FAQ: Bedding for small pets

Wood pellets are compressed sawdust that breaks down into soft sawdust once it absorbs moisture. They absorb very well and control odour, so they are often used in rabbit and guinea pig litter trays.

Hard pellets are uncomfortable for some animals across the whole cage floor and do not allow digging. That is why they are mostly used in the litter tray or under a softer layer of bedding, rather than as the only bedding.

Unscented wood pellets for cat litter made with no additives are often the same material as small-pet bedding pellets. Check the ingredients before buying: there should be no fragrance, clumping agents or chemical odour neutralisers.

Rabbits sometimes nibble their litter, and a small amount of natural wood pellets is usually not dangerous. If a rabbit keeps eating litter, it may lack hay or be bored, so put fresh hay on top of the litter pellets.

Litter-tray pellets are usually changed every few days, with wet, crumbled parts removed daily. If you notice an ammonia smell, change the pellets more often.

Pellets alone are not enough for hamsters, as they do not allow burrowing or nest building. Pellets can go in the toilet corner, with the rest of the cage filled with deep, soft bedding.

Yes, paper bedding is soft, low in dust, absorbent and suits most small pets, especially those with sensitive airways. Tunnels hold well in it, which is why hamsters and mice like it.

Paper pellets are firmer, absorb well and suit the litter tray, while soft, fluffy cellulose or shredded paper is for the whole floor and the nest. Soft paper bedding suits burrowing species better.

Newspaper absorbs little, gets wet quickly and the printing ink can rub off on the fur. It can be laid under the bedding on the cage floor to make cleaning easier, but choose purpose-made paper bedding as the main layer.

You can use unprinted, chlorine-free paper without glue, such as shredded packing paper or plain toilet paper. But such paper absorbs less than purpose-made bedding, so it will need changing more often.

Coloured paper bedding made for animals is dyed with safe colourants, so it is generally safe, but the colour does nothing for the animal. On light bedding it is easier to notice changes in urine colour or blood.

It is better to choose unscented bedding, as small pets have a very sensitive sense of smell and fragrances can irritate the airways. A strong scent also only masks a bad smell rather than removing its cause.

Paper bedding absorbs a lot of liquid, but some types control odour less well than wood pellets or hemp. Regular cleaning of the toilet corner reduces smell best, whatever the type of bedding.

Low-dust paper bedding is often recommended for animals that sneeze or have respiratory problems. But changing the bedding does not treat illness, so breathing problems should be assessed by a vet.

After surgery, vets often advise soft, low-dust bedding such as paper or fabric liners so particles do not get into the wound. Follow the vet's instructions on bedding and how often to change it.

Yes, paper bedding suits rabbit enclosures and litter trays, as it is soft and low in dust. Paper pellets are more often used in the tray, with hay on top for the rabbit to eat while sitting in it.

Cellulose bedding is made from recycled or virgin paper fibre, often fluffed or rolled into soft pieces. It is light, absorbent and a popular choice for hamsters, mice and rats.

Yes, hemp hurds are highly absorbent, low in dust and control odour well. They suit rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and other small pets, and when mixed with a softer material, burrowing species too.

No. Bedding is made from industrial hemp, whose psychoactive content is negligible, and it is produced from the woody stalk rather than the flowers. It has no intoxicating effect on the animal.

Hemp hurds usually absorb more moisture, hold odour longer and produce less dust than shavings, so they can be changed less often. But they are coarser and hold tunnels less well, so for hamsters it is worth mixing them with paper.