As a hamster owner, you might wonder what’s the best bedding for your hamster’s cage? After all, we all want our little furry balls to be as comfortable as possible.
To answer this question, the first thing you show know is that there isn’t an undeniable best bedding for your hamster. But there are several great options available so that you can choose from:
- - Carefresh Colors Pet Bedding
- - Healthy Pet Natural Bedding
- - Carefresh Ultra
- - Aspen Shavings
- - Kaytee Clean and Cozy
Now, each one of these bedding materials will provide your hamster with a comfortable and clean environment. But there are certain situations where a single might be more ideal than another; for this reason, we’ll discuss each one more in-depth below, which will help you pick the right one.
The Five Best Beddings For Your Hamster’s Cage
As mentioned above, any of those five products would make your hamster’s life extremely comfortable. However, even though they’re high-quality products, they still have their own set of pros and cons.
And with this in mind, we thought going over them individually would help you figure out what bedding would work best for the hamster.
Carefresh Colors Pet Bedding
If you want fun bedding material, look no further than Carefresh Colors Pet Bedding. See, with this product, you will get the bedding in three different colors: blue, pink, or purple. Pretty cool, right?
I know, this benefit seems pretty owner-based, but it has some other fantastic aspects that will make your hamster’s life better too. For instance, this bedding is non-toxic and absorbs an immense quantity of liquids: three times its weight.
Both these benefits will ensure your hamster lives in a safe, clean environment for many years to come. It also helps that the material is incredibly soft, which will make sure your hamster is enjoying peak levels of comfort.
But there are a couple of downsides you should know about before purchasing. Given the benefits mentioned above, you won’t be shocked to learn this bedding’s pretty expensive. Therefore, if you’re looking for a bargain, you should steer clear of this bedding material.
Plus, some customers have complained about the smell being overwhelming. Now, this matter was somewhat isolated among the customer reviews; Thankfully, with this bedding, this problem is really a nonfactor.
Pros:
- - nontoxic
- - Three different color options
- - Absorbs three times its weight in liquids
- - Incredible sort
Cons:
- - Some customers complained concerning the smell
- - Expensive
Healthy Pet Natural Bedding
The Healthy Pet Natural Bedding is an incredibly versatile product. See, it comes in a bunch of different sizes to ensure it will be an appealing product for whatever type of customer comes along. Honestly, I can’t envision someone not being able to find a size that wouldn’t fit their needs.
Plus, this bedding is virtually dust-free, which means your hamster will be less prone to respiratory problems. This might not sound like a big deal, but other bedding has been known to cause these sorts of issues; pine and cedar wood shavings are the biggest culprits.
Asides from this, it can absorb three times its weight just like the Carefresh Colors Pet Bedding. Therefore, it shouldn’t have any issues dealing with all your hamster’s bathroom requirements. I know it’s disgusting to think about, but that’s the most significant factor you should examine when picking out bedding. For instance, thwill be bedding can also absorb three times its weight and is made of incredibly comfortable material. however, it's still something you should take into consideration. Because of this, you shouldn’t have any doubts about at least considering this bedding, especially, given its incredibly low cost.
However, you should be aware of one little issue I can across in my research; some customers complained about the material being a bit too stiff. Now, for those who have a hamster that spends considerable time burrowing, this could be a serious problem.
Otherwise, I see no other reason why this bedding won’t be an excellent purchase for any hamster owner.
Pros:
- - Five available sizes: 1-pack, 2-pack, 3-pack, 4-pack, and 5-pack
- - Incredible cheap price
- - Absorbs three times its weight
- - Odor control formula that neutralizes bad pet smells
- - 99 % dust-free
Cons:
- - Some customers complained about the material being stiff.
Carefresh Ultra Pet Bedding
The second Carefresh product in this list, Carefresh Ultra Pet Bedding, isn’t too much different than its predecessor. But there are two very essential differences between them. See, this one lacks the color options the other one had; however, it’s considerably much cheaper.
Now, you must realize the lack of different color options doesn’t hurt its quality. In fact, the only reason the price’s higher is because of the additional colors.
If you don’t, you could end up with some disgusting issues on your hands.
As a result, if you choose to go Carefresh, you must decide how much-colored bedding means to you. In my personal opinion, I’d opt for this one over the first Carefresh product because of the price difference. It’s just too much of a bargain to pass up for somebody on a budget like me.
Now, this realization doesn’t mean I'd pick this one over the other three products on this list. After all, there’s still an issue that haunts this Carefresh product, the smell. And as someone who has a low tolerance for bad odors, I’d have to think hard about this issue before purchasing.
Nonetheless, this bedding is still near the top of my list because it really does do its job well. It also helps that the price isn’t outlandish, which will appeal to my bargain buyer mentality. Therefore, if you’re looking for a simple, low-cost option, this bedding may be the one for you.
