If you’re a cavy parent, you probably already know how important it is to find the best bedding for guinea pigs. Bedding is as essential as food or water for their survival, and you definitely need to choose carefully. A wrong choice can lead to terrible health issues in your little friend, not to mention inconveniences for you as well.
There are many types of bedding that are used for guinea pigs. There are DIY options such as shredded paper, hay, corn cobs, etc. Some people resort to softwood shavings. I have even seen people use cat litter in a pinch. But the truth is, to keep your furry bundle of happiness safe, you should use especially made beddings. You can still save money here if you buy smart.
A lot of companies make bedding for small pets that could be considered the best pet bedding for guinea pigs. These are absorbent, non-toxic for little pets and some also facilitate burrowing. Even though these bedding materials are more expensive than a bale of regular hay, they’ll keep your piggie much healthier. Isn’t that what you want?
Guinea Pig Bedding – Our Top Picks
Since you’re here looking for the best bedding for guinea pigs, I’ve spent hours cherry-picking only the best ones for you. This list of 10 will definitely help you find what you’re looking for!
Top 3 – Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | PRICE |
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GuineaDad Fleece Liner |
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Small Pets and Company Liner |
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Small Pet Select Paper Bedding |
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Here Are the Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs Review 2022
- GuineaDad Fleece Liner
- Small Pets and Company Fleece Cage Liner
- Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding
- Kaytee Clean & Cozy Animal Bedding
- Piggy Bedspreads Guinea Pig Bedding
- Healthy Pet Critter Care Natural Bedding
- Arm & Hammer Natural Paper Bedding
- Blaoicni Guinea Pig Bedding
- Carefresh Custom Guinea Pig Bedding
- Carefresh Paper Bedding for Guinea Pigs
1. GuineaDad Fleece Liner
In my humble opinion, this is the best bedding for guinea pigs available in the market. A lot of guinea pig parents also agree with me, as this product has pretty impressive reviews. Out of all the fleece liners, GuineaDad seems to be the most efficient and comes with many helpful features. It is specially made to be absorbent and reduces odor, and has a leak-proof bottom.
Sweep off the solid waste with a brush daily, and put it in the washing machine once a week. It’s that easy to maintain. The website also mentions a deep clean method that you can use, in case after a few months a machine wash doesn’t seem enough for you. The manufacturer warns that it shrinks a little after washing.
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But they come larger than the size mentioned in the package, to make sure you get the right size after it shrinks. How thoughtful of them! Do make sure you buy the one that fits your cage best. You can fold one side of it to fit better. Do not cut, as it will make the product unusable. Extra features include a burrowing pocket where your cavy can go hide or sleep.
Also Read: Best Dog Cooling Mat – 10 Options To Buy
2. Small Pets and Company Fleece Cage Liner
This is another Small Pets and Company fleece bedding that is quite popular nowadays. It’s beautifully made and offers a variety of colors and patterns to choose from, so you can have the prettiest guinea pig cage. It also comes in two sizes. I already consider fleece to be the best type of bedding for guinea pigs, and this is a good product of that type.
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This fleece liner has to be washed a few times before it can be used. This might seem tedious to some but important for absorbency. While in use, make sure to brush off pellets every day and wash the fleece every week. If you have more than one cavy, you’ll naturally have to wash this more often. It controls odor pretty well.
3. Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding
If you prefer to support local, small, family-owned businesses, you’d be happy to know Small Pet Select is one such establishment. Their bedding is also environmentally friendly and can be used as compost after your guinea pig has used it.
This bedding is paper-based. The manufacturer claims the paper is unbleached and never been printed on. So if you’re worried about toxicity, this is pretty safe. Another thing I really like about this bedding is that it expands to thrice its packed volume once opened and fluffed, so in that regard, it is the best cheap bedding for guinea pigs.
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Reviews claim this bedding to be very soft, which is good for the cavy’s feet. It absorbs odor pretty well, and you can even go a full week between cleaning out the cage. The whole bag would last about 3-4 weeks. I’d say that’s a good deal. It lasts even longer if you have a litter-trained guinea pig and a separate litter box.
4. Kaytee Clean & Cozy Animal Bedding
Guinea pigs tend to get upper respiratory tract infections often, and this is one of the main reasons why they need safe bedding. This Kaytee bedding is perfect for that as it contains no added color or fragrance. I really like that the Kaytee bedding is so cheap.
