Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs: Top 6 Choices That Are Safe & Comfortable
Guinea pigs spend most of their time in their habitat, so they require an excellent bedding material that’s not only highly absorbent but also soft and cozy.
As a pet parent, you’re likely looking for the best kind of bedding for your furry friends, something that also keeps odors to a minimum and poses no health hazard to your rodent buddies. Believe it or not, not every bedding on the market is created equal — nor are they all safe for guinea pigs and other small animals.
Now, that’s certainly a scary thought, isn’t it? But, don’t worry, we’re about to give you the run-down on the best — and worst — products for guinea pig bedding. With this great information, you’ll have no problem choosing the perfect bedding material for your cavy condo.
What’s the Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs?
Hands-down, at least in our opinion, the best guinea pig bedding is a reusable material like fleece or bath mats. These are good for the environment, your wallet, and your piggies! They’re also the only suitable bedding for skinny pigs and other hairless breeds.
Disposable bedding types are also good, so long as you don’t use unsafe beddings like cedar wood shavings, or straw. I also recommend composting your disposable bedding to be more eco-friendly!
Some of the most popular disposable beddings include paper, aspen, hemp, and kiln-dried pine shavings.
Overall, safety is most important. Below, we’ll talk about the different types of safe bedding for guinea pigs.
Fleece Bedding
Popular Fleece Options:
Fleece is one of the most popular bedding types for guinea pigs, and there’s a good reason for that! Fleece is durable, soft on little piggy feet, and very easy to use.
There are a variety of options and different price tiers when it comes to fleece bedding.
The cheapest way to use fleece is to layer it yourself—the fleece material on top, and an absorbent layer like towels or puppy pee pads on the bottom. For this, you can find cheap fleece blankets in thrift stores, Walmart, Amazon, etc.
You can sew these layers together to make a liner, or keep them separate and layer them each time you refresh the cage.
The more expensive option is to buy ready-made fleece liners from small businesses like Guinea Dad, TaterPets on Etsy, or your favorite small business. These are more expensive due to the cost of labor, but also the easiest to use.
Pros of Fleece Bedding
- It’s aesthetically-pleasing and comes in a variety of styles
- You can flex your creativity with different colors and patterns to match any décor
- It’s the most comfortable bedding for guinea pigs
- Fleece absorbs urine quickly, preventing wet feet, dirty piggies, and health problems that come from sitting in your own pee!
- It’s dust-free, which is great for guinea pigs’ sensitive respiratory systems and helps avoid upper respiratory infections (URIs).
- It’s one of the cheapest options in the long-term
- Liners can be custom-made to fit your cage, no matter its shape or size
- Fleece is reusable and eco-friendly
- Good for skinny pigs and other hairless breeds
Cons of Fleece Bedding
- It can be the most expensive option to start—though you can save by thrifting fleece and making your own liners, and it will save you money in the long-term
- Fleece must be wicked before use
- Poops sit atop the fleece, requiring more frequent spot-cleaning to look nice
- Hay and fur sticks to fleece and must be brushed off before washing—it’s also a good idea to buy mesh laundry bags for your guinea pigs’ fleece items
- It creates extra laundry, which can be a hassle for busy piggy guardians!
- Fleece liners aren’t sold in pet stores—you can find ready-made liners online, or the materials at fabric stores or grocery stores like Walmart
Bath Mats
Popular Options:
Bath mats are newer to the guinea pig world, but quickly growing in popularity! They’re a wonderful, cheaper alternative to fleece.
Bath mats don’t need to be wicked or have an absorbent layer beneath, making them the easier of the two options as well.
Bath mats are easy to clean—just brush them off, stick them in a mesh laundry bag, and wash them with a gentle scent-free detergent. They’re also very absorbent, comfy, and cheap!
The biggest drawbacks, when compared to fleece, are that the mats might not fit well in your cage and that they come in less color and pattern varieties.
You can find bath mats for cheap in thrift stores, IKEA, Amazon, Target, etc.
Pros to Bath Mats for Guinea Pigs
- They’re cheaper than fleece liners and can be reused, making them the overall cheapest bedding option
- Bath mats are super plush and absorbent, making them very comfy on your piggies’ feet
- They absorb pee and odors quickly
- They’re easy to use—just a single layer, or maybe a waterproof layer beneath to protect your cage or floors—and easy to clean
- Bath mats are one of the most eco-friendly bedding options for guinea pigs
- They’re dust-free, helping to prevent URIs
- Good for skinny pigs and other hairless breeds
Cons to Bath Mats for Guinea Pigs
- You may have to layer or fold bath mats to fit your cage
- They need to be washed regularly, creating extra laundry
- Bath mats also aren’t found in pet stores—but you can get ahold of them easily at almost any store with a home goods section
Paper Bedding
Popular Options:
Paper bedding is one of the most popular bedding options for guinea pigs because it’s cheap—but that doesn’t make it the best bedding out there. Watch that you don’t buy dusty bedding or anything that’s scented, as these can damage your piggies’ respiratory systems and cause URIs.
That said, quality paper bedding is safe and effective. Look for unscented paper bedding that absorbs well, contains odors, and is soft for your piggies’ feet. Good options are Kaytee Clean & Cozy, Carefresh, and Small Pet Select paper bedding.
