my cat is declawed, the animal hospital told us to put shredded paper in her litter box but she's not using it

Question

she's not using her litter box and i'm worried, what should i do?!

Answer 1

DON'T use clay litter until she's healed (10 days after surgery) because the dust can get into the incisions and cause an infection. After she's healed, use whatever you want. Go to the pet store and get a brand of litter called Yesterday's News, it's pelleted recycled newspaper. There's no dust and it feels more like regular litter to the cat. We switched to this for declawed cats where I work about a year ago, and haven't had anyone refuse to use it yet. About 1/3 of cats will not use plain shredded paper. For a really picky cat, or in a pinch, you can put regular litter in the box, then put the whole box in a garbage bag, so she is actually pawing and peeing on the plastic bag, but can feel the litter underneath the plastic. It's messy but safer for the cat.

Good luck : )

Answer 2

Try Yesterday's News. But switching litter can be a tough thing to do at any time, my cat isn't declawed but I once got that recycled paper litter when the regular clay litter was sold out.... he was mad! He only used the box once that night after standing near the box and complaining loudly, so first thing next morning (we have no 24hr stores where I live) I got him a bag of his regular litter at another store. The normal tip for changing litter is always mixing in some new litter with the old and changing gradually, some cats really hate switching, however you can't do that now. If she really doesn't want to use it you might try a very small amount of regular litter at the very bottom so maybe it'll smell a bit familiar... but not too much because it can easily cause infections on her paws.

If I were a vet I would advise people to switch to recycled newspaper litter before the declaw procedure so at least the cat is used to it! That might prevent some problems both immediately after the surgery and long-term. The more stress is involved with using the box, in addition to the physical discomfort, the greater the chance she'll stop using the box altogether. That unfortunately is a frequent complication with declawed cats -I really wish you'd asked questions on here before the procedure, this and other complications (biting, regrowths, arthritis later on in life) are not uncommon in declawed cats and it's for good reason that in many countries declawing is illegal. But what's done is done, I hope you get your cat to use the box with the other litter and she'll be one of those that heal well without complications.

Answer 3

Put in Yesterdays News, it's a newpaper condensed litter that is hard and closer to litter for the cat. Or try one of the other non-clay litters at your local pet store. If nothing else works use the normal type of litter but check your cat's paws to ensure none gets into the wounds, if it does just wash the cats paws with water. The vet wants you to use newspaper only while the cat is healing from the declaw surgery, which is about a week or two, then you can go back to your normal litter.

Answer 4

You can also try (in addition to the Yesterdays News), Litter Pearls, which is a clean litter as well. If all else fails, put a *very thin* layer of high quality dust free litter in the bottom of the box, then the shredded paper on top (at least an inch). You cat will smell the litter which should encourage her to use the box but the paper on top should protect her toes.

Answer 5

we had our furry baby declawed last week. our vet said the same thing. when we had our first baby declawed she would not use the litter pan, i remembered this at the vet sat. when we picked up our little guy. i asked the vet and she said that there is a product called yesterday's news. that is what we used with the first cat too. it is a softer litter than the clay and is made from recycled newspapers. in the a.m. call your vet and ask if this is ok. here in ohio, we found it in a pet store called jack's aquarium and pets. i hope your little one feels better soon, she has a good caring owner who loves her.

Answer 6

please do not use regular clay or scooping litter. you can try Yesterdays News, you should be able to find it in any pet store and Shop Rite Supermarket also carries it. If you are still having a problem I would recommend contacting your vet for other alternatives. Good Luck.

Answer 7

Since it's already too late, the Yesterdays News is a good idea. But you are a barbarian, and I'll personally cheer for your cat every time she takes a dump in your house somewhere.

Answer 8

Once she heals you can use regular clumpable litter. For now continue to use shredded paper. Just think of it as your punishment for doing that inhumane thing to your cat.

Answer 9

when my mom had her cat declawed at age three, which apparently makes it harder for them, more pain, we left him at the vet for four or five days. by the time he came home he was doing everything almost normal. if you can afford the extra $ for boarding i would do that. but our reasons may have been different. good luck.

Answer 10

Yesterday's News is manufactured by American Colloid and is carried by many independent pet shops. It is also quite good for ferret cages. There is also one other product you can use that is similar and made by Kay-tee.