Which Bedding Is Greatest For My Pet?

Writer: Pattie Larson, LVT

There are a number of pet bedding decisions accessible available on the market. In terms of selecting the perfect bedding to your small pet, it may be tough to resolve.

On this article, we are going to take a more in-depth take a look at the professionals and cons of frequent sorts of bedding so as to really feel knowledgeable to make your best option to your pet.

Frequent sorts of pet bedding embody:

• Wooden bedding
• Hay or straw
• Paper bedding
• Cardboard
• Cat litter
• Grass mats
• Fleece or different sorts of cloth

Wooden Bedding

Wooden bedding like aspen or kiln-dried pine is kind of frequent and straightforward to seek out. Wooden bedding is reasonably absorbent and is pretty good at odor management. Nonetheless, it may be dusty and tough to wash up. You additionally should be cautious of the kind of wooden you employ since some have fragrant oils that may irritate fragile respiratory techniques.

Vital Well being Notice: By no means use cedar shavings as bedding as it may possibly trigger critical liver issues in pets.

Hay Or Straw

At first look, hay or straw would possibly seem to be an excellent bedding choice to your small pet.  In spite of everything, hay is pure and a staple within the each day diets of rabbits, guinea pigs, and different herbivores.  Offering further hay within the habitat encourages your toddler to eat extra – one other profit.

Upon nearer consideration, nevertheless, hay and straw aren’t very absorbent, they usually mould simply when moist.  Because of this these supplies would should be modified out extra usually if included as bedding in your pet’s habitat.  It’s also value noting that hay and straw may also be actually dusty, which might result in respiratory points and difficulties in cleansing.

Paper Bedding

Paper bedding is an excellent bedding choice for many small pets. Paper bedding is usually accessible and straightforward to seek out in most pet shops.  Along with containing little or no mud, most paper bedding is extremely absorbent with good odor management.

Some spot cleansing is critical with paper bedding as a way to keep a hygienic, odor-free habitat.

Paper bedding is probably not your best option for long-haired pets as it may possibly get tangled of their fur and it may be messy for overly rambunctious pets that prefer to fling their bedding round.

Cardboard

Some pet dad and mom select to make the most of cardboard as bedding. Letting their pets rip it up is fantastic enrichment. Cardboard is plentiful and like paper bedding, it’s fairly absorbent. Nonetheless, the problem lies in what could also be on or in that cardboard. Ink printing or transport grime is a hazard to your toddler, as are the tape, adhesives, and staples used to carry them collectively.

When you select to recycle your cardboard as bedding, be certain that it’s as clear as potential and all hazards are eliminated.

Cat Litter

Cat litter might seem to be an apparent alternative, particularly for litter pans, however just some sorts are acceptable to your small mammal. Steer clear of clay cat litter as a result of they are usually actually dusty, additionally they grow to be muddy when moist and might grow to be trapped and dry like cement in your pet’s ft. 

Crystal cat litter might be toxic, so it’s greatest to remain away. Clumping litters might seem to be a simple concept but when ingested they will clump and trigger intestinal blockages, even simply from grooming it off their ft. 

Different litters have added chemical substances or scents that may trigger harm to your pet’s respiratory system.

The one cat litters which might be acceptable for litter pan use with small animals are paper or wooden pellet litters.

Grass Mats

Grass mats are rising in popularity and might be discovered at many shops and on-line retailers. They’re a good way of offering enrichment, nourishment, and a gentle place to sleep. Like straw and hay, nevertheless, it isn’t very absorbent, and they’re tough to identify clear.

Ensure you decide a grass mat from a good producer to make sure there aren’t any chemical substances, glue, plastic or steel used within the development.

Fleece And Different Materials

Fleece is turning into a extra standard choice for bedding, notably for litter-trained pets. Fleece is cozy, absorbent and is available in all kinds of enjoyable colours and patterns. Higher but, it’s washable and reusable which might actually minimize down on prices long run, despite the fact that they will appear costly at first.

Nonetheless, fleece will not be superb for pets that get pleasure from chewing their bedding. Holes within the fleece can catch paws and trigger damage and if ingested it may possibly trigger blockages.

A Look At Oxbow’s Bedding & Litter Options

Oxbow affords 4 completely different merchandise to fulfill your pet’s bedding and litter wants. It’s necessary to know the advantages, variations, and the way they will work collectively to maintain your pet snug.

Pure Consolation Paper Bedding

Oxbow’s Pure Consolation virgin paper bedding promotes the pure nesting, digging, and hiding behaviors your pet reveals so it’s notably fitted to pets that get pleasure from burrowing within the wild, like rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, rats, and mice.

