FAQ: Bedding for small pets

Yes, compressed bedding often expands several times over once you loosen it. So the pack size and the litres stated on it can differ: before comparing, check whether the stated volume is after expansion.

After opening the pack, tip the bedding into a large container or bag and fluff it by hand until the compressed clumps separate. Paper bedding becomes softer after fluffing and holds tunnels better.

Large packs are usually cheaper per litre or kilogram, and bedding keeps well if stored dry. If you have space and use a lot of bedding, for example for a rabbit or several guinea pigs, a large pack often pays off.

After a contagious illness or parasites, the usual advice is to replace all the bedding, wash the cage, houses and bowls, and replace wooden items that cannot be cleaned properly. Ask the vet how often and with what to clean.

No. Zookainos.lt sells nothing; it only compares prices from Lithuanian online pet shops. Once you choose a bedding, you buy it on the shop's own website.

Prices are collected about daily, and each product shows when its price was last checked. Confirm the final price and delivery terms on the shop's website.

On zoogidas.lt, the product page shows the price history, so you can see whether the current price is lower than before. This is useful when buying large amounts of bedding that you use all the time.

It depends on the cage size, species, number of animals and bedding depth: a hamster with deep bedding or several guinea pigs need far more than a single mouse. Work out the cage volume and multiply it by the number of full changes per month.

Not necessarily. Less absorbent bedding has to be changed more often, so you use more of it each month. Compare not only the price per litre but also how long the bedding stays dry in your pet's cage.

Some horse bedding, such as shavings or hemp hurds, is made from the same material, but it may be dustier or less cleaned. If you use it, check the dust level, wood species and whether there are any additives.

Unscented, undyed toilet paper, paper strips, soft paper bedding or hay are suitable for nesting. The animal will shred and carry the material to its nest itself, so there is no need to put it straight into the house.

Yes, unscented, undyed toilet paper without lotion is a safe, inexpensive nesting material. Tear it into strips and put it in the cage, and the animal will carry it to its nest.

Usually the bedding and nesting material the animal carries in itself is enough. If the house has no floor, bedding gathers inside naturally, while houses with a floor should be checked regularly, as they get wet faster.

Small pets gather bedding and nesting material into a safe spot to build a nest, which is natural behaviour. It shows the animal feels safe enough, so do not tear the spot apart unnecessarily.

A thin layer of absorbent bedding and some hay or nesting material from the usual cage, for a familiar scent, suit a carrier. For a longer trip, take spare bedding in case it gets wet and needs changing.

Yes, a small amount of bedding will absorb urine and reduce slipping in the carrier. Some vets ask you to bring fresh droppings too, so be careful cleaning the cage bedding before the visit.

A digging box is a separate container with a deep, easy-to-dig filling, such as paper bedding, hay or special sand, where the animal can burrow. It suits hamsters, gerbils, degus and rabbits when there is no deep bedding across the whole cage.

A free-roaming rabbit or guinea pig needs bedding in litter trays and resting spots, with non-slip rugs on the rest of the floor. Place the trays where the animal itself likes to toilet.

Mice like to dig and hide, so a layer of at least 10–15 cm suits them, and the deeper it is, the more room they have to dig tunnels. Provide nesting material and hides along with the bedding.

Shavings, hay and fine bedding easily tangle in a long-haired guinea pig's coat, so fleece liners or larger pellets are often chosen. Comb the coat regularly and trim the rear end so it does not get soiled.