What Do You Put in a Hamster Cage for Bedding?

It̵7;s time to bring a pet hamster home when all the correct equipment is in place. You̵7;ll need a cage with a nesting area, exercise wheel, food and a dish, water bottle and bedding. Hamsters are nocturnal creatures. The correct bedding is important to provide a dark and safe place for this entertaining warm-blooded mammal to sleep away the daylight hours.

  1. Wood

    • Wood bedding is the most widely used type, according to Ask The Vet. Aspen bedding is highly recommended because of its low toxicity. Other woods, such as pine or cedar, contain large amounts of aromatic oils. These can actually poison the hamster. Pine and cedar bedding are too harsh for delicate hamster feet to walk on. In addition, they can form toxic compounds when mixed with hamster urine, which bedding absorbs. Look for wood bedding with no dust, because hamsters are vulnerable to respiratory diseases from inhaling it. Hamsters chew on anything they find in their cages, so avoid bedding with sharp wooden chips.

    Paper

    • Paper bedding, such as long, torn-up strips of unscented and uncolored tissues and towels, are safe to use for hamsters. Newspaper and magazine pages are unsafe because printing inks are toxic to hamsters. Emptied toilet paper tubes make great hamster toys, as well as bedding options. Hamsters enjoy chewing up the cardboard tubes to make their own bedding. Ensure the tubes are large enough, so your pet does not get stuck inside a section. According to Hamster Club, paper bedding helps hamsters with respiratory diseases since there̵7;s no dust to inhale.

    Commercial

    • Pellet, granule or shaving-style hamster bedding materials are sold in most online and retail pet stores and made from materials such as wood and paper. Scented types contain chemicals that can harm your hamster. Also avoid fluffy synthetic commercial bedding, since they can cause digestive problems, if swallowed. Properties of the best kinds of these products include low dust content and high absorbency rates. Choose from processed or recycled wood or paper bedding with the aromatic oils or other harmful chemicals removed.

    Hay, Wool, Fabric and Cotton

    • Fabrics made from wool, cotton or cotton/wool blends are dangerous bedding materials for hamsters. The fibers can become tangled up in your pet's intestines, as well as their feet. Bedding made from fluffy fabrics, such as cotton wool is also a hazard to hamsters, because these materials can cause fatal internal blockages and become stuck in cheek pouches. Hay does not absorb hamster urine well and quickly becomes smelly. It̵7;s also prone to be full of dust. For optimal health and comfort, change your hamster̵7;s bedding at least once a week, or whenever it begins to have a bad odor.