“Mud and the way bedding compacts and holds up when burrowed in are each tied to your hamster’s security and must also be thought-about when purchasing for bedding,” Victoria Raechel , a hamster advocate, instructed The Dodo. We spoke to Raechel for her ideas on what else to search for in terms of hamster bedding in your furry buddy . Listed below are our prime picks:
Your hamster spends most of her time in her cage, so it’s tremendous vital to get her the proper of bedding. Plus, a pet hamster wants bedding to dig and bury issues in as if she have been within the wild, in addition to a spot to, ahem, do her enterprise. Hamster bedding must also assist preserve your hamster heat when it’s chilly out.
Secure hamster bedding choices
Security ought to all the time be prime of thoughts when purchasing for hamster bedding.
Since hamsters like to burrow, you’ll need to be sure to’re getting sufficient bedding (and filling her cage sufficiently). This may also assist forestall her from chewing on her cage if she isn’t getting her little burrowing vitality out. You’ll need to make sure that the bedding fills all the cage and is ideally at the least 10 inches deep, in line with Raechel.
Examples of secure hamster bedding embody:
Aspen shavings
Aspen is the one secure wood-based bedding that you should use in your hamster. It’s additionally inexpensive and absorbent, making it nice at controlling odor.
The one draw back is aspen generally sticks to the fur of sure breeds of hamster (primarily breeds who’ve lengthy hair), however this doesn’t hurt your hamster in any respect and is definitely solved by merely wiping or brushing it off of her.
Paper-based bedding
Paper-based bedding is arguably the most well-liked and extensively used sort of hamster bedding. It’s delicate and cozy, and usually is available in a wide range of colours so you can also make your hamster’s cage her personal. When buying, you’ll need to keep away from inked and scented paper beddings, as they comprise toxins that may be harmful in your hamster.
One factor to contemplate — the softness of paper bedding, whereas tremendous comfy, can generally make burrowing a bit of difficult (delicate paper isn’t probably the most sturdy for burrowing a tunnel). One technique to fight that is to incorporate a pre-made tunnel system in your hamster’s cage.
Hemp bedding
Hemp shavings are a superb hypoallergenic selection for people and pets who are suffering from respiratory issues. The fabric is delicate and cozy for burrowing (however agency sufficient to maintain burrowed tunnels secure), extremely absorbent, usually inexpensive and good for the surroundings, and it’s made out of natural materials.
What to keep away from in hamster bedding
Not all hamster bedding is created equal, so it’s a good suggestion to be sure to know what to keep away from in your hunt for the right bedding.
“Something scented, pine and cedar or unlabelled shavings ought to be averted,” Raechel mentioned.
Scented bedding
Whereas the concept of scented bedding may be good in your nostril, it’s finest to keep away from these in your little BFF. Scented bedding truly comprises chemical substances that may be dangerous to your hamster’s respiratory system (bear in mind how a lot burrowing she’d be doing inside these chemical substances!).
Pine and cedar shavings
Pine and cedar shavings are arduous and prone to splinter into sharp items, which may damage your hamster. These are finest to keep away from altogether.
Fluffy bedding
Giving your hamster that extra-cozy, plush bedding might seem to be a good suggestion; nevertheless, the bogus fibers used to make fluffy bedding can hurt your hamster — that is very true if she likes to chew on her bedding since it may be arduous for her to digest.
Greatest hamster bedding
These are among the finest hamster bedding sorts we discovered, taking every part into consideration that makes for a secure, cozy and absorbent bedding.
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