Does your cat have Sensitive paws? Here are some litter suggestions

Last updated on July 5th, 2024 at 11:52 am

If you have a cat with sensitive paws you know how hard it can be fi tind a litter that works for you and them.

In the 20 years, I had been a cat owner I’d never known any of my cats to have sensitive paws. Or at least I didn’t think they did.

This all changed when Teddy, Dylan, and Sam came to live with us. Dylan and Sam didn’t seem to have any issues.

But Teddy seems to have sensitive paws.

I noticed this when I used the crystal litter for them when they were younger. He would use the litter box but seemed a bit hesitant to dig. He also wasn’t fond of the crystal litter from the automatic litter box they tested either.

I’ve found at least two litters that they enjoy using and don’t hurt Teddy’s paws.

a few factors to consider

Not all litters are a one size fits all product. You have to consider a few factors.

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• number of cats in your home
• Litter type
• Litter bag/box size
• Price
• avaiabilty

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The major ones are the number of cats in your home and the litter type. The second important factor is the price point.

Being that I am a 5 cat household (Sophie, Dylan, Sam, Teddy, and Winnie). We have 3 litter boxes so I need to factor in what would be the most economical litter for me.

Let’s talk litter for a second

Litters come in many different types and different materials. some people only like to stick to one type of litter while others may use different types.

There are a few different types. There is traditional clay, crystal, and natural litter. Even the litter types may vary from large, medium to fine grain, or even pellets.

Natural litter can be made out of a variety of materials. They range from paper to corn to even wood and nutshells.

I think each litter has its pros and cons and maybe a bit pricier than others. But for a cat with sensitive paws, you may have to try a few products before you find one that they like.

So I thought I’d start with two products I’ve used and go from there.

Clay litters

I”ve tried my share of clay litter over the years and have always used different brands. a few years ago I began using unscented litter because some of the brands were adding so much fragrance that it was making me dizzy. It also made Sophie sneeze.

I will add that I’m not a fan of light clay litters. they were a bit messy and stuck to my Sophie’s paws something awful.

The two clay litters that I found Teddy liked were the following.

BoxiePro Deep Clean, Scent Free

Overall the BxiePro litter is easy to use and didn’t stick to the litter pan much. I liked that it offers probiotics in it to help cut down on odor.

I would say it’s a medium grain litter. It has some dust but it’s not too bad. It also has about average tracking. Odor control is good but as with any litter, some odors may linger for a bit even after cleaning the litter box.

Boxie pro is sold in two sizes a 16 lb bag and a 28 lb bag.

Both bags have a resaleable closure.

Price point: $$-$$$ Moderate to expensive

The 16 lb bag retails for $19 to $22 USD. The 28 lb bag is around $27 USD prices will vary by retailer.

Dr. Elsey’s Paw Sensitive

This litter by far has been the best for us. Teddy loves this litter as do I. It’s a fine grain and it clumps evenly. I don’t seem to waste as much litter when cleaning out the litter box.

It does have some dust but it’s not too bad. As far as tracking goes it’s about average. Odor control is good but as with any litter, some odors may linger for a bit even after cleaning the litter box.

The litter is sold in 20 lb bag or box. I wish this product was sold in a larger size.

Price point: $$ moderate

The 20 lb bag or box is priced at around $12 to $13 USD. Price will vary by retailer.

I found it retailers such as Chewy and Petco.

one big plus with these products is that neither of these litters stuck to my cats’ feet or fur.

Natural litter suggestion

I tried natural litter in the past and I will admit they weren’t for me. Even when we were litter training Dylan, Teddy, Sam and more recently Winnie natural litter didn’t seem to work well for me or them. But I will add a few suggestions.

Paper based litter

Yesterday’s news is a paper-based litter. The litter is compressed into pellets. This litter is often recommended when teaching kittens how to use the litter box. The pellets are a decent size.

One of the cons I find with this litter is that it’s non-clumping so you will need to clean or change the litter box often. Also, odor control isn’t the best. It smells like wet newspaper.

It is now sold in different styles such as original (non-clumping), clumping, and soft texture. I’ve only used the original version since that is what I had found in store. I also believe it is sold in a scented form as well.

price point: $- $$ Inexpsensive to moderate price

Yesterday’s news is sold at various size bags from 5 lbs up to 30 lbs prices may vary by retailer.

The 5lb bag is around $6 USD. The 30 lb bag retails for around $23 USD.
prices will vary by retailer and litter type.

I found the 5 lb bag of the non-clumping version via Walmart.

other paper-based litter suggestions:

plant based litter

I haven’t tried any of these litters personally but I thought I’d still offer this suggestion.

ÖKOCAT has a variety of plant-based litter options to choose from.

The litter seems to be from grain to pellet style. The products also range from a 9 lb box to a 19 lb box. Sizes may vary depending on the litter style.

This is a wood litter.

price point: $$ moderate

The price ranges from $13 USD to about $20. price may vary by retailer and litter box size and type.

World’s Best Cat Litter is a corn-based litter. It’s sold in a variety of styles. Litter bag sizes can range from 8 lbs to 32 Lbs. Bag sizes may vary by litter style. The litter is also sold in scented and unscented varieties.

Personally, I only used corn litter once or twice and Pal hated it. I remember it smelled bad too.

price point: $$-$$$ Moderate to expensive

Depending on the bag size i noted prices to be from $11 up to $42 USD. again
Price may vary by retailer product size and type.

I found an 8lb bag at Petco for about $11 USD.

Other plant-based litter suggestions. Visit the links for more info.

a note on crystal litter

As far as Crytal litter and sensitive paws go I would say you can try it and see how your cat takes to it. I noticed the crystal litters i had tried were a bit rough to the touch and some had jagged edges.

Which product is best for your cat?

This is only something you and your cat can decide on. All I can suggest is to purchase the smallest sized product available when you plan to switch. That way you don’t end up with extra litter your cat didn’t like.

as for Teddy and his senstive paws

So far Teddy and his sensitive paws seem to love Dr. Elsey’s sensitive paw litter and Boxie pro. So we’ll be sticking with those for the time being.

Feel free to share your litter suggestions in the comments.