Pros:
- - Two available sizes: 3-pack and 50-liter
- - Absorbs three times its weight
- - Very comfortable material
- - Easy to clean up
- - Biodegradable
Cons:
- Some customers complained concerning the smell
Aspen Shavings
Aspen wood shavings
Aspen Shavings have one clear advantage over the rest of the products upon this list; they give the hamster’s cage a more natural feel. Put simply, this bedding will mimic the environment your hamster would be accustomed to in the wild.
Now, this aspect has its advantages and disadvantages. For instance, this material is remarkably well-suited for burrowing, which makes it ideal for relatively active hamsters. But on the other hand, the bedding’s smell offers a natural-esque feel to it as well.
Honestly, the smell will probably be a real issue for some of you, which is why I implore to think hard about this before buying. After all, you don’t want to use thwill be bedding and have your hamster love it only to realize that the smell is unbearable for you.
With this in mind, I’d recommend being realistic about the impact a bad odor can have on you. But if you think you can bear it, there isn’t better bedding on here for your hamster than this one. They include:
A soft surface.
Although since it mimics their natural environment, the bedding is a little stiff than the other beddings. Therefore, if you’re looking to pamper your older hamster, you might consider looking at another bedding.
Pros:
- - Four available sizes: 1200 cu in., 3200 cu in, 4 cu.ft, and 8 cu.ft
- - Ideal for all small animals
- - Inexpensive
- - Gives the hamster cage a natural feel and look
- - Non-toxic and 99% dust-free
Cons:
- - Causes the cage to be a little more smelly than the other beddings
- - A little be stiffer compared to the other more comfortable products
Kaytee Clean And Cozy
Our last bedding, the Kaytee Clean and Cozy Pet Bedding is the cheapest option on this list. However, the quality doesn’t suffer because of its lower price. Actually, in some cases, it vastly outpaces its competitors.
For example, it absorbs six times its weight; therefore, it should have no issues dealing with your hamster’s bathroom needs. Honestly, it might even be a little excessive, but a little extra protection never hurt anyone.
Plus, it has an incredibly useful odor control system to ensure the cage’s smell never gets out of hand. As someone who plans on having the hamster cage in their bedroom, you could see how this could be extremely beneficial to me.
Otherwise, this bedding’s pretty run of the mill and will do everything you’re expecting without hassle or complications. Honestly, this product is easily my favorite on this list due to the incredible price and quality combination.
But my preference for this product doesn’t mean there isn’t any issue with it. In fact, there’s one problem that was hard to overlook; the bedding was described as clumpy or stiff by multiple customers.
Now, if you’re looking for incredibly comfortable bedding, this product isn’t for you. However, if you’re searching for something affordable and simple, this option is the one for your hamster.
Pros:
- - Four sizes options: 12.3 liters, 24.6 liters, 49.2 liters, and 85 liters
- - Incredibly inexpensive
- - Absorbs six times its weight
- - Odor control system to deal with all pet smells
- - 99% dust free
Cons:
- - Clumpy and stiff
- After going over these fantastic products, you should have a good idea of which one would meet your needs. But there’s one question still rattling around in my head isn’t there? And it’s most likely the following issue: how often should I change the bedding in a hamster cage?
How Often Should You Change The Bedding In A Hamster Cage?
The answer to the question of how often should you change the bedding in a hamster cage is not as simple as you might think. The ASPCA recommends changing the bedding “once a week” In doing so, you’re making sure your hamster’s cage stays in a clean and healthy environment.
After all, we must make sure our favorite little friends stay in our lives for as long as possible. And by keeping their habitats in peak condition, we help this become a reality.
How Can I Create A Homemade Hamster Bed?
Exotic red-eyed Lilac dwarf Campbell hamster eating pet food
If you would like to craft a homemade sleeping place for your beloved hammy, then just be aware of the few but crucial fixtures that are needed to create the perfect hamster bed. It’s just everything they could ever want. Whether you choose a shredded towel, a soft pad, or a similar object, make sure that your hamster’s bed is very comfortable and easy to access.
- - Hay. To liken your hamster’s bed to its natural habitat, including some fresh hay or straw in their sleeping place.
- - Toys. Much like a child, your hamster may like to slumber in the gentle company of their favorite balls, dolls, and other assorted playthings that make them happy.
- - Clean components. Regardless of what items you choose to include in your heavenly hammy boudoir, be sure that they are cleaned frequently and monitored for the development of wear and tear. Just as you maintain the orderly and sanitary condition of your own bed, you need to do the same for the precious pet.
In Closing
Considering you’re now hamster bedding experts, it’s time you make that final decision. It's either you purchase the perfect product for you or you might as well try creating a DIY hamster bed. As long as you desire to give your best, I promise neither you nor your hamster will regret it!
Read more:
- - How often should you clean a hamster’s cage?
- - Should you let a hamster out of its cage?
- - What Should You Put in a Hamster’s Cage? (An Owner’s Checklist)
- - The Compallowe Hamster Cage Maintenance Guide