In fact, it’s the cheapest bedding for guinea pigs while also being very efficient. It’s not got a lot of dust, so that’s also good for your piggies and yourself.
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If your priority is to keep your pet healthy while also saving some money, this is certainly the best bedding for guinea pigs. One downside to this bedding is that it’s not too good for odor control. You might need to spot clean often and change out the bedding twice a week. If your piggy is litter trained, then there’s no need to worry about this bedding’s durability.
Also Read: Best Cat Tree for Large Cats – Review and Buying Guide
5. Piggy Bedspreads Guinea Pig Bedding
If you’re using a midwest guinea pig cage, you can use this Piggy Bedspreads fleece liner as bedding in that cage. From the reviews, I can see that most customers seem very satisfied with this liner. It’s colorful and has a lot of variety. The design is reversible, which is also a nice feature.
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Since this has to be washed and dried and that takes some time, I’d suggest buying two sets for regular use. If you’re looking for a dust-free, mess-free solution to your cavy’s bedding, this is the best bedding for guinea pigs.
6. Healthy Pet Critter Care Natural Bedding
I’m not sure exactly what “reclaimed wood pulp” is, but it seems like a good, natural bedding material for small pets. Healthy Pet is also biodegradable and hence environment friendly, so I like it. Like paper bedding, this also comes in a compact package. The bedding has to be fluffed by hand so it expands to 2x its original volume.
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Since it offers good value for money, it’s the best bedding for guinea pigs if you’re in a tight spot. The loose bedding is warm and comfortable. So if your cavy likes to burrow, it’s going to love this litter. The fluffy bedding is also good at absorbing liquids. One downside I’d like to mention is that it isn’t as dust-free as I’d like it to be.
7. Arm & Hammer Natural Paper Bedding
If you want heavy-duty bedding that will definitely keep your cavy’s cage dry and hygienic, the Arm & Hammer bedding is certainly the best bedding for guinea pigs available. This paper bedding boasts of absorbing moisture 6-8 times its own weight which is frankly impressive.
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Aside from the absorption factor, this bedding is like any other paper bedding. You should clean it out once a week and spot clean as and when needed. It’s all-natural but is infused with baking soda, so you might have to keep an eye out, make sure your cavy doesn’t ingest this.
Also Read: Best Gerbil Cage for Your Adorable Little Pets
8. Blaoicni Guinea Pig Bedding
At first glance you might think this Blaoicni cage liner is made of fleece, but no! This is a liner made of cotton. In my list, this is the best inexpensive bedding for guinea pigs. The light bedding offers good absorption and odor control, though not as good as fleece. But considering the price and that it comes in a two-pack to make your job easier, I’d say this is a good deal.
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Blaoicni liner is lightweight, machine washable as well as non-shrink, though if you use heat while washing and drying it might shrink a bit. Since its absorption power is less than fleece, I’d suggest you wash it more often. Twice a week should suffice.
9. Carefresh Custom Guinea Pig Bedding
Carefresh is a lot of guinea pig parents’ go-to option, and for good reasons. Their bedding is very efficient. This is another natural paper bedding. The manufacturer boasts 10 days of odor control, so if the odor is your main concern, I’d say this is the best bedding for guinea pigs for you.
This bedding is very absorbent, that’s how it prevents all that odor. This also means that it provides a hygienic environment for your guinea pig to live in.
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Additionally, people who used this bedding for their cavy have all gushed about how good the texture is. Personally, I like that this litter has some weight to it and doesn’t just fly around when the cavies kick it. Carefresh bedding is significantly more expensive than the other similar bedding in the market, so I’d suggest you buy the biggest possible package to save money.
10. Carefresh Paper Bedding for Guinea Pigs
Imagine sleeping in a bed of colorful confetti, wouldn’t that be so much fun? Even though that might be a bit childish for yourself, nothing can stop you from giving your guinea pigs confetti to sleep in. This CareFresh bedding looks just like confetti- fun and vibrant.
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CareFresh’s bedding quality is top-notch. There’s minimum dust if any. It’s also got really good odor control. You can go up to a week before you need to clean out the cage. Just spot clean daily. These key characteristics easily make it the best bedding for guinea pigs in terms of efficiency.