Pros of Paper Bedding
- It’s easy to use—simply scoop soiled bedding and throw it away
- It’s cheap to start out, though costs add up over time
- Paper bedding can be bought at a pet store, making it easy to access
- For some people, paper bedding is aesthetically pleasing and comes in a variety of colors
- Fits in any cage size or shape
Cons of Paper Bedding
- It can be dusty, depending on brand—this can cause URIs and dusty bedding should be returned or composted immediately
- Scented paper bedding isn’t safe for guinea pigs
- Paper bedding is messier than fleece or bath mats
- It’s more expensive over time than reusable options
- Some brands are very uncomfortable for guinea pigs to walk or sleep on
- May be unsuitable for sick or wounded pigs, such as those with arthritis or recovering from surgery
- Not suitable for skinny pigs or other hairless breeds
- Some guinea pigs might try to eat paper bedding which can cause a blockage in their stomach
Aspen Shavings
Popular Option:
Aspen shavings are another option that is safe, so long as you purchase the right brand. Avoid anything with chemicals, dust, or that’s scented. A good option is Small Pet Select aspen bedding.
Like other disposable options, aspen bedding for guinea pigs is easy to use because it can be scooped out, composted, and replenished. However, this also makes it more expensive in the long-term than reusable bedding.
Pros of Aspen Shavings
- Aspen bedding is cheap to start off with
- It’s safe for guinea pigs so long as it’s scent-free and dust-free
- Fits in any cage size or shape
- Can be bought at a pet store
Cons of Aspen Shavings
- Some brands contain dust—this is unsafe and dusty bedding should never be used for guinea pigs
- Aspen isn’t as absorbent as the options above
- It isn’t as soft as the options listed above
- Small pieces create more mess than fleece or bath mats
- These pieces can also get into wounds, making aspen potentially unsafe for piggies who’ve had surgery
- It also might not be comfortable enough for piggies with arthritis or other painful conditions
- Aspen bedding isn’t suitable for skinny pigs or other hairless breeds
- Expensive in the long-term, as it’ll need to be replaced constantly
- Some piggies may try to eat aspen bedding
Hemp Bedding
Popular Option:
Hemp bedding for guinea pigs is another safe option. Hemp plants grow quickly and are quite pest-resistant, making them easy to grow without chemicals that can harm guinea pigs. Because hemp grows so fast, it’s also more sustainable than tree-based bedding like paper, aspen, and pine.
A good option is RentACoop hemp bedding.
Pros of Hemp Bedding
- Hemp grows fast, making it more sustainable than paper or wood shavings
- It’s easy to use
- It’s very absorbent and masks odors well
- This bedding is usually low-dust or dust-free—be sure to choose a dust-free option
- It tastes bad, so most piggies won’t try eating it
Cons of Hemp Bedding
- It’s messier than the reusable options
- Expensive in long-term, as it needs to be replaced frequently
- It isn’t as soft as fleece or bath mats
- It might not be suitable for piggies with illness or injuries, such as surgical scars or arthritis
- Hemp bedding isn’t suitable for skinny pigs or other hairless breeds
- Not typically found at pet stores
Kiln-Dried Pine Shavings
Popular Option:
Kiln-dried pine shavings are safe for guinea pigs, but the shavings must be kiln-dried. Kiln-drying the shavings removes dangerous phenols that can harm your piggies.
You should also look for shavings that are dust-extracted, scent-free, and soft for your piggies’ feet.
A popular option among guinea pig owners is Tractor Supply pine shavings.
Pros of Kiln-Dried Pine Shavings
- It’s absorbent
- It costs less to start out with
- It’s safe so long as it’s kiln-dried and dust-free
- Can be found in pet stores, though with slightly fewer options than paper or aspen
Cons of Kiln-Dried Pine Shavings
- It costs more in the long-term as it needs to be replaced constantly
- Shavings are messy and can make their way onto the ground outside the cage
- Kiln-dried pine may not be suitable for piggies with illness or injuries, such as surgical incisions or arthritis
- It isn’t suitable for skinny pigs or other hairless breeds
Bedding Types to Avoid
Unfortunately, there are plenty of unsuitable products marketed toward guinea pigs. This includes bedding.
What type of bedding is harmful to guinea pigs?
Well, you always want to avoid bedding with any kind of scents or odor-control, as scented products are bad for your piggies’ respiratory systems. Dust can also cause health problems like URIs, so always choose a dust-extracted bedding.
If you get bedding that you thought was okay, but is dusty, return it or toss it into your compost bin. Trust me, it isn’t worth the risk of your guinea pigs getting sick—which will cost even more money in the long run, and can kill them.
There are also some unsafe wood types that must be kiln-dried before use, or not used at all, which we’ll discuss below.
Softwood Shavings like Cedar and Non-kiln-dried Pine
Did you know that your cavies have a sensitive respiratory system? The dust, oils, and phenols from cedar and non-kiln-dried pine are extremely unhealthy for your pet’s lungs and can give them a myriad of respiratory issues.
This is why we recommend avoiding cedar and pine shavings, unless you’re using a kiln-dried, dust-extracted pine bedding.
Also avoid other softwood chips or shavings.
Straw
While rodents enjoy nibbling on hay, its dryer version — straw — does not make for a suitable habitat liner. Basically, it has no absorbent qualities, so urine and feces would pool in the straw material, creating a horribly unsafe environment to live in.
Add to that the fact that straw is stiff with hard ends – easily creating a danger to sensitive eyes, ears, nose, and feet — and it’s clear how it simply doesn’t make for a comfortable cavy home.
Corn Husks
Highly prone to mold, corn husks make a completely unsuitable bedding material. In the event that these wispy, long, hair-like strands are ingested, it can create intestinal blockages.
Clumping Cat Litter
The thing with clumping cat litter is, it’s not meant to be “lived in.” Sure, it clumps urine and feces, and even has odor neutralizing properties, but it is not meant to be underfoot (or rather, “underpaw”) day in and day out.
What makes the litter clump? The answer is, it’s chemicals that give it clumping properties — making it a dangerous substance should it be ingested. Again, it’s simply not meant to be used as bedding.
Clumping litter is also incredibly dangerous if consumed, and the dust can damage your piggies’ respiratory systems.
Sawdust
Sawdust contains a lot of, well, dust! As we’ve discussed above, dust is dangerous for your guinea pigs to inhale and can cause respiratory issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Guinea Pigs Need Bedding?
Yes! Guinea pigs must have bedding to absorb urine, keep their environment and bodies clean, and prevent disease. Other options, like keeping the cage bare or using a wire bottom to allow debris to fall through, can cause issues like skin infections and bumblefoot.
How Much Bedding Do Guinea Pigs Need?
The entire cage bottom should be covered by your bedding of choice. For disposable bedding, it should have a depth of 2-3 inches after you’ve pressed it down to make it compact. This depth should be kept throughout the entire cage.
What’s the Best Guinea Pig Bedding for Odor Control?
The best bedding for guinea pigs to control smells is going to vary based on brand and cleaning routine, rather than bedding type. Look for bedding that absorbs liquid quickly, as these will have the best odor control. You can test this by pouring water onto the bedding (outside of the cage, of course!).
Also, make sure you’re using your bedding properly. Unwicked fleece and thin layers of disposable bedding will both cause odors, as neither can absorb properly.
What’s the Cheapest Guinea Pig Bedding?
The cheapest guinea pig bedding is bath mats or cheap fleece. Personally, I would opt for bath mats first, as often buying cheap fleece means sacrificing quality.
Can You Use Hay as Bedding for Guinea Pigs?
No. While guinea pigs need constant access to fresh hay, and enjoy burrowing in piles of it, it should never be used as bedding. Hay isn’t comfortable enough for your guinea pigs to live on, and it doesn’t absorb urine or odors well.
What’s the Best Skinny Pig Bedding?
Skinny pigs aren’t just hairless guinea pigs; their furlessness means they require different care. Did you know that hairless piggies eat, drink, pee, and poop around twice as much as a hairy guinea pig?
They also get cold more easily, and can be hurt more easily because they don’t have fur to protect their skin.
The only suitable bedding for skinny pigs are fleece and bath mats. These are soft on their skin, won’t cause injury, and also help to keep them warm.
A Reminder: Clean Cages at Least Once a Week
Lastly, I believe it is essential to quickly mention the importance of keeping cavy cages clean. Not only does cleaning their habitat once a week — at the very least — keep your fizzy friends happy, but it also keeps them healthy and in tip-top shape.
Having said that, don’t wait for your regularly scheduled cleanings to remove any food spills, water mishaps, or heavy soiled bedding. In fact, checking on your pets and your pet’s cage should be a daily occurrence.
I recommend spot cleaning your guinea pigs’ cage at least once a day by removing any soiled bedding and replacing as-needed. Also clean their dishes and check their water bottles or bowls to refill them as necessary.
What are you using for your guinea pigs’ bedding?
Let us know in the comments.
Hi, Thanks for the advices. I agree that all bedding types have pros and cons, so I would add a comment to paper bedding in general: it does have risk! The piggies can eat the paper pieces that can cause serious problem in the stomach as wet balls. This was told by a guinea pig expert veterinarian. Due to this risk she gave me the advice to avoid paper bedding in general.
This vet suggested the use of wood shaving bedding as the best compromise – not perfect but the best choice according to her.
Cheers, Gabor
Yes, although it is not common, unfortunately some guinea pigs can start eating the paper bedding.
When it comes to wood shavings, it is important to avoid cedar and non-kiln-dried pine as they can irritate a guinea pig’s respiratory system and cause allergic reaction.
Paper bedding also varies from pig to pig. We have two and unfortunately, one of them ate the bedding, causing a blockage which after three to four days lead to his death this morning (12/30). The other is totally fine, although we will be switching his bedding at his next cage cleaning to prevent another sad situation. RIP Gizmo.
Oh, no, that’s terrible 🙁 I’m so sorry for your loss. RIP Gizmo.
Yeah, it’s important to monitor our pets when using paper bedding and if they love to nibble on the paper bedding, we should switch to something safer such as fleece.
Here’s a couple suggestions, I use the fleece top liner. Once you do, you can’t take that away from your Pet!!!
When I first got her, I just happened to buy a new HUMAN bed liner that same wakmart trip. So, when I came home, I had my old bed liner, one of those really soft, cotton, I think, liners my back when just to put down first then your sheets over it. They were designed to keep the sheets in place…..that’s what I now use for the absorbent inside lining for the pigs bedding. it’s super absorbent and easy to wash and dry. It was a queen size, so it was big enough for 2 main floor liners, 2 half size upper level liners and 4 smaller “pee-corner” squares. Used wherever they pee the most. You can switch those out mid-week, before you have to change the whole cage liner. And the fleece I got for free from our junk mail. I don’t know about anyone else, but, we receive all kinds of free stuff in the mail. One of which, i think, is from a toys charity or animal protection service, not sure now, but I receive smaller fleece blankets in the mail a few times a year. I used to save these for a cleaning service I did(great for polishing brass and silver). But now that I don’t do that anymore, I get these fleece blankets and there you are! Second suggestion, Use the larger paper roll pellets for the under level of the bedding due to the absorbance, then lay out a double layer of the fleece blankets!!! This is great, and a little less laundry. Pull up the fleece, throw away the under level of paper roll pellets, wash the fleece and back together with a new layer of the paper roll pellets.
That’s an interesting idea, I would never guess a bed liner would make a great bedding material. Thank you for your suggestions!
I prefer puppy pads with kiln dried pine shavings. I want to try fleece but currently don’t wn a washer or dryer!! I spot clean daily and whole cage weekly. I find it relatively easy as I an roll the pyppy pad along with shavings into a largerge garbage bag and hot soapy ater rinse cage bottem. Always provide hay!!
IF IT HELPS WHEN I STARTED USING FLEECE CUZ I NOTICED HOW PRICEY ALOT OF ITEMS WERE ON PLACES.I BOUGHT A BUNCH OF FLEECE THROWS FROM WALMART 2/$5 DEALS & FOUND MATERIAL SOME 4FT FOR $4 DIFFERENT DEALS & STARTED A LIL COLLECTION.I EVEN LOOKED AROUND FOR THINGS I COULD USE AT GOODWILL.THEN I GOT ME SOME BATTING FOR SOME & MADE MY OWN PILLOWS,BEDS & LINERS FOR LESS THAN WHAT PEOPLE CHARGED FOR THEIRS.I CUT UP MY FLEECE THROWS & WHILE SOME WERE IN LAUNDRY I HAD EXTRA TO LINE CAGE.GOT A BUCKET & STARTED A COLL.OF MATERIAL FOR MY CAGES.I PUT PUPPY PADS UNDER MY FLEECE,BUT HIDE THEM WELL OR THE PIGGIES WILL FIND THEM & CHEW ON THEM.$1 HAS PUPPY PADS & SOMETIMES BABY BLANKETS.IVE EVEN USED THE $1 PILLOW CASES FROM $1 TREE.
THANK U SO MUCH FOR THE INFO ABOUT WICH BEDDING IS BEST FOR GUINEA PIGS? I HAVE BEEN WRACKING MY BRAINS CUZ I HAVE TRIED SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES.I HAVE BEEN USING “SOFTWOOD” CUZ I THOUGHT IT WAS THE SAFEST SO MY PIGGIES WOULDNT GET HURT.IVE BOUGHT IT FOR YRS.IVE DONE THE FEECE TOO.YES ALOT OF LAUNDRY.BUT I HAVE A QUESTION TO ANY GUINEA MOMMIES OR DADDYS.”DOES ANY CERTAIN BEDDING ATTRACT ROACHES? ESP.”SOFTWOOD” I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO KEEP ROACHES OUTTA MY PIGGIES CAGE.IVE EVEN CHANGED CAGES, ECT.HAS ANYBODY USED ANY INSECT (PLUG-I NS) THAT KILL ROACHES BUT DONT HARM GUINEA PIGS.? THE APTS I LIVE IN ARE ROACH INFESTED & ESP AT NIGHT THEY ARE ALL IN MY CAGES.PLEASE HELP!!! “FUR~BABY MOMMY”
I have a two week old cavy living with her mother in the same
cage. The baby just started to have watery diarrhea; coffee colored but, no smell. The only time you see the diarrhea is when she crawls over the cloth ramp in the cage and it rubs her bottom. She has been eating some of the mothers lettuce so I think that’s causing it. I also line the cage with unscented wee wee pads and place paper bedding over it. The baby nibbles at the blue plastic from the pads so I am not sure if that’s also causing bowle issues too. I have one water bottle I. The cage but, I never see the baby drink from it. Any help would be appreciated.
Lettuce can cause diarrhea in guinea pigs, especially iceberg lettuce which should be avoided as it has low nutritional value and can cause diarrhea. But I would suggest talking to your vet if you are worried. Also, if your cavy is nibbling the blue plastic, it would be best to switch to something else or try to make it inaccessible to them because it can cause big health issues if they ingest it.
There could be many reasons why your cavy is not drinking water… Maybe they get enough of water from their vegetables, maybe they don’t know how to use a bottle so you can offer a bowl of water instead, maybe they are sick or ill… I would check with the vet to make sure everything is alright.
To stop the baby from nibbling, get a couple cotton swabs and a bottle of Ortega thick and smooth hot sauce! Apply just a thin strip (by cotton swab) of the hot sauce along the whole edge of the pee pad. The smell alone should stop the baby from nibbling the plastic.
