FAQ: Bedding for small pets

Mineral, clumping or silica gel cat litter is not suitable for small pets: it is dusty, can clump on the fur and in the mouth, and if eaten can block the gut. Only natural, unscented plant-based litters such as wood or paper pellets are safe.

Clumping litter hardens when wet, so if eaten or inhaled it can block a rabbit's digestive tract or irritate its airways. Use plant-based, non-clumping litter for rabbit trays.

Not for the whole cage, as sand does not absorb odour, gets dirty when wet and can be dusty. A sand bath suits chinchillas, degus, gerbils and some hamsters, but it is kept separate from the bedding.

No. Garden soil can contain fertilisers, chemicals, parasites and sharp particles, while peat holds moisture and is dusty when dry. Use dry bedding made for small pets.

Dried leaves from safe trees can be an interesting extra for digging or nesting, but they absorb little. Gather them in a clean place, dry them well and do not use leaves from poisonous trees such as oak or stone fruit trees.

Bedding with added scents such as lemon, lavender or apple can irritate small pets' sensitive airways. It is better to choose unscented bedding and clean the toilet area more often.

It is not advisable to sprinkle baking soda or odour neutralisers into the bedding, as the fine powder irritates the airways and the animal may lick it off its fur. More frequent cleaning and the right bedding reduce odour.

Better not. Air fresheners, scented candles and essential oils can irritate small animals' airways. Air the room and clean the cage rather than masking the smell.

Common mistakes are too thin a layer, dusty or scented bedding, changing everything too often for burrowing species or too rarely in the toilet area. Cotton wool and cat litter are also wrongly used.

The colour does not matter to the animal, but light bedding helps the owner notice whether urine has changed or there is blood or diarrhoea. Dark bedding shows dirt less, so it is easier to miss when it is time to change it.

Usually not, as many reptile substrates, such as bark, coconut or sand mixes, hold moisture or are dusty. Small pets need dry, absorbent bedding made for them.

No. Garden mulch is often resinous and sharp, may be chemically treated or dyed, and absorbs poorly. Use only bedding made for animals for small pets.

Sharp straw stalks, large splinters or hard pellets can injure the eyes or feet, and long fibres can wrap around the legs. Choose soft bedding without sharp bits and check your pet's feet from time to time.

Small pets often chew or carry bedding about, and a small amount of safe bedding is not dangerous. If the animal keeps eating its bedding, check that it has enough hay and food, and discuss unusual behaviour with a vet.

Yes, a common combination is wood pellets at the bottom to absorb moisture with a soft layer of paper bedding or shavings on top. This keeps the bedding dry for longer while staying comfortable for walking and digging.

Hamsters dig deep burrows in the wild, so at least 20 cm of bedding is commonly recommended, and ideally more in at least part of the cage. Deep bedding lets the hamster behave naturally and reduces stress.

Soft, low-dust bedding that holds tunnel shape suits hamsters best: paper bedding, aspen shavings or a mix of these with hay. Pellets or sand can be used in the toilet corner.

For hamsters, usually only the toilet corner is cleaned every few days, while the full bedding is changed less often, every few weeks, keeping some of the old. Cleaning the whole cage too often destroys burrows and scent marks and causes stress.

Clean old bedding keeps the hamster's familiar scent, so it feels safe again sooner after cleaning. Leave a handful of dry bedding and do not disturb the nest unless it is wet or smells.

The nest should be checked, but only cleaned when it is wet, smells or has fresh food spoiling in its hoard. Dry food stores can be left, and spoiling food removed carefully without tearing apart the whole nest.