Guinea Pig Bedding Ideas
In my experience, the best bedding for guinea pigs might not be anyone or the other. Sometimes you’ll need to make sure the cage floor is soft using fleece, but then use paper bedding in a litter box. If your piggy is litter trained, you can also line a part of the cage with the fleece liner and spread paper or wood bedding on the rest of the cage so they can burrow.
The important thing is to learn what your cavy likes. Each of them has a distinct personality, so they’ll have different preferences. Learning what those preferences are will help you choose their bedding much better.
Also, keep in mind the health and cleanliness aspect. Paper and wood-based bedding will almost certainly make a mess around the cage. If you’re a neat-freak, you should stick to fleece bedding. Fleece is also good if you or your pet has respiratory issues, as it doesn’t produce irritating dust.
Also Read: Best Rat Cages – Find A Cage for Your Pet
Tips to Get the Best Out of Your Guinea Pig Bedding
I’m going to give you some handy tips on the two main types of guinea pig beddings that I’ve listed here. Read carefully, and one of these tips might change your life as a cavy parent!
Fleece Liners
More and more small pet parents are giving up on loose bedding and instead of picking up fleece or cloth liners. They offer easier cleanup and a more sanitary environment for their pet babies. Moreover, they’re reusable, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money each month to buy bedding. Buy two liners and use them alternatively. They’ll easily last a year.
If you feel gross about washing your guinea pig’s soiled bedding in the same washing machine as your clothes, the fix is easy. Just do a couple of things. After washing this fleece liner, thoroughly wipe the inside of your washing machine and take out any hair that got stuck inside. Then run a clean cycle with some detergent and vinegar.
This is really the best bedding to use for guinea pigs, so you just need to get used to the cleanup routine. Sometimes guinea pigs would keep soiling the same place in the fleece liner and it gets difficult to spot clean. You can rotate the liner. If that doesn’t help, try putting a litter box in that space, especially if it’s in a corner.
You really don’t need to wash it daily, but you can’t just leave it for a whole week. Shake it out in the trash or sweep with a brush daily to get rid of the guinea pellets and wash it once a week. While washing, use cold water and a simple, unscented detergent. Don’t use fancy detergent, fabric softener, or dryer sheets. These will make the fleece lose absorbency.
Paper Or Wood Pulp Based Bedding
This sort of bedding is a costly choice, but you might prefer this if your cavy likes to burrow. If you want to save money, try litter training your guinea pig. Once they are trained, use a litter box or toilet at a corner of the cage. The bedding would last much longer. Paper bedding or wood pulp bedding usually comes in a compact package.
You need to break off a bit and fluff it with your hands. Fluffing increases the coverage, as well as absorbance. It’ll be more comfortable for your pet and will also last longer. Sometimes bedding or food can carry bugs or mites that cause infection. To eliminate this horrible possibility, chuck the package of bedding into the freezer and leave it there for a couple of days.
It should be safe to use afterward. Different people are allergic or sensitive to different chemicals present in these beddings. You could be allergic to any of the products listed above, so it’s better to be cautious. Even though these litters are best bought in bulk, you should first buy the smallest amount available and check if it provokes a reaction in you.
The Type of Bedding You Should Avoid
I’ve seen many things being used as bedding for guinea pigs. They are really good, like the ones specifically made for small pets. Some are inefficient but mostly harmless, like shredded newspaper or paper napkins. Some are actually dangerous for your pet and can cause anything from mild health issues to sudden death. Let’s talk about some types of bedding that are absolutely unsuitable for your cavy.
The Most Dangerous: Cedar And Pine Wood Shavings
Are you one of those people who think ‘natural’ is the best? Then you need to think again. Natural isn’t always best, in fact, nature is full of poisonous chemicals if you know where to look. Cedar and pine wood shavings are soft, natural, and have that fresh forest smell to them.
This might make you think they’re a good bedding choice for your guinea pig but don’t be fooled! They’re poisonous to your tiny pet. Wood shavings are cheap, and often readily available. But keep them away if you want your cavy to live. These woods contain chemicals that are toxic to guinea pigs and can harm their respiratory system and liver.
