Last updated on January 22nd, 2023 at 06:58 pm
Hamsters enjoy digging, so it is very important to provide them with good and safe bedding. They sometimes know how to dig up to 60-70 cm in the bedding and practically enjoy doing it.
Hamsters need bedding that easily absorbs liquids and does not allow many odors such as ammonia to occur. Because if the smell is kept a lot, it is not safe for the hamsters, and it is not pleasant for the environment either.
Hamsters need safe bedding so they can dig and make tunnels in it without getting hurt.
That’s why in today’s article we will help you get to know bedding and its safety for hamsters better.
What is safe bedding for hamsters?
There are several types of bedding for hamsters and they all have their own advantages and disadvantages, so let’s take a look at what bedding you can choose for hamsters.
Paper
One of the most popular bedding for hamsters is paper-based bedding.
This type of bedding is very affordable and widely used by hamster owners, although slightly more expensive than aspen bedding.
The paper-based bedding is available in several different colors, which helps the hamster’s cage to look better.
One of those paper sheets is Kaytee Clean, although there are other types of paper sheets.
When buying paper-based bedding, be careful not to buy from those with a fragrance, because they may contain harmful ingredients and toxins that are harmful to the health of hamsters.
Aspen
If you are looking for bedding that is safe and smells great then Aspen Hamster Bedding is it.
Sometimes aspen bedding can stick to long-haired hamsters, especially Syrian hamsters, but it is not harmful to the hamster.
Aspen bedding is made of wood and is a great choice for your furry friends.
Just be careful not to mix it with other pine bedding or Cedar, because they are very toxic and dangerous for the health of hamsters.
Toilet paper bedding
Toilet paper can be used as bedding for hamsters, but it has certain disadvantages such as the ability to absorb liquids and odors.
Paper-based bedding is not good at neutralizing the smell of ammonia in the hamster cage, and you will need to change it very often because of the unpleasant smell that will quickly be felt in the environment.
Bedding based on toilet paper is cheap, which is its biggest advantage, but that’s why you will have to deal with changing the bedding very often.
Soft Granule Blend
This type of bedding is safe for hamsters and can be used, but there is one problem it is not strong enough and the hamster will not be able to make tunnels.
Whenever he makes tunnels they will disappear quickly due to the weak strength of this type of bedding.
Soft Granule Blend is more suitable if you use it as an addition to granulated bedding such as Aspen or paper.
In any case, if you decide on this kind of bedding, again avoid taking from those with a smell, because they are harmful and can only contribute to problems and diseases in hamsters, such as problems with the respiratory system.
Paper pellet bedding
There are several types of paper pellet bedding such as Breeder Celect Cat Litter, which although intended for cats, can also be used for hamsters.
However, this bedding is quite soft and the hamster will not be able to dig tunnels, or after digging them, they will disappear in a short time.
This type of bedding is best mixed with Aspen bedding or paper-based bedding.
Read more: Can hamsters eat hay? All You Need To Know
How thick should a hamster’s bedding be?
Hamsters like thicker bedding that allows them to dig through it better, and this makes them satisfied and happy at the same time.
It is best for the bedding to be about 40-50 cm deep so that the hamsters can have enough space to dig.
The deeper the bedding, the better it will be for the hamster, as the pleasure of digging in deeper bedding makes hamsters happier and healthier.
When hamsters do not have enough bedding they are nervous, and show more signs of boredom where they bite the bars and wires of the cage, use the running wheel more, and the like.
When the bedding is deeper, it allows the hamsters’ urine to be better absorbed and the smell of ammonia is not felt so much in the cage and in the room itself for the hamsters.
How to check bedding for hamsters?
To know if the bedding for the hamster is safe, we can do a small test.
Take a piece of bedding that you plan to use for the hamster and put it in a bowl of water, to check if it is soluble in water, that is, it should break down.
The more it breaks down, the safer it is for your pet.
This test is crucial to know which bedding to choose for your hamster.
When the bedding breaks down easily, then if the hamster eats part of it, it will not have health problems because it will break down more easily and will not cause a problem for its digestive system, it will pass through it more easily.
What to look out for when using hamster bedding
Here are some tips that will be useful for your hamster bedding, as well as some problems you may have and how to solve them more easily.
Digging into the bedding
Hamsters enjoy digging in their bedding, it’s their daily play, just like they use the running wheel.
It is best when you put bedding for them to place it in the form of a mountain.
So that the hamsters can choose for themselves which part of the bedding or its depth they will use for digging tunnels.
Dusty bedding
When using bedding, especially paper-based bedding, there can often be dust that can irritate the hamster.
Therefore, it is best to clean such bedding before placing it in the hamster cage.
You can do it all through a sieve or you can also use a mesh laundry bag if you need to clean a large amount of bedding at once.
Be careful not to do this cleaning from dust in a room, go outside in the yard or garden, or on a terrace if you live in a building.
Freezing the bedding
Freezing the bedding is another tip for safer bedding for your hamster.
When you freeze the bedding you will destroy any bugs and insects that may have been inside it.
Of course, before you put it in the cage of the hamsters, wait for it to thaw, and then you can use it to place it in the cage of the hamsters, otherwise, the hamsters can get sick if you immediately put it cold in the cage.
Read more: What Does Your Hamsters Sleeping Position Mean?
The color of the bedding
Bedding for hamsters is available in several colors, but it is recommended that you always choose white.
The white color of the bedding makes it easier to notice various stains and dirt, so you know where it needs to be cleaned the most.
Almost all bed linen offered for purchase is in white, so you will have no problem finding it when choosing the bed linen.
Conclusion
Choosing bedding for hamsters is one of the most important things because the hamster will spend most of its time using it to make tunnels, rest, and play with it.
When choosing bedding, choose the best you can, so that it can absorb liquids well and does not spread an unpleasant smell of ammonia.
One of the best bedding is Aspen, although other bedding will also serve their purpose.
The bedding should be 50-60 cm deep so that the hamster can enjoy and dig tunnels, the deeper the better for the hamsters.
Some bedding is better than others in terms of absorbing liquids, so be careful when choosing, because you should choose the best one for your hamster.