Pure Consolation can also be helpful for chinchillas and guinea pigs by offering a gentle, snug layer for touchdown (for the extra rambunctious, leaping chins) and snuggly sleeping. Pure Consolation may even be used to make an important dig field for our ferret pals!

The moisture-absorbent qualities wick away messes to assist maintain your pet’s ft dry and clear. We nonetheless advocate checking your pet’s habitat each day and spot cleansing as wanted. Making certain a dry and cozy house is a key husbandry trait.

Particular be aware on how our Pure Consolation Baggage are stuffed:

You will need to keep in mind that Pure Consolation will not be measured by weight, however by the expanded usable quantity after it has been faraway from the bundle. This is called the “restoration quantity.” That is just like how a bag of flour settles and compacts however then fluffs up and seems like a bigger quantity if you transfer it into one other container. An identical change occurs with our Pure Consolation bedding and it’s the most important cause paper bedding is offered in liters and never kilos or kilograms.

For the reason that density of the virgin paper we use varies fairly a bit, there’ll naturally be some variation between bundle sizes and weights, although the restoration quantity if you take away it from the bag ought to at all times be constant. All of our Pure Consolation bedding merchandise are stuffed following the laws of the Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Expertise below the US Division of Commerce.

Eco-Straw Litter

Eco-Straw is manufactured from all-natural, highly-absorbent wheat straw, making it an ideal addition to maintain your toddler’s habitat clear and dry. It’s notably nice to be used in litterboxes and for long-haired pets who would in any other case get paper bedding caught up of their fur!

Veterinarians even use Eco-Straw for post-surgical feline sufferers to keep away from mud contamination of surgical websites or pets with continual respiratory points.

What if my pet ingests some?

It’s completely regular for pets to inadvertently ingest small quantities of bedding or litter throughout foraging or out of curiosity. When you discover your pet actively ingesting Eco-Straw, discontinue use and phone your veterinarian.

Professional Tip: Use Pure Consolation and Eco-Straw Collectively!

The best habitat substrate incorporates each litter and bedding, combining moisture and odor management with consolation and enrichment alternatives.

Advantages for particular pets:

• Rats, Mice, Hamsters, and Gerbils love to maneuver their bedding round. They create tunnels and nests, cowl up particular meals pantries for safekeeping, and panorama their habitats. Having a mix of the Eco-Straw and Pure Consolation helps assist these pure behaviors whereas additionally controlling moisture and odor. The heavier Eco-Straw stays within the backside of the habitat whereas they will bulldoze and dig to their coronary heart’s content material.
• Guinea Pigs usually set up particular toilet areas this can be round the place they eat their hay or of their favourite hiding areas. Having an additional layer of Eco-Straw is useful for these high-traffic spots and makes spot cleansing each day straightforward. We advocate beginning with one inch of Eco-Straw, adopted by two inches of Pure Consolation bedding for entire habitat protection.
• Rabbits, Chinchillas, and Ferrets might be litterbox skilled (no less than for urine in bunnies and chins) so using Eco-Straw within the litterbox is a good way to maintain issues dry and straightforward to wash. It additionally helps with rabbit litter coaching, as they are going to study the distinction in texture as being the place to go potty.

Enriched Life Washable Ground Mat

Fleece bedding has been gaining reputation as a result of its long-term financial and sustainability advantages. We advocate having a number of available so as to swap them out usually for laundry. That is another choice for long-haired animals who’ve difficulties with lighter bedding like wooden shavings or paper getting caught of their fur.

The Enriched Life Washable Ground Mat will not be advisable for pets who’ve a behavior of chewing up their bedding. Is probably not superb for heavy chewers like rats, mice, hamsters, and gerbils as they could destroy them.

Timothy Membership Mat

Timothy Mats present a enjoyable method so as to add enrichment to your pet’s bedding routine. Guinea pigs, rabbits, and chinchillas notably get pleasure from tearing into their mats.

As a result of Timothy Mats aren’t notably absorbent, it’s helpful to couple this with our Eco-Straw litter to verify your furry good friend’s habitat stays dry. These are further helpful for warm summer season days as a cooler place to your pet to put.

Bedding is among the most necessary components of your pet’s husbandry practices. Conserving your pet’s habitat clear and dry is necessary for a lot of causes, particularly for his or her well being and to chop down on disagreeable smells. You will need to have an excellent cleansing schedule with all pet species.

Spot clear each day and ensure to take away any uneaten recent meals gadgets to forestall mould.  Absolutely change bedding weekly to each two weeks, relying in your pet.

Produce other questions on bedding? Contact our Buyer Care Staff!