by Deciding the best guinea pig bedding can be pretty tough. And it is especially the case if you don’t know where to begin and what to look for. As these little fur balls are wild animals, they prefer a more natural setup, and timothy hay is one of them.
But there are some other options that you can explore. You must remember that providing them with proper bedding is essential for their healthy growth.
This guide will give you all the details you need to set the perfect bed for your little friend.
So, let’s dive right in, shall we!
Why is Bedding So Important for Guinea Pigs?
By providing your guinea pig with proper bedding, you are providing it with the right conditions for quality rest time. The bedding you should provide your little friend with must have some insulation.
With this insulation, your little piggie can stay warm in winter and cool in summer. But of course, you will have to consider your budget too. Some of the options you explore will seem a bit too expensive.
The guinea pig bedding you should provide must also have enough absorbing power. Your little friend shouldn’t feel wet during their resting time and catch a cold.
You should also consider giving them a blanket. These blankets will help them to maintain their body heat pretty comfortably. Any blankets would do the job, but a fleece blanket is a better option.
Types of Guinea Pig Bedding
Most cavy owners use fleece. Some parents prefer aspen bedding and paper-based bedding for their little furballs. These three types of guinea pig bedding are safe to use with these little creatures.
Paper bedding
Paper bedding is the best choice that you can use for guinea pig bedding. It is because it is absorbent, soft, and provides good odor control.
But paper bedding from different brands is available in different types and qualities. So making the right decisions becomes a hefty task.
Fleece bedding
Using these materials for guinea pig bedding is still pretty fresh. But it is consistently getting popular among guinea pig owners. This guinea pig bedding is excellent for homemade cages and even C&C habitats.
Fleece is soft and can provide your little furry friend with a cozy and comfortable night’s sleep. But you need to ensure that the underlayer of fleece should be good for absorbing fluids like urine. Puppy pads or haul pads can work here.
Aspen bedding
Vets often recommend Aspen, which is completely safe for your little animal. It is scent and dust-free, but it is not good enough for odor control. If you use this bedding, you will have to do more cleaning of the cage. Small Pet Select aspen bedding is a good choice to consider.
Other Types of Guinea Pig Beddings
Now, let’s have a look at some other types of guinea pig bedding that you can consider with their positives and negatives.
Fleece cage liner
Fleece cage liner is a good option to consider as it is eco-friendly and hypoallergenic. You can sew thick layers of padding in between the layers.
It will make it more absorbent and even antibacterial. Cage liners are also free of dust made of natural materials. But they need to be cleaned regularly, and you will need special-purpose pet-friendly detergents to clean them.
Unscented, large granule, or strand paper pellets
This guinea pig bedding is pretty useful as it offers excellent odor control. It is three times more moisture absorbent, and you don’t have to deal with any wet zones or puddles.
You might think these pellets are large but paw-friendly and non-abrasive. They are non-toxic and eco-friendly and are safe if your little friend ingests them.
You also won’t have to deal with any clumping. But it is a pretty expensive option. Still, we highly recommend going for World’s Best Cat Litter.
Natural paper bedding
Natural paper bedding is another good option to consider for your little furballs. And you can use it for any other small animal.
This bedding is 100 percent safe for your little friend and is comfortable and fit too. You will also get excellent odor control. But inferior beans tend to feel pretty dusty. Smart Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding is a good option to go for.
White, unbleached paper bedding
This bedding is made from all-natural paper, making it 100 percent biodegradable. Moreover, you will get it at a pretty comfortable price. But keep in mind that it will expand a lot as soon as you take it out of the packing.
Crumble paper bedding
Another great option for your tiny friend, this bedding is cozy and soft. This is also an affordable option, so you can go for a premium quality brand too and still save a lot. It can control odors pretty well and is almost 100 percent dust-free.
It is made from 100 percent recycled paper and contains no harmful chemicals. However, it absorbs a lot and becomes heavy, and expands too. So, go for the quality Vitakraft Fresh World Crumble bedding for small animals.
Soft paper granules
Soft paper granules also function pretty well as guinea pig bedding. They have small granules and are comfortable and soft for your little friends. This bedding is made from wood fibers, ensuring excellent odor control and high absorption.
You can also compost them, and they are almost 100 percent dust-free. But you have to be careful as cheaper brands can be dusty, and these granules can also get heavy when they absorb too much fluid. A good option that you can go for is Kaytee Soft Granule Blend.
Confetti paper bedding
Confetti paper bedding is great for pet bedding too. It’s 100 percent biodegradable and is an affordable option. The confetti-style bedding is super comfortable for your little fur ball and looks pretty nice.
This bedding is user acrobat and effortless to clean too. But color combinations can vary, and you might not get what you see in the picture. Carefresh presents you with its quality confetti paper bedding which is a good option to consider.
Bedding Types for Your Guinea Pig to Avoid at All Cost
There are also some bedding types that you need to avoid at all costs. No matter what material type you choose, you should avoid the following bedding types no matter what.
Softwood shavings or ships, such as pine or cedar
Guinea pigs have a very sensitive respiratory system. Pine and cedar trees can release oils, dust, and phenols that can be harmful and unhealthy for your little friend. You can go for kiln-dried shavings, so the phenols and oils are all dried out. But there are various other options available that you can go for.
Straw
Straw is a dirtier version of hay and rodents love hay, but straw is not an ideal liner habitat for them. It doesn’t have any absorbing quality, and urine or other body fluid will pool in straw. This will create a dangerous environment for your little friend.
Corn husk
Corn husks are prone to mold, and they are not suitable to be used for bedding. And if your little friend ingests corn husk, it can cause intestinal blockages.
Clumping cat litter
Cat litter is something that is not meant to be lived in. It can clump feces and urine and neutralize odors, but it’s not an ideal option for guinea pig bedding. Clumping occurs due to chemicals, and that is why it’s dangerous to be ingested.
FAQs
What pet bedding should I avoid for my guinea pig?
You should not go for bedding that has corn husks, straw, camping cat litter, or any softwood shaving sourced from cedar or pine. These are harmful to your little friend, and you should not use these as guinea pig bedding.
What can I substitute for guinea pig bedding?
You can use fleece, hay, newspaper, shredded cardboard, or shredded paper as a substitute for guinea pig bedding. You can also use bath towels or mats as your guinea pig bedding.
What is the best hay for guinea pig bedding?
The best jay for guinea pig bedding is timothy hay with a long stem, or you can also go for meadow hay. It’s not only a good bedding material but also tends to be a food source for your little furry friend. Therefore, you should ensure that this hay is always available to your guinea pigs.
Final Word
Ultimately, we would like to emphasize the need to keep those cages clean. You need to make sure that you must clean your cavies’ habitat once a week. It will not only keep them happy but will also stay in good shape.
You also won’t have to wait for your schedule to remove any food, water spills, or heavily soiled bedding. Instead, checking out your piggy’s cage should be part of your daily routine.
