Pet Info Packets :: Rats

Bedding

A lot of people do not realize how important a good bedding can be. Not only is it important for absorbency, comfort, and odor control, but it's important that the bedding be safe! Many people do not realize that unsafe beddings are being sold. This guide will help you to stay away from those beddings and to choose the best bedding for you and your pet.

Note: Information on these beddings are from personal findings, online sources, and other people's opinions that I've overheard.

Bad Beddings:

Cedar:

Cedar bedding can be found in many pet stores and this is unfortunate. Cedar bedding should NEVER be used as bedding for any of your pets as it is toxic to all animals. Cedar bedding is characterized by it's "nice" smell, and is a softwood bedding consisting of wood shavings that are tan and "red" or brownish in color. What makes this bedding dangerous is also what makes it smell "nice". The oils/phenols that give this bedding it's smell are toxic and have been shown to cause problems with the respiratory system as well as the liver. Steer clear of this bedding!

Pine:

Pine is another common pet store bedding. This bedding should also never be used for your pets. Pine is also a softwood bedding, characterized again by it's "pleasant" smell. It's shavings are typically tan and green in color or just tan. Pine is bad for the same reason cedar is. Though pine is said to have less of the dangerous oils/phenols, it does still have them. Stay away from this one too!

Note: There is also something called kiln-dried pine. This is pine bedding that has supposedly had it's phenols all removed via kiln-drying. Some people consider this type of bedding to be safe, however there has been evidence to the contrary. I personally feel it's better safe than sorry.

Corn cob:

Corn cob is another fairly common bedding. Corn cob is considered a bad bedding because of it's tendancy to mold. There have also been reports of animals choking on the corn cob pieces or ingesting them, resulting in intestinal blockages.

Sawdust:

Sawdust bedding is unacceptable because of how fine the particles are. Sawdust can cause respiratory problems when inhaled.

Cat litter:

Most cat litters are unacceptable as beddings. A lot of them are dusty, again causing respiratory ailments. Another problem is if it clumps. If an animal eats some clumping cat litter it can cause a blockage and kill the animal.

Good Beddings:

CareFresh:

CareFresh is made from biodegradable fiber and contains no ink, clay, or chemicals. I personally use this bedding. In my opinion, CareFresh is a good bedding because it is soft and safe. My only complaint would be that it can be a bit dusty at sometimes. I cannot say anything for odor control because it is the only bedding I have used. CareFresh bedding occasionally harbors parasites (mites and lice) and can be frozen for 24-48 hours before use as a precaution.

Note: There are also the beddings CareFresh Ultra and CareFresh Colors. CareFresh Ultra is said to be less dusty than the original, have better odor control, and have less of an odor itself. CareFresh Colors is also said to be less dusty than the original. Both, however, are also more expensive.

Pros:

+ Soft and comfy.
+ Absorbent.

Cons:

- Some complain about the odor of the bedding itself (I personally have no problem with this)
- I've heard people say that it's not good with odor control.
- Many people complain that it is too dusty and irritates them or their pets.
- Can be expensive.

Aspen:

Aspen is a bedding made up of wood shavings like pine and cedar. However, unlike pine and cedar, aspen is a hardwood and not a softwood bedding, which means that it lacks the oils/phenols that pine and cedar have, making it a safe bedding option. The shavings are tan in color. Aspen bedding occasionally harbors parasites (mites and lice) and can be frozen for 24-48 hours before use as a precaution.

Note: Aspen also comes in pelleted form. Naturally the pelleted form isn't as soft as the shavings form, however it is said to be more absorbent and less messy.

Pros:

+ Controls odor well.
+ Fairly absorbent.
+ Fairly cheap.

Cons:

- Can be messy and tends to stick to things and get tracked around.
- Not the softest bedding out there.

Yesterday's News:

I know, I know, I said no cat litter! But this one's different. Yesterday's News is made from recycled newspapers and is thus quite safe. It is a grey pelleted litter and can be used as a small animal bedding. There is a plain and a softer texured version and both make good beddings though the softer textured one might be nicer for rattie feet. The softer textured version also comes in either plain or scented but I'd stick with the plain to be safe. There is also a small animal version (along with a ferret and rabbit one) of Yesterday's News but they are really the same thing in smaller pieces and with a jacked up price.

Pros:

+ Controls odor well.
+ Very absorbent.

Cons:

- Expensive.
- Not very soft.

Note: Mixtures of more than one good bedding can also work extremely well. For instance a little bit of CareFresh mixed with mostly aspen.

Conclusion:

These are only a few of the beddings available to you as a pet owner. There are many acceptable beddings out there. Experiment and see what is best for you and your pet!

Random fact: Rats can be litter trained *to a degree*, small animal litter pans are available in many pet stores. Make sure to use a different litter for your litter pan than you are using for the bottom of the cage. For instance if you're using CareFresh, use Yesterday's News for the litter box!

In addition to bedding, rats often like softer nesting supplies. An easy nesting material would be ripped up paper towels - the kind with no designs or ink on them!

Pet Info Packets :: Rats :: Bedding

Bedding

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