For this reason, you should also not buy cedar or pine wood cages or hutches for your guinea pigs. Aside from cedar and pine, some people also use aspen wood bedding. While this type of wood is safe for guinea pigs, it’s not very efficient. Also, all kinds of wood-based bedding would have dust. Consider that before you buy.
Shredded Paper Towel or Newspaper
This is a cheap, virtually free bedding for your cavy. It is also very useless. I’m just stating the truth! Paper doesn’t absorb guinea pig urine well, and this will leave a soggy mess on the floor of your pet’s cage. This is going to be smelly and disgusting. Additionally, if you insist on using this despite the smell and the mess, your cavy might catch an infection from all the germs in that cage. Do you really want that?
Cat Litter
Cat litter is made specifically for cats. They’re definitely not suitable for guinea pigs. Clumping clay cat litter produces a lot of dust that’s going to make your piggie sick. The granules are also too hard on their little feet. Other kinds of cat litter contain chemicals that you should keep far away from your delicate cavy.
Hay and Corn
Since guinea pigs like to chew, many owners tend to give them hay as bedding material. This was quite popular in the past. But honestly, hay isn’t nearly as absorbent as it needs to be as a bedding material. It gets wet easily, inviting bacterial growth and even mold. It’s very unhygienic for your cavy.
Corn cobs are also not absorbent and could be very hard on your guinea pig’s feet. Stepping on this kind of uncomfortable surface may cause Bumblefoot. This condition is also called “sore hocks”. It causes painful swelling and sores on the bottom of your cavy’s feet. If you let it go untreated for too long, the infection might reach the bones and can even cripple your pet.
This is commonly seen in piggies living in unhygienic conditions, unsuitable bedding, and wire mesh floors. It is my understanding that the best bedding for guinea pigs is one that is specifically designed for their small, fragile bodies. Also, it could be fleece bedding, it could also be paper-based bedding. It just needs to be safe and comfortable for your cavy.
Also Read: How To Insulate A Dog House – Safe and Comfortable!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What Bedding Is Ok for Guinea Pigs?
A: Guinea pigs do well with either paper bedding or aspen wood shavings. You could even mix these two. However, make sure any paper bedding is scent-free since cavies are prone to respiratory problems.
Moreover, guinea pigs also tend to eat their bedding sometimes, so make sure there are as few preservatives as possible. The fleece blanket is a good replacement for loose bedding, but you would need to wash it often.
Q: How Many Inches of Bedding Does a Guinea Pig Need?
A: Two inches of bedding is what your guinea pig would prefer. While you could technically go away with providing less bedding, two inches of bedding would give your cavy enough space to burrow.
Q: Can You Use Blankets for Guinea Pig Bedding?
A: Yes, you can use fleece blankets as bedding for guinea pigs. While you might be more used to seeing loose bedding such as paper or wood shavings, fleece blankets are also appreciated by cavies. Though fleece blankets need to be washed often, they are a money-saving option. Your cavies will also love to burrow between the folds of the blanket and enjoy the warmth and softness.
Q: Can I Use Shredded Newspaper for Guinea Pig Bedding?
A: No, using newspapers as bedding is a bad idea. It might seem like a time and money-saving option, but it’s ultimately bad for your guinea pig’s health. It’s not as absorbent or odor-controlling as other bedding. So your cavy might get sick.
Additionally, guinea pigs often eat their bedding. As some newspaper ink could be toxic to guinea pigs, it’s risky to provide them with shredded newspaper as bedding.
Q: Can Guinea Pigs Use Cat Litter for Bedding?
A: If the cat litter is made from recycled paper, you could use it as guinea pig bedding. However, do not use them if they are in pellet form as that might hurt your cavy’s feet. If you use a layer of softer guinea pig bedding on top, then they might be okay. However, do not use clumping cat litter. If the cavies end up ingesting it, there would be terrible consequences.
The Last Word
What is the best guinea pig bedding? Have you found the answer to this from my blog? I hope I was able to at least make your choice easier. After considering everything, I really do think that the GuineaDad Fleece Liner is the best bedding for guinea pigs.
It has all the goodness of a fleece liner, and also lets your cavy burrow, just like wood or paper-based bedding. Your cavy gets to enjoy the best features from both types of bedding. So, which item on my post made it to your shopping list? Let me know in the comments!
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