Small Animal Bedding & Litter

For small pets like hamsters, gerbils, mice, hedgehogs, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rabbits, and ferrets, a clean and cozy habitat is the key to their happiness and overall well-being. These tiny companions spend most of their lives inside their enclosures, so it’s essential to make their living space a safe, comfortable, and engaging place to do all the activities they love — burrowing, tunneling, nesting, playing, and resting.

Lining your pet’s cage with a thick, premium-quality bedding not only keeps the habitat soft and warm but also helps manage waste, absorb moisture, and control unpleasant odors. The right bedding or litter ensures that your pet’s environment stays dry, clean, and healthy — which is important for both your furry friend and you.

At PᴇᴛsLɪғᴇsᴛʏʟᴇ, you’ll find a wide selection of small animal bedding and litter options suitable for multiple species. Most small pets — from guinea pigs to chinchillas — have similar requirements, so high-quality bedding can often be used interchangeably across different enclosures.

Types of Small Animal Bedding & Litter

Small pet bedding is available in various natural, safe, and absorbent materials, including:

• Reclaimed paper fiber – soft, low-dust, highly absorbent, and eco-friendly

• Aspen wood shavings – natural and odor-absorbing, without harmful oils

• Corn cob bedding – biodegradable, crunchy texture for digging

• Recycled paper pellets – excellent for litter boxes, flushable and compostable

• Natural straw or wood fiber – sustainable and easy to dispose of

Experimenting with different substrates will help you discover which one your pet prefers and which suits your cleaning schedule best. Look for bedding that offers:

• Superior odor control

• High absorbency

• Low dust (to protect delicate respiratory systems)

• Safe, non-toxic materials

• A fluffy, soft texture for nesting comfort

Popular Bedding & Litter Options

• Paper-Based Bedding (CareFresh, Oxbow, etc.): Expands up to twice its volume, provides up to 10 days of odor control, and is three times more absorbent than wood shavings.

• Custom-Sized Bedding: Larger pieces for guinea pigs & rabbits, smaller pieces for hamsters & gerbils to encourage natural digging and nesting behavior.

• Specialty Litter: Marshall Premium Ferret Litter (100% recycled paper) offers excellent odor control for ferrets with frequent potty schedules.

• Eco-Friendly Options: Oxbow Bene Terra Eco-Straw — a natural wheat straw litter safe for rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, chinchillas, and even cats.

Litter Training for Small Pets

Some small pets like hamsters, rabbits, and ferrets can be trained to use a specific corner of their cage for elimination. You can set up a litter pan in the spot where they usually go and fill it with an appropriate litter substrate. This makes cleaning easier and helps keep the rest of the cage clean and dry.

Curated by Vɪsʜɴᴜ Dᴜᴛᴛ Tʀɪᴘᴀᴛʜɪ | Pᴇᴛ Exᴘᴇʀᴛ | Available at PᴇᴛsLɪғᴇsᴛʏʟᴇ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the best thing to put on the bottom of a small pet cage?
A: The best option is soft, dust-free small animal bedding made specifically for pets. Fluffy paper bedding or kiln-dried aspen shavings are popular choices because they are safe, absorbent, and odor-controlling.

Q: What is the difference between bedding and litter?
A: Bedding covers the entire cage floor, providing a place for your pet to burrow, nest, and rest. Litter is used in a litter box specifically for potty use. If you do not have a litter box, the bedding will act as both bedding and litter, absorbing waste and odor.

Q: Do small pets really need bedding and litter?
A: Yes. Bedding and litter are crucial for your pet’s hygiene and comfort. They support natural behaviors like burrowing, nesting, and tunneling while keeping the habitat dry and odor-free.