guinea pig bedding
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Guide to Guinea Pig Bedding
Despite the fact that guinea pigs are relatively low maintenance pets there are still some rules that must be observed when it comes to selecting guinea pig bedding.
First of all the following guinea pig bedding materials must be avoided:
- A folded bath towel.
- Pine shavings – these are POISONOUS for guinea pigs. Kiln dried pine shavings are available. In theory, being baked at high temperatures removed most of the poisonous resins. The only issue with kiln baked pine is if the materials are not actually baked as claimed as this is not regulated. This means there is always a chance that the pine you are using could be harming your guinea pig.
- Cedar shavings – EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. Cedar shavings are known to cause respiratory problems. Some guinea pigs are also allergic to cedar.
- Straw – Straw is rough and may injure your guinea pig. Straw also does not absorb droppings nor smell.
Here are the guinea pig bedding materials we recommend:
- Aspen (expensive and no odor control.)
- CareFRESH – CareFRESH looks sort of like shredded egg cartons and is made from wood pulp that cannot be processed into paper. CareFRESH is especially popular because it inhibits the formation of ammonia thus providing excellent odor control.
- Crown Pellet Bedding – made from recycled newspaper which is then compressed into pellets. Like CareFRESH, crown pellet bedding controls odor but due to its rough texture it cannot be used as the sole bedding. Instead layer underneath something softer.
- Corn Cob Bedding – popular for its ‘organic’ roots and soft enough to use as the sole bedding. If you choose to go this route please monitor regularly for mold growth as corn cob bedding grows mold faster than other bedding options.
- Timothy Hay – This is the option we consider the best for the following reasons – Timothy hay is soft, has a wonderful scent, and is a food source for your guinea pig. In fact your guinea pig will spend hours tunneling around in the hay…making sleeping nests, etc. The best place to purchase Timothy hay is directly from a farmer, farm supply store, or gardening center.
- Fleece – found at your local craft store (see below.
A note on newspaper – many people feel using newspaper as bedding is not the best solution as it tends to stink and tear up into little bits when wet.
For UK vistors, I know people sometimes have trouble finding supplies. Give B+J Dance or http://www.planetguinea.co.uk/ a try for fleece bedding, Medibed, Aubiose, or Jopack Flax. If you are looking for hay try www.dustfreehay.co.uk or www.thehayexperts.co.uk.
Guinea pig bedding: Fleece!
These days it looks like everyone is talking about try fleece bedding. What are the advantages? Aside from being soft and snuggly, fleece is reusable – all it requires is a toss in the washing machine. Think of the money saved on bedding that has to be disposed of every week. Make sure you understand though, fleece is not going to absorb urine. Yes, this is actually an advantage. Instead the fleece will wick the urine down to an underlayer of bedding (towel, newspaper, puppy training pads…) which will absorb the urine – while THE FLEECE STAYS DRY. So, this should actually be more comfortable. Some people also consider fleece bedding a safer alternative than wood shavings or products like careFresh which can be dangerous when ingested.
Getting Started With Fleece Guinea Pig Bedding
The kind of fleece you are looking for is 100% polyester. A fabric store or Walmart will offer a large selection of colors and prints which can be cut to any length. In general, fleece is not too expensive and for the most part you can expect it to last around two years. I recommend buying enough fabric for two beddings per cage as this will allow you to have one in the cage and one being washed.
This is the most important step: Wash it Multiple Times
Once you have made your selections take the fabric home and run them through the washer and dryer 3-4 times. The reason for this is to encourage the maximum amount of shrinkage before you cut the blankets to size AND to encourage the fabric to absorb moisture instead of repelling it. Make sure during this process you do not add fabric softener as this can promote repelling water.
Best Fleece Bedding Setup
One to two layers of fleece max. Any more and the urine will not be able to reach the underbedding.
Consider combining underbeddings for maximum benefit. Fleece then towel then newspaper or puppy pad. Why? Newspaper has a bad habit of sticking to fleece and it needs to be replaced pretty quickly (as it will start to smell.)
Recommended New Material for Absorbent Inner Layer for Guinea Pig Bedding
“Zorb” is a brand new super-absorbent type of fabric than can be found here. Zorb is made up of fibers from bamboo, cotton, viscose, and poly micro fiber. According to the manufacturer 1 layer of Zorb is as absorbent as 3 layers of flannel and 2.25 layers of french terry. Zorb leaks less than other absorbent fibers due to the fact that it is able to quickly soak up and distribute liquid.
