What litter is safe for my cat's sensitive, infection-prone paws?

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If one of Noushmc's paws seem to be wounded, I would recommend she see her veterinarian soon to take a closer look at the paw so it can be evaluated properly. If the underlying tissue is exposed, the paw can become infected and the litter can potentially be problematic if the wound is large enough. You can try using 3% hydrogen peroxide instead of the vinegar and water until you are able to get her seen by her veterinarian. I hope this helps!

Their dust free paper non-clumping kind would be okay. The main objective is to use a litter that is less likely to get into the small incisions on her toes in case there is an open area. Any traditional clay or clumping litter is NOT recommended. Litter in the form of pellets that don’t break apart is what you are looking for. You can also use shredded paper. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

I'm so sorry to hear about Quincy's traumatic event! I would try to avoid a typical clumping litter until his paws have healed a bit more, as the dust and tiny debris can get lodged into the wounds on his paws and make matters worse. Since he won't use the Yesterday's News, you can also try simply using shredded paper or another pelleted litter. This is one example, but there are many other brands: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/purina-tidy-cats-breeze-pellets-refill-litter-for-multiple-cats . If all else fails, you could also try putting old towels in the litter box that you don't mind discarding. I hope that Quincy makes a speedy recovery!

You can try making an Epsom salts soak (directions for dilution with warm water are on the package), which will help to cleanse the toes, and hopefully give Maki some protection against infection - but she might not tolerate it well. You can also purchase an e-collar, which will keep her from licking, as this often causes secondary infection. You can show this to your parents - if the skin is truly peeled back, it's likely that Maki is quite painful (imagine how that would feel) and needs veterinary care in order to protect the area, prevent infection, and treat the pain. You might tell them that dealing with this now, rather than later, may be less expensive, as foot injuries can easily get complicated in cats, since they use a litter box, and infection is common.

I would not recommend applying Quadritop to her incisions - it contains a corticosteroid that could inhibit healing. You may want to try a compressed paper litter like Yesterday's News since the corn could still get stuck in her incisions even though she's not scratching in the box.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Judging from the photo, this looks quite mild so I would not be concerned about this. You can switch out her litter to something such as Yesterday's News so that it is not painful to walk on. I would also apply a topical ointment such as Sentry wound cream (can be found at Petco) and apply twice daily for 3-5 days. This should heal fine on its own. If you begin to notice swelling of the foot or pus coming from the area, then I would take her in to be seen by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I hate to hear Jax did that! Unfortunately, that happens frequently to cats. You are correct that there is a concern that they will get infected. Cats use litter boxes which are sources of infection and the granules can pack into the sores. I would recommend to take him into the vet for antibiotics and an elizabethan collar (so he can't lick the feet). I would also recommend to switch the litter to either paper pellets or feline pine. You can switch back to the normal litter once the feet are healed. Make sure the scoop the body multiple times a day while his feet are healing (will help to keep his feet cleaner). I hope Jax heals quickly!