Carefresh bedding: what the range is and how to choose
We don't publish a scored review system for individual brands, Carefresh included, so if you landed here looking for a star rating you won't find one. What we can do honestly is walk through what the Carefresh range actually is, how the bedding types differ from each other, and which one suits which small pet, based on what is genuinely in each bag.
What Carefresh bedding is made from
Carefresh is a paper-pulp bedding rather than a wood shaving or straw product, made from reclaimed paper fibre processed into a soft, absorbent material. That processing is the main selling point over traditional shavings: it is generally lower in dust and does not carry the aromatic oils found in unrefined softwood shavings that some owners choose to avoid.
The bedding is also biodegradable and, once soiled material is removed, compostable through most home compost systems, which is worth knowing if you are trying to cut down on what goes in the bin after a hutch or cage clean-out.
How the different finishes differ
The core range comes in a handful of colours, including a natural white, a blue tone and a confetti-style mix, plus a version marketed as extra-absorbent for a bigger cage or a pet that toilets heavily in one spot. The colours are cosmetic rather than functional, so pick whichever your household prefers to look at.
Depth and absorbency matter more than colour for a dry, low-odour enclosure. A thin layer looks tidy but needs changing more often; a proper base layer of several centimetres, topped up between full changes, gets more use out of each bag and keeps ammonia smell down for longer.
Choosing the right one for your pet
Guinea pigs and rabbits, who produce a lot of urine relative to their size, generally do best on a generously deep layer of one of the more absorbent finishes, changed fully at least once a week. Hamsters and other burrowing small pets appreciate a deeper layer they can tunnel into, since paper bedding holds a burrow shape reasonably well once packed down.
If your pet has previously reacted to wood shavings, with sneezing, watery eyes or more scratching than usual, a paper-based bedding like this is one of the more common switches owners make, though any bedding change is worth introducing gradually rather than swapping a whole cage over in one go.
From this brand
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Carefresh Natural Pet Bedding
Paper-fibre bedding for small pets, made without harsh chemicals, in 14 and 60 litre packs
From£7.99
Carefresh Confetti Pet Bedding
Soft paper-fibre confetti bedding, in 10 and 50 litre packs, for hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and small pets
From£9.49
Carefresh Sea Glass Pet Bedding
Paper-based small animal bedding made from reclaimed fibre, not wood shavings
£10.60
Carefresh Blue Pet Bedding
10 litres of soft paper-fibre bedding for hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and other small animals
£9.49
Carefresh Tutti Frutti Pet Bedding
Paper-based small animal bedding in Tutti Frutti, made from reclaimed fibre
£10.60
Carefresh Ultra Pet Bedding
Paper-based small animal bedding in Ultra, made from reclaimed fibre, 10 litres
£9.49
Smart Pet Wood Shavings
UK-made softwood shavings for small animal bedding, with a pine fragