Bedding Options for Guinea Pigs
Bedding Options
There are many bedding options to choose from for your guinea pigs. Some bedding types work better in certain enclosures and it can also come down to a personal choice too. One thing’s for sure, there’s no escaping the fact that you will still have to clean out your guinea pigs regularly, whatever bedding you choose!
Here, we will talk about the pros and cons of the various types of appropriate bedding for guinea pigs. Then you can think about what might best suit your guinea pigs AND you (the Chief Poop-Picker-Upper!).
1. Hay
There’s no escaping the fact that guinea pigs love the stuff. They eat it, play in it, forage in it and sleep in it. Hay is a great bedding choice as it encourages lots of natural behaviours. You can line the base of the cage/hutch with some layers of newspaper and then pile plenty of hay on top.
Pros
- It’s a great insulator in cold weather.
- Guinea pigs get lots of enrichment from hay as bedding.
- They can forage in it and eat it, as well sleep in it (always provide feeding hay too!).
- It’s natural / compostable.
- Can be used in conjunction with absorbent Aubiose (see below).
Cons
- They will trample it down and wee and poo on it (obvs!).
- It needs daily attention to spot clean dirty areas and add fresh hay on top. (Although - FYI…..ALL bedding choices require some level of daily cleaning!!)
- Hard or sharp strands can occasionally ‘poke’ a guinea pig’s eye.
2. Fleece
An ever increasingly popular bedding choice for guinea pigs. Fleece is often the go-to bedding for people who use C & C caging and for those who house their guinea pigs indoors. There are many hand crafters creating fleece cage liners especially with guinea pigs in mind! The bottom of the cage can be pre-lined with absorbent puppy pads or towels (or both!), then the fleece liner placed on top. If you are ‘crafty’ you can make your own…opt for something like polar fleece to ensure it ‘wicks away’ the urine and wash it a few times (just with detergent, not softener) before use.
Pros
- Can be custom made to exactly fit the cage size you have.
- Soft and cosy on those little guinea pig toes!
- Many designs available to suit your taste and even theme your guineas’ cage.
- Easy to spot clean daily and sweep up the poos.
- Once you invest, it’s reusable (machine washable).
Top tip! Invest in a laundry bag to wash your fleece in,to stop the inside of your machine getting clogged up with hay/hairs).
Cons
- You need multiple liners to allow for cleaning / drying time.
- Needs to be washed regularly in your washing machine.
- Can mean a lack of opportunity for provision of hay.
- Can be expensive to ‘set up’.
Top tip! You can create a ‘hay box’ area at one end of your caging, or use a large tray to put piles of hay in.
3. Vet Bed
This super soft animal bedding has a thick pile for warmth and softness and (usually) a non-slip bottom. It can be especially useful for sick or injured guinea pigs, or for guinea pigs that are elderly. As you might expect from the name, it is used by vets to help keep animals warm and comfortable during their recovery from surgery or illness. Like fleece, it can be used with puppy pads and/or towels underneath for absorbency.
Pros
- Super soft, so ideal for older guinea pigs or those recovering from surgery.
- Wicks away moisture, so the top stays clean, dry and therefore more hygienic.
- Can be vacuumed or shaken out daily to remove hay/poops/food.
- Once you invest, it’s reusable (machine washable).
- Could be something you have just for ‘emergency’ use, as opposed to everyday bedding.
Cons
- Thick and ‘chunky’ material, so can take up space to store.
- You need multiple pieces of vet bed to allow for cleaning/drying time.
- Needs to be washed regularly in your washing machine.
- Can mean a lack of opportunity for provision of hay.
- Can be expensive to ‘set up’.
4. Paper
There are specially formulated paper beddings for small animals, usually made from recycled paper. Do check that the paper bedding is free from ink or dye that could be harmful if ingested.
Pros
- Absorbs moisture well (as long as it’s a good quality paper bedding).
- Soft and comfy.
- Can help to keep things smelling fresh and control odour.
- Will be low in dust (as long as it’s a good quality paper bedding).
- Easy to spot clean dirty areas regularly.
- Natural / compostable.
Cons
- Can be expensive (repeat purchases).
- Potential to get ‘kicked’ out of the cage and cause some additional mess.
- Bulky to store.
5. Woodshavings
Please don’t mistake sawdust for woodshavings. You shouldn’t use sawdust as bedding for guinea pigs as it can trigger allergies and respiratory problems. Good quality woodshavings can work as an absorbent bedding choice for guinea pigs,with layers of newspaper underneath. Make sure you choose a brand that has been‘dust extracted’ and DO NOT USE cedar woodshavings.
Pros
- Can be easily spot cleaned in between full clean outs.
- Natural / compostable.
- Fairly absorbent.
Cons
- Some guinea pigs can still be allergic to woodshavings, causing health problems.
- Can be expensive (repeat purchases).
- Potential to get ‘kicked’ out of the cage and cause some additional mess.
- Bulky to store.
6. Aubiose (Hemp)
This super absorbent bedding derives from the hemp plant and is most commonly used for horses. However, it can be a great bedding choice for guinea pigs too! You could use it with just newspaper underneath, or, you could also pile hay on top of it too. It’s generally not dusty and works well in areas that are likely to get heavily soiled.
Pros
- Controls odour well, as it’s super absorbent.
- Can be easily spot cleaned in between full clean outs.
- Natural / compostable.
- Can be used in conjunction with hay!
Cons
- Usually comes in a large bag, so bulky to store.
- Can be expensive (with delivery cost, as heavy item).
- Potential to get ‘kicked’ out of the cage and cause some additional mess.
Making the Right Choice for You
Here at HayPigs! we have tried various types of bedding and combinations through the years. As we said, it can very much be a personal choice!
Our current set up sees us using mainly fleece liners, with a large hay box area full of hay (with either newspaper and/or Aubiose underneath). We also present plenty of feeding hay in racks/feeders and floor-time hay boxes/trays for foraging in too! We find this manageable (with a large hutch and herd of seven piggies) to do daily clean ups (sweep up poos and hay/food, freshen up hay box). It’s also fairly quick to do a full clean out too - as long as you have two full sets of fleece liners!
Good luck with whatever bedding you choose and for more hints and tips on cleaning, then check out our cage cleaning page!
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