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Substrate - the stuff for the base of the cage. Not the same as nesting material.
Just starting this to show the range available and their pros and cons.
1) My favourite
Fitch. Fitch is recycled food grade paper, comes in bales and works out inexpensive. They make different versions so make sure it's the version for small animals. I get the 10kg bag which is about the size of a child's beanbag chair. It comes in an oversized plastic bag so it can be squished into different shapes for storage (I've had it under a chair or squished long and thin between a wardrobe and a wall). The 10kg bag lasts me at least 6 months with two 100cm cages and mainly spot cleaning. However filling the base of a 100cm cage from scratch would use up about a third of it from the outset. They seem to sell via ebay now rather than their own website.
Pros:
i) It is dust free - the only bedding I've ever used with no dust at all.
ii) It's fairly soft so hamsters like it and take bits for their nest as well as nesting material. The odd firmer bit where the paper is more condensed but it's great stuff. I can vary in colour from white to off white, depending on what they've been recyling and also in texture sometimes - more soft or less soft - but always softer than wood shavings! Vast majority of the time it's white and soft.
iii) It holds tunnels quite well.
iv) It's very good value for money and economical.
Cons:
i) It only comes in white! But that doesn't really matter.
ii) You need to find somewhere to store the bag but as mentioned above it can be squished. Plus once you use it the bag gets smaller!
iii) Not easily available - online only.
2) Kaytee clean n cozy. This is very similar to Fitch - it doesn't say what it's made from but it's paper based - possibly cellulose like Carefresh. Usually pretty dust free but I did have a dusty batch once. This comes in compressed bales so easier to store.
Pros:
i) Fairly dust free
ii) Very soft - hamsters like it
iii) Comes in different colours (but it also comes in scented versions so be careful not to get one of those).
Cons:
i) It comes in scented versions - don't buy scented bedding - it's bad for hamsters who have a much stronger sense of smell than us and sensitive respiratory tracts.
ii) Not easily available but can be found online
iii) Not quite as economical as Fitch
www.portonaquapet.co.uk
3. Hemp bedding
Pros: Natural, natural look. Fairly good for holding tunnels but that works better if it's mixed with something else (Eg natural colour kaytee clean & cozy). Can be bought in bulk so fairly economical. Nice texture. Zooplus used to sell it but don't think it's available any more to the Uk.
Cons: Quality varies. Hugro hemp is good. Aubiose is popular but can vary I believe. Some people are allergic (it's like hay or grass type thing really).
Rat rations sell Aubiose
Aubiose at Rat Rations
4) Megazorb - this is a bit like Marmite - people either love it or hate it. It has had a reputation for being a bit dusty sometimes and can have an unusual smell apparently. Made from wood pulp. Can be bought in bulk.
5) Carefresh. This was hugely popular for a long time, before Fitch came along and before Kaytee Clean & Cozy was easily available in the Uk. It is similar to both of those. I personally find it very dusty - it has a very fine dust and am not keen on the texture. Some people love it. Made from cellulose (a stage further on than wood pulp I believe). I like Fitch because it's paper - most of the others are cellulose or wood pulp.
Pros: Compressed and expands. Comes in various colours.
Cons: Can be dusty - be careful not to get scented versions. Read the label carefully to see it doesn't have any additives for odour control. At one time they added bicarbonate of soda to it and that apparently made some hamsters very ill. I don't think they do that any more, but check the label if it says "odour control" on the front (although that may just be advertising natural odour control).
6) Finacard. This is soft pieces of cardboard. It's one of the more natural ones. It's not as soft as paper bedding but can work well mixed with Fitch or Kaytee Clean and Cozy for additional texture, a more natural look, variety or to help hold tunnels. Also sold in bulk so works out fairly economical.
Rat Rations sell it or Finacard have their own website. The picture doesn't really do it justice - it looks better than that!
Finacard at Rat Rations
These are the main ones I'm aware of in 2022 - do add more if you know of any that are tried and tested.
NOTE: Pine shavings in the US are not safe - they are not kiln dried as standard, some may be kiln dried but only if it says so on the packet - and it also needs to say dust extracted on the packet. There are much safer substrates than pine, which contains phenols.
In the Uk pine shavings have to be kiln dried by law. However there is no knowing how well they are kiln dried or how effectively phenols have been removed. Kiln drying removes some, but not all, of the phenols. Phenols are harmfull to hamsters. Not all wood shavings are pine either. If it just says "softwood" on the packet, it could be anything - including Cedar. Cedar is a big no no - kiln dried or otherwise - due to extremely high levels of phenols. Always check what wood it is and whether it states it is kiln dried and dust extracted.
Hardwood substrates are fine - eg Aspen (which can be a bit dusty but varies with manufacturers) or beech shavings.
German Chipsi wood shavings are part pine and part spruce. Spruce is equivalent to hardwood and phenols are not an issue - so it's one of the better ones. But again Chipsi have various products including scented versions, so check the label carefully.
There are much better alternatives than pine shavings.
ALLERGY: Hamsters can have allergic reactions to wood substrates, regardless of whether it's hardwood or softwood. Paper is hypoallergenic.
Just starting this to show the range available and their pros and cons.