HI HOWARD I HAVE 2 TWIN BOYS 1YR OLDS WHEN THEY WERE A FEW DYS OLD THEY FOLLOWED THEIR MOM AROUND & WATCHED HER WHILE THEY STILL NURSED.I MAKE MY PIGGIES SALADS EVERY NIGHT,BUT HERS I MADE A LIL EXTRA & MADE SMALLER PIECES FOR THE BABIES.THE SALADS CONSISTS OF (KALE,CUCUMBER,BELLPEPPERS,& APPLES) & I ALSO DROP A FEW DROPS OF BABY GAS DROPS ON THEIR SALADS SO THEY DONT GET GAS.IF THEY EAT TO MANY GASSY FOODS & DONT GET ENOUGH EXERCISE.THEY CAN GET “STASIS” WICH CAN CAUSE DEATH.I LOST A PIGGIE TO IT. REGULAR LETTUCE IS FULL OF WATER & CAUSES GAS.PIGGIES NEED VIT-C EVERY DAY TO SURVIVE.KALE HAS VIT-C & THEN MY PIGGIES GET BABY CARROTS FOR TREATS AT NIGHT.SO THEN ITS NOT NECESSARY TO GIVE THEM VIT-C DROPS.I USED A PLATE FOR MY PIGGIES FOOD & SOON THEY WERE EATING THE SALAD WITH THEIR MOMMY.I ALSO STARTED WITH A BOWL OF WATER FOR THEM,BUT THEN I ATTACHED A SMALL WATER BOTTLE NEXT TO HERS BUT LOWER & THEY WATCHED HER & SOON WERE DRINKING FROM THEIR WATER BOTTLE.UR BABY NEEDS MORE FIBER & HAY ALWAYS & PELLETS.TRY TO GIVE PLAIN PELLETS.I FIDNT & NOW MINE ARE SPOILED & WANT TO EAT ALL THE GOOD STUFF OUT 1ST.LOL!I LEARNED MY LEASON GOOD LUCK WITH UR BABY
HOWARD I FORGOT.I ALSO USE THE PUPPY PEE PADS & I HAD THE SAME ISSUE OF MY PIGGIES NIBBLING ON THE BLUE PART OF THE PAD EVEN THO I COVERED IT THEY FOUND IT. SO BEFORE I PLACED IT IN THEIR CAGE I CUT THE TRIM OFF AROUND THE PAD SO THEY COULDNT SEE IT & THEN COVERED IT REAL GOOD & THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY.ÇLEAN-UP IS SO MUCH EASIER WITH THOSE PUPPY PADS THATS FOR SURE.
I am wanting to know if my piggie can eat sugar snap peas both pod and the pea itself?
I decided to go with fleece but when I learned it needed to be tested for absorption it didn’t seem to pass the test. I washed it two different times without using fabric softener but it still seems that it is not absorbent. I spent quite a bit of money purchasing the material and would like to use it. Any suggestions? It’s not like I can test it in the store before I purchase
Hi. Yes, sugar snap peas are safe for guinea pigs but they should only be offered occasionally as a treat because they are high in sugar 🙂
I’m sorry to hear you’re having a bad experience with fleece as a bedding. Fleece should be washed at least 3 times before using it as a bedding, without a fabric softener.
Fleece can’t and is not supposed to absorb the pee, that’s why you need an absorbent layer underneath the fleece such as a towel. Hope this helps!
You don’t want the fleece to be absorbent. That’s what helps keep the cage from stinking. Whatever liner you choose to put UNDER it is what needs to be absorbent. Here’s the deal with fleece, it’s supposed to allow “pass through” of liquids. Way different then “absorbent”. Pass Through allows the layer touching your baby or pet to stays dryer, the liquid passes through to the under layer. However, if you have fleece that won’t even allow for pass through (if you pour water on it, and minutes later the puddle is still sitting there, then you have to break the fabric seal. Much like the fabric protection spray that gets applied to new furniture or carpeting, there is a fabric seal on certain kinds of products, some fleece included, depending on the supplier. You remove this by washing it in hot water, with white vinegar. I would stop the machine part way through the wash cycle and let it soak for 15-30 minutes the first time. After that-the fabric protection seal should be gone and the fabric ready to “pass through” any liquid.
HI I USE FLEECE OFF & ON & IVE SEEN HOW PRICEY SOME OF THE FLEECE BEDDING IS.IF U ARE A CRAFTY PERSON LIKE ME.WHAT I DID WAS BUY SOME FLEECE THROWS FROM WALMART 2/$5 I DIFFERENT STYLES.I CUT THEM UP & I HAD SOME OLD PILLOWS THAT I USED STUFFING FROM & MADE LIL PILLOWS & PADS MYSELF.I ALSO WAS LUCKY THAT DOWN THE MATERIAL ISLE IN WALMART THEY HAVE ROLLS OF MARKED DOWN CUT FLEECE & MATERIAL FOR GOOD PRICES.IVE HAD LUCK FINDING ROLLED BATTING AT GOODWILL & BLANKETS & STUFF.I JUST WASH THEM IN UÑSCENTED BABY SOAP REAL GOOD,CUT THEM UP & USE THEM.U CAN EVEN DOUBLE IT & PUT PUPPY PADS “DOLLAR TREE” IN THE MIDDLE & THEN FLIP IT & USE THE OTHER SIDE.THE “DOLLAR TREE” EVEN HAS BABY BLANKETS THAT CAN BE USED.IVE EVEN USED TOWELS THAT I HAVE GOTTEN FOE $3 & CUT UP.MY PIGGIES FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE ON FLEECE BEDDING THAN ANYTHING ELSE IVE TRIED.I HOPE THIS HELPS.
hi there! Have 3 precious cavy girls, I’ve been using fleece pads for a year now, and although they are very pricey, I do believe the savings over time are well worth it, and most importantly, my cavies seem to love it. The down side is that my washer and dryer are taking a beating with each load, no matter how hard I try to get rid of hairs and hay before washing, it is almos impossible, so I am not sure if I will end up clogging or ruining my appliances.
You can use a laundry bag to wash fleece to prevent hay and hair from getting into your washer. If that doesn’t help, I would consider switching to bath mats – they are much much easier to clean than fleece and hay doesn’t stick to them.
HI IVE USED EVERY KIND OF BEDDING & WHEN IT CAME TO THE FLEECE BEDDING I BRUSHED IT OF WITH A SMALL HAND BROOM U CAN GET AT “DOLLAR TREE” SHOOK IT REAL GOOD & THEN IF THEIR WAS HAIR I WENT DOWN THE FLEECE WITH A HAIR LENT ROLLER BRUSH ALSO “DOLLAR TREE” PURCHASE.& IF NEEDED UNSCENTED FABRIC SHEET.THAT HELPED MY PROBLEM.
Clean the cage out with a shop vac first. I saw t a lady suggesting that on Youtube. Our Apples is very picky eater, plus I have tried different types of bedding, the paper works but she likes to eat it sometimes and I would tell her no, she understands NO and her name.
I have 2 male guinea pigs….poor things not well at the moment they got mites .took them to the vet and got them treated but poor cookie has a horrible gash on her side from scraping. .got cream of vet for both of them….also got scurvy from the hay bedding…so have to change bedding..any suggestions..much appreciated. Also is it OK to leave them in a child’s pen .there cage is gone to small for them…they can’t run around in it….
Oh no, poor little guys. I hope your cavies will get better soon.
I suggest you consider fleece or bath mats, or ask your vet for a suggestion since your pigs have bedding related issues.
A play pen or a C&C type of cage would be great. The more room they have, the better. Those types of cages are always better than small pet store cages.
HI IVE USED EVERY KIND OF BEDDING & WHEN IT CAME TO THE FLEECE BEDDING I BRUSHED IT OF WITH A SMALL HAND BROOM U CAN GET AT “DOLLAR TREE” SHOOK IT REAL GOOD & THEN IF THEIR WAS HAIR I WENT DOWN THE FLEECE WITH A HAIR LENT ROLLER BRUSH ALSO “DOLLAR TREE” PURCHASE.& IF NEEDED UNSCENTED FABRIC SHEET.THAT HELPED MY PROBLEM.
SO SORRY HILARY HOPE UR BABIES ARE BETTER NOW.I HAD 2 GUINEAS OVER 10YRS AGO “RODNEY & COOKIE” LOL! THEY GOT SCABIES FROM A BAG OF BEDDING I HAD BOUGHT FROM KMART.IT CAUSED THEM TO ITCH & HAVE SEIZURES.NOT ONLY DID MY BABIES HAVE TO BE TREATED,BUT MY 2 CHINCHILLAS,& OUR WHOLE FAMILY. TO AVOID SPREADING IT WHEATHER WE HAD IT OR NOT. MY GUINEAS HAD TO HAVE “IVERMECTIN” MEDS EVERYDAY & ALSO MY CHINCHILLAS.MY FAMILY & I HAD TO USE A SPECIAL SHAMPOO & LOTION FOR OUR BODYS.ALL CUZ THIS BAG OF BEDDING WAS INFESTED WITH THESE MITES THAT WAS STORED TO LONG IN THE WHERE HOUSE.NOW FOR MY GUINEAS NOW I WAS TOLD FOR ITCHING TO GIVE UR BABYS AN OATMEAL BATH.JUST OATMEAL & WATER.LET THEM SIT FOR 10MINS.ALSO IF THERE IS NO OPEN WOUNDS TO USE “DAVIS MICONIZOLE DOG SHAMPOO” YES I SAID DOG SHAMPOO.U CAN GET THIS AT “WALMART” A GUINEA PIG RESCUE PERSON USES THIS PRODUCT ON HER PIGGIES.CHEWEY ALSO HAS PRESCRIPTION PRODUCTS U CAN PURCHASE THAT CONTAIN IVERMECTIN.ITS RECOMMENDED TO AT LEAST EVERY FEW MOS TO GIVE UR PIGGIES A DOSE OF IVERMECTIN TO PROTECT THEM FROM BUGS I HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE
Hi I have two gorgeous males who are kept indoors on fleece with old towel underneath for absorption. But they are so smelly! I need to clean out at least 3 times a week. Any ideas I am stuck? but as they drink more than a bottle of water a day between them, that’s a lot of wee’s so guessing it will smell quickly
Hi, sorry to hear you’re having issues with odor. I would suggest putting more towels under the fleece. If you use only one towel as an absorbing layer, it tends to pick up odor pretty quickly. Also, you can try using puppy pads or u-haul pads under the fleece instead of the towels. Some guinea pig owners eliminated odor by making the switch. Hope this helps!
Actually if there is odor you will want to put in a pad for them to go on so then you can remove it weekly, it won´t get most of the odor but Monika is right.
Thanks for your input 🙂
Paper is not a good bedding because it can cause respiratory issues from the chemicals that it uses is normal to urine I use Aspen for mine my guinea pig and he seems to love it and plus that’s what the vet said to use.
Hi, we found that some lower quality paper bedding can be dusty but there are many high-quality paper bedding brands to choose from. As for chemicals, I haven’t found the information that says paper bedding brands (the ones I checked) use unhealthy chemicals. Is there some kind of an article or research on the topic so I can take a look?
But yes, aspen bedding is also a good choice, although often not as absorbent as paper bedding.
We have been using puppy pads with fleece on top but it doesn’t fit our handmade cage well (all bunchy) so i bought two huge bags of cedar yesterday that I will be returning after reading this post.
Yes, definitely do that. Cedar is not safe for guinea pigs. If you want to use wood shavings, kiln-dried pine or aspen bedding are good options and they doesn’t pose a health hazard.
As we have only had our cavy for 6 months we have found that the hemp bedding is great. Scottie loves her bedding. You can get a large bundle at Walmart for about 6bucks.
That’s really affordable. Good to know! Thanks for the info 🙂
currently use fleece bedding but they keep ( I have two in one cage) burrowing underneath and making a mess and they nibble on the puppy pads I use and that’s not good. I have binder clips around the whole cage for them not to pull the blanket but they also seem to do it.
Hi, yeah that’s definitely not good considering that most puppy pads contain plastic. Maybe you can try switching from puppy pads to towels to see how it would go? Maybe they won’t be interested in the towels.
Is it bad for the GPs to eat puppy pads? We have to tape our pads down to the fleece to stop them from going under there and pooping (they like to poop in some spots more than others, so we use puppy pads).
Hi, yes, you should prevent your guinea pigs from reaching the puppy pads if they tend to eat them. It’s definitely not healthy and can be dangerous for them as the pads contain plastic and other materials that shouldn’t be ingested.
I just bought a huge bag of dust free pine bedding. Would it harm my Guinea pigs?
Hi, the issue with pine bedding is that it contains oils and phenols that can cause respiratory issues in guinea pigs. Kiln-dried pine bedding is a safe option as it is heat treated to remove oils and phenols that irritate guinea pig’s respiratory system.
hey i am going to try out fleece bedding but i wanted to know what to do about the laundry detergent? please help!
Hi, it is best to use an unscented and hypoallergenic detergent.
Could you use a combination of bedding? say one half of cage aspen shavings and other half fleece. Has anyone tried this?
Yes, definitely. Many guinea pig owners combine different options, for example fleece as the main bedding and shavings in the “kitchen” area.
We have a Midwest cage and use paper bedding about an 1” deep in a small litter box at the end where our 2 boys do their business and since they also like to sleep there we just dump the litter daily and give them fresh. I don’t think it uses that much more litter than if we were spot cleaning on daily basis. The other end with we lay down fleece we got from fabric store folded in half for extra padding/comfort and give it a good shake outside as needed and change out every few days. Since we got from fabric store the fleece Was relatively cheap so we have 6-7 we cut to size. Since they don’t really pee on the fleece we don’t put anything underneath. We haven’t had issues with hair in our machine but could always go to laundry mat as we do wash their fleece separate from our clothes. We wash fleece with regular detergent and vinegar to reduce odor. And the midwest cage liner we wipe down weekly or as needed with 50/50vinegar/water solution and full wash once a month in machine. The whole cage routine including feeding and getting them fresh water takes about 5 minutes a day. They’re happy and clean and we’re happy with little time spent on cage cleaning and odor free pet room.
Have two little sweet baby girls…Ginger Snap and Tiny Mouse..and have two cages put together…one side i have fleece lining and their beds and the other side i have shavings and their water bottle and feeding bowls and a potty in one corner plus their hay feeder and it works wonderful…they seem so happy and content….i sweep the fleece lined side everyday and just basic cleaning for the other side….Major cleaning one a week and both babies and mama are very happy…
Sounds like heaven on Earth for your piggies 🙂
We have three GP’s and I bought washable waterproof pee pads, like the ones I used with my children during potty training and that elderly folks may use in their beds. It was kind of pricey up front, but I use these as the first layer in their cages. Then I put old towels down ontop of the pee pads and then a layer of fleece blankets. At first I just did the waterproof pads and fleece and realized the odor was very strong the very next day after having cleaned the cage. So I added the layer of towels and that’s helped to some extent. We do wash our piggies cages and bedding thoroughly every three days. I simply roll their bedding up from one end to the other trapping all of the yuckies in it and I take it all outside and shake it off really well before placing it in my washing machine. I have a “fancy” front loader, which really means a washing machine that sucks and doesn’t wash near as well as the older models with an agitator! (yay fancy technology). And front loaders seem to clog a lot easier so you have to be very careful about putting anything with pet hair or hay…etc in the machine. I make sure everything is shaken off really well and then I always wash the bedding with ALL Free and Clear detergent and I use White Vinegar as both the “bleach” to help clean and sanitize it since you can’t use harmful chemicals for your GP’s, and I also use the white vinegar as the “fabric softener” which again tackles any trapped odors in the materials. I always wash it on HOT and do an extra rinse. Caring for the piggies this way is definitely time consuming and can be costly with the extra on your water bill and extra in laundry detergent, but I have 3 kids and do a ton of laundry anyway so what’s an extra 2 loads a week? 😉 If anyone has any advice on an even better way to help cut down on the strong odor, other than washing the bedding more frequently because 2 times a week is as much as I can do, I would love to hear any suggestions!
