paws.
Just like mutilated humans, without these essential body parts, cats can also feel incomplete and different.
Hence, the stress brought by this sudden change in their body can contribute to the odd, yet, highly-possible post-op behaviors, such as cat litter avoidance or refusal.
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Why Are People Declawing Their Cats
First, when adopting a cat, itâs best to get a sense of their personality. Spend some time with it, play with it, and have every member of your family play with it. Acclimate it to you and your family. That way, you get the chance to see the catâs nature. Cats will scratch out of fear or anger, so if during the session, the cats are too skittish and fearful and scratching you, then maybe thatâs not a good option for your family, but they could work for someone else. Next, their claws can be trimmed! Itâs a little extra work on your end, but it save the cat a world of pain, and the trimming is easy and painless for them. This you will need to do about every two weeks or even more often, depending on your cat. Then, you will avoid painful scratches and couch scratching.
There are plenty of options to choose from other than declawing your cat that can help reduce the likelihood that the cat will scratch you or your furniture. Do not resort to declawing. Not only is it expensive, but itâs also extremely painful for your loveable furry friend!
What Does Declawing Do To Cats
Removing that joint from a cat cause your cats discomfort and pain, and that can lead to other medical issues in the future, such as arthritis.
In addition to physical problems, declawing can cause behavioral problems in many cats. According to Popular Science, in a study of 274 cats of different ages where half had been declawed, declawed cats were seven times more likely to pee outside the litter box, and four times more likely to bite.
These defiant and aggressive actions arenât shocking when you think about it. If a catâs in pain, itâs understandable itâs going to act out. Iâm sure weâve all gotten grumpy when weâve felt sick or in pain, declawed cats sometimes feel this pain constantly.
Sadly, many owners chalk up these behavioral issues as having a âbad catâ, not realizing that their cat is in pain, and end up rehoming the cat or putting it in a shelter. That may be how you got your cat if you adopted it declawed from a shelter. While you canât heal your catâs feet, you do have some options to make your cat happier.
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Purina Yesterdays News Paper Pellet Unscented Cat Litter
Purina yesterdays news unscented cat litter is an eco-friendly, highly absorbent cat litter.
It is made with pellets of recycled paper which result in a smaller ecological footprint compared to traditional clay.
This eco-friendly litter is three times more absorbent than clay and 99.7% dust free, so you wont have to worry about dust making the air unbreathable. It is also safe for cats and humans who are allergic to cat litter.
Purina Yesterdays Newspaper pellet cat litter, is a non-tracking cat litter, and cat parents rarely complain of tracking incidences. It is also fine-textured and gentle on paws of declawed cats.
Pros
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Disclaimer: Thepetly.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. It’s through our own experience and research that we aim to help pet owners understand their furry, feathery, and sometimes fishy friends. You should not use this blog as a substitute for veterinary guidance.
Can Declawed Cats Use Clay Litter
Did your kitty just get declawed? When you bring home a pet after a declawing procedure, you want to ensure their environment is as comfortable as possible. One particular area that needs your attention is the litter box. You should be questioning your choice of litter with a declawed cat, and we’re here to help you with those questions. We’ve gathered our research to explain the relationship between clay litter and declawed cats and potential problems you may run into.
Disclosure: We may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
If clay litters shouldn’t be used, which type of litter does your cat need? Keep reading as we tell you what type of cat litter is best for declawed cats and when your pet can go back to using regular litter.
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Worlds Best Cat Litter Extra Strength
These granules are naturally highly absorbent, lightweight, and provide excellent odor control in the absence of any perfumes or other synthetic chemicals. This is a great litter for maintaining a fresh-smelling home environment whilst ensuring the comfort of your cat.
This cat litter is 99% dust-free for the protection of your cats paws and your floors. It also clumps quickly so that it can be scooped and removed easily.
Worlds Best cat litter is flushable and septic-safe, which is not only convenient but also better for the environment.
Finally, one of the biggest selling points of this litter for after declawing is that it contains a plant-based additive to naturally attract your cat to their litter box.
Because this additive is plant-based rather than synthetic, it is safe for your cat. It may also help to encourage a cat who is reluctant to use the litter box after declawing.
Although corn is preferable to clay as a litter material for after declawing, it should still be restricted to use after a full recovery from surgery has been made since corn kernels can be a little too hard on newly declawed paws.
Pros
- Has clumping ability
- Minor tracking and dust
What makes Worlds Best different from other litters is what its made out of: natural, non-toxic, ground corn husks. First time users are usually shocked by how light weight it is and while the aroma is unique, it isnt over-powering and is easy to adapt to.
Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Litter
Tough on odor, but gentle on a cats sensitive paws, Okocat Super Soft Clumping Wood Litter is a top choice for declawed cats.
This is also a clumping type, so, you can easily scoop out the wastes. However, as with any type of clumping cat litter, its best used for declawed felines with completely healed wounds.
This wood litter is also light, so, your cat can easily dig through it to cover his wastes. Also, the lightweight of this wood litter is helpful for cat owners who are not fond of carrying loads of heavy litter.
Okocat Super Soft Wood Litter uses a formula that easily absorbs liquid that comes in contact and easily forms a clump for easy scooping.
This wood litter is also flushable, dust-free, and is free from harmful chemicals, artificial fragrances, toxic dyes, and GMOs.