1) My favourite
Fitch. Fitch is recycled food grade paper, comes in bales and works out inexpensive. They make different versions so make sure it's the version for small animals. I get the 10kg bag which is about the size of a child's beanbag chair. It comes in an oversized plastic bag so it can be squished into different shapes for storage (I've had it under a chair or squished long and thin between a wardrobe and a wall). The 10kg bag lasts me at least 6 months with two 100cm cages and mainly spot cleaning. However filling the base of a 100cm cage from scratch would use up about a third of it from the outset. They seem to sell via ebay now rather than their own website.Pros:
i) It is dust free - the only bedding I've ever used with no dust at all.
ii) It's fairly soft so hamsters like it and take bits for their nest as well as nesting material. The odd firmer bit where the paper is more condensed but it's great stuff. I can vary in colour from white to off white, depending on what they've been recyling and also in texture sometimes - more soft or less soft - but always softer than wood shavings! Vast majority of the time it's white and soft.
iii) It holds tunnels quite well.
iv) It's very good value for money and economical.
Cons:
i) It only comes in white! But that doesn't really matter.
ii) You need to find somewhere to store the bag but as mentioned above it can be squished. Plus once you use it the bag gets smaller!
iii) Not easily available - online only.
Fitch Paper Pet Bedding for Small Animals 10kg for sale online | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Fitch Paper Pet Bedding for Small Animals 10kg at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!
www.ebay.co.uk
2) Kaytee clean n cozy. This is very similar to Fitch - it doesn't say what it's made from but it's paper based - possibly cellulose like Carefresh. Usually pretty dust free but I did have a dusty batch once. This comes in compressed bales so easier to store.
Pros:
i) Fairly dust free
ii) Very soft - hamsters like it
iii) Comes in different colours (but it also comes in scented versions so be careful not to get one of those).
Cons:
i) It comes in scented versions - don't buy scented bedding - it's bad for hamsters who have a much stronger sense of smell than us and sensitive respiratory tracts.
ii) Not easily available but can be found online
iii) Not quite as economical as Fitch
Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Bedding 85 Litres | Welcome to Porton Garden Aquatic & Pets
<p><b>Clean & Cozy White Bedding 85 Litres from Kaytee</b></p><p>Kaytee Clean & Cozy White small pet paper bedding gives you a whole new standard in super-soft, absorbent bedding.</br>Clean & Cozy is soft and fluffy to encourage burrowing or nesting while absorbing two times more liquid than...
3. Hemp bedding
Pros: Natural, natural look. Fairly good for holding tunnels but that works better if it's mixed with something else (Eg natural colour kaytee clean & cozy). Can be bought in bulk so fairly economical. Nice texture. Zooplus used to sell it but don't think it's available any more to the Uk.
Cons: Quality varies. Hugro hemp is good. Aubiose is popular but can vary I believe. Some people are allergic (it's like hay or grass type thing really).
Rat rations sell Aubiose
Aubiose at Rat Rations
4) Megazorb - this is a bit like Marmite - people either love it or hate it. It has had a reputation for being a bit dusty sometimes and can have an unusual smell apparently. Made from wood pulp. Can be bought in bulk.
5) Carefresh. This was hugely popular for a long time, before Fitch came along and before Kaytee Clean & Cozy was easily available in the Uk. It is similar to both of those. I personally find it very dusty - it has a very fine dust and am not keen on the texture. Some people love it. Made from cellulose (a stage further on than wood pulp I believe). I like Fitch because it's paper - most of the others are cellulose or wood pulp.
Pros: Compressed and expands. Comes in various colours.
Cons: Can be dusty - be careful not to get scented versions. Read the label carefully to see it doesn't have any additives for odour control. At one time they added bicarbonate of soda to it and that apparently made some hamsters very ill. I don't think they do that any more, but check the label if it says "odour control" on the front (although that may just be advertising natural odour control).
6) Finacard. This is soft pieces of cardboard. It's one of the more natural ones. It's not as soft as paper bedding but can work well mixed with Fitch or Kaytee Clean and Cozy for additional texture, a more natural look, variety or to help hold tunnels. Also sold in bulk so works out fairly economical.
Rat Rations sell it or Finacard have their own website. The picture doesn't really do it justice - it looks better than that!
Finacard at Rat Rations
These are the main ones I'm aware of in 2022 - do add more if you know of any that are tried and tested.
NOTE: Pine shavings in the US are not safe - they are not kiln dried as standard, some may be kiln dried but only if it says so on the packet - and it also needs to say dust extracted on the packet. There are much safer substrates than pine, which contains phenols.
In the Uk pine shavings have to be kiln dried by law. However there is no knowing how well they are kiln dried or how effectively phenols have been removed. Kiln drying removes some, but not all, of the phenols. Phenols are harmfull to hamsters. Not all wood shavings are pine either. If it just says "softwood" on the packet, it could be anything - including Cedar. Cedar is a big no no - kiln dried or otherwise - due to extremely high levels of phenols. Always check what wood it is and whether it states it is kiln dried and dust extracted.
Hardwood substrates are fine - eg Aspen (which can be a bit dusty but varies with manufacturers) or beech shavings.
German Chipsi wood shavings are part pine and part spruce. Spruce is equivalent to hardwood and phenols are not an issue - so it's one of the better ones. But again Chipsi have various products including scented versions, so check the label carefully.
There are much better alternatives than pine shavings.
ALLERGY: Hamsters can have allergic reactions to wood substrates, regardless of whether it's hardwood or softwood. Paper is hypoallergenic.
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