Yeah, it’s definitely time-consuming! Fleece is a great bedding material but it does require a lot of effort with the laundry. No bedding material is perfect, unfortunately 🙂
If the fleece tends to smell bad quickly, maybe you haven’t washed the fleece enough to allow it to wick properly? Did you wash the fleece several times before you started to use it? If not, the urine might stay on top of fleece instead of passing through to the absorbent layer. You can test it out by dropping some water on it and see how quickly it dries. If the water stays on fleece for more than a few minutes, then the fleece material should be washed again, until it starts to wick properly which should prevent the urine from sitting on the surface. If the fleece works good, and the absorbent layer is the thing that smells, then you might want to try with different pads or towels.
I use Aspen bedding in the larger part of the cage and paper in the food area. I was wondring how often to feed the veggies. Is twice a day sufficient?
It doesn’t really matter if you give them veggies once, or two, or three times a day. The important thing is they get a proper amount of veggies every day – up to 1 cup of mixed veggies a day per piggy 🙂 He have a post on feeding guinea pigs that you might want to check out: https://www.animallama.com/guinea-pigs/guinea-pig-feeding-schedule/
We’ve used a lot of materials for keep our piggies happy. But aspen has been, by far, the best. It is easy to clean and cost effective. While fleeces are a close second, they just don’t keep looking nice for long. We’ve tried some paper bedding before too, but it is expensive and the grey colour just didn’t look good to us.
I’m glad you found something that works well for you and your piggies!
I adopted my former roommate’s guinea pig because her new residence wouldn’t allow any pets. She used the confetti bedding and, because I still have some left, I’ve been putting it in one section of the habitat even though I’ve otherwise made the switch to fleece bedding, which this precious little cavy seems to like. Last night I caught her nibbling on a piece of the confetti. Should I be concerned?
Hi, it’s definitely not healthy for her and in some cases it can be dangerous because it can expand in her tummy and create a blockage. Although, in most cases a nibble here and there won’t do any harm, it might be best to check with the vet just in case. And in the future, switch to using only fleece so she doesn’t ingest the bedding anymore. Hope everything will be alright!
Vet bed that the vets use for dogs and cats seems to work wonders. Any wet drains through leaving the top dry.
That’s great! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Hello everyone!
I have read this article and all of your comments. I was wonder if wheat cat litter would work? We currently use the Sweat scoop cat litter brand for our litter box and the oder control with it is pretty good. I haven’t found anywhere where it is NOT recommended. So my question is can it be used safely?
Hi Adrianne! We personally don’t have experience with wheat cat litter. I see that many people are concerned about the fact that this litter clumps so I’m worried it might pose an issue if a guinea pig ingests it. I would speak to your vet to be on the safe side!
I’ve just brought 3 guinea pigs. They are 10 weeks old. I brought a large double hutch for them so they have plenty of space when they are fully grown. I’m keeping them in the upstairs prt at the moment. I’m wondering when it might be safe for them to try going down the ladder! Any help appreciated.
Hi, I’m not sure how the ladder you’re mentioning looks like and how steep it is but I suggest putting some kind of “wall” on the sides so they can’t fall off.
Hi. I have two boys and used towels and the smell was pretty bad and it is only the second day so I want to switch to bedding. Is Peckish Classic Natural Wood Shaving Bedding good?
Hi! We don’t have personal experience with that type of bedding but as far as I can see, that product contains Norway spruce and silver fir shavings. Spruce contains extremely low amounts of phenols (almost as low as safe hardwoods) which can irritate cavy’s respiratory system, but I would check with your vet to be sure.
Hello, we use straw on top with puppy pads underneath as an absorbent layer. This does seem to work well, as the smell is hidden well by the absorbent puppy pads. But I am concerned about the health issues highlighted on this site with regards to the straw, our first piggy died at a tender age of 4 months with blood coming from his nose, we still aren’t sure what happened but suspect he had a URI as he did sneeze a little leading up to that terrible day, unfortunately we didn’t think there was anything wrong. We now have two new baby male guinea pigs, but I don’t think my heart could take it if the same thing happened to them. Can you elaborate on the risks of using straw a little more please?
Hi. The issue with using straw as bedding is that it is not absorbent so it’s not the most comfortable solution for guinea pigs. Straw is also quite stiff and sharp and can poke them in their sensitive body parts. But it shouldn’t cause health issues that your piggy had.
useful and good blog
For anyone who uses towels under fleece. Costco has “hotel” towels. Only color is white and they’re hand towel size. I use three to line my 2’ x4’ cage. They are selling them in bundles of 12 for $11! Great thick towels!