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Okocat Natural Paper Dust Free Litter
An eco friendly, non-clumping, pelleted paper cat litter made from recycled paper. The pellets are lightweight and soft and are a clean white paper fiber.
A dust free litter so a good litter to use post operatively for cats that have been declawed.
This is an unscented cat litter, there are no chemicals or artificial fragrances. The absorbent natural plant fibers trap waste odors however if you are used to a fragranced product you may notice some odor.
Whilst recovering from surgery it is important to be more diligent than usual to ensure the litter box is sparking clean to prevent infection.
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Attract Them To The Litter Box
Letâs say you have tried all you can to get your declawed cat to use the litter box. Youâve bought fine grain, low-dust, non-clumping, unscented litter, but they still wonât use it! They keep using the bathroom on your couch, carpets, or bed! What are your options? Youâve completed all the right steps in litter selection, but there are some extra ideas to encourage your cat to use the box. First, if there are multiple cats, and theyâve been sharing with another cat in the house, then itâs time to give them their own box. Since theyâre in pain, they may not want to sit in the other catâs waste or smell the other catâs smell. Animals often like to isolate themselves when injured to give themselves time to heal. Also, put their box in an even more private space and away from the other catâs box. Give them their time and space to heal and use their box at their convenience. If theyâre still avoiding it, then use something in the box that will attract them there. Sprinkle catnip inside or spray a pheromone spray to encourage them to go in! If these also do not work, then itâs best to consult with your vet.
What Cat Litter Should You Use For Declawed Cats
Why do declawed cats pee outside the litter box? As your catâs paws are more sensitive than a non-declawed catâs, every step can be painful at times. Because of this, gritty cat litter can make your catâs feet feel like theyâre stepping on glass. This is why so many declawed cats stop using the litter box, it hurts! Thankfully, if your cat isnât reacting well to standard cat litter, there are softer cat litters for declawed cats so they can comfortable use the litter box. Here are a few of the most popular soft cat litters for declawed cats.
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Prettylitter 20% Off W/ Code Bestlitter
PrettyLitter is unscented, lightweight, and environmentally friendly, and its most amazing benefit is that it changes color when it detects a pH change to alert you to your cats possible health issues. PrettyLitter detects health issues that can be found through a change in pH such as urinary tract infections, bladder stones, inflammation, kidney issues, and more. With a once-a-month convenient delivery service, PrettyLitter costs less than some other typical cat litters and the amount is tailored to suit the number of cats in your home. The absorbent silica gel traps odors and eliminates moisture and is made from natural minerals, which means less dust and allergens and less litter in the landfill.
Pros:
- Detects pH change that may indicate medical issues
Cons:
- Non-clumping can cause tracking
Theyre Missing A Body Part Now
Now that theyâve been declawed, they are lacking in a body part they used to have! They So, that will limit them in their ability to scoop as well as they did in the past, even if they arenât in pain now! Imagine having to learn to walk around without your toes! Their claws were useful in many ways, and now that theyâre gone, we can help make their lives a little easier by creating easy situations for them. Purchase the litter that will be easiest for them to work with. It doesnât have to be as fine or as soft as it needed to be when they first had the surgery, but it canât be too coarse or difficult to move around. Remember, you want to avoid them avoiding the litter box!
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How To Care For A Declawed Cat As They Get Older
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
This video does a good job at talking about all the dangerous associated with declawing.
If you have a declawed cat who is getting older and starting to show signs of declawing-associated medical issues, there are a few things you can do to help your kitty have the best quality of life possible.
What To Consider When Choosing A Litter For Declawed Cats
- Dust Free If your cat has recently been declawed the dust could enter the wound, causing irritation and potential infection.
- Attractants Some litters come with attractants and may motivate your cat to use the litter box.
- Soft Texture Look for soft, fine granules that is easy to walk and dig in.
- Non-Clumping During recovery, choose a non-clumping litter that wont stick in the wounds.
- Size of Granules Large Litter Granules can be hard for cats to move in and dig around in.
- Unscented Cats are sensitive to harsh smells and maybe less likely to use a strong smelling litter box.
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Place Scratching Aversions On Unacceptable Scratching Items
If your cat is scratching a couch, chair, or other piece of furniture, try using a scratching aversion. One option is to cover the furniture with a protective layer of fabric . If this isnt enough to deter your cat, use something your cat wont like the feel of.
Cats who arent deterred by fabric coverings may be less inclined to scratch surfaces covered in plastic. Try using a plastic curtain to wrap the object in question. Placing aluminum foil on the surface is another option, as is double-sided tape.
Covering a surface with double-sided tape can be tedious unless you use a product designed specifically for that purpose. KatSupreme Anti-Cat Scratch Furniture Protector is an example worth considering. It consists of large sheets of double-sided tape you can quickly affix to a variety of surfaces including polyester, cotton, and velvet. Your cat wont like the sticky feel under their paws, so theyll find something else to scratch hopefully a scratching post!
For cats that scratch carpeting or other types of flooring, place a plastic office chair mat over the area with the spikey side facing up.
Place an acceptable scratching surface next to each item you cover. For instance, you might place a scratching post near the couch arm or a horizontal scratching board near the covered carpet. You can also sprinkle catnip near the acceptable scratching items to entice your cat to use them. In time, your cat will learn to leave the forbidden item alone and you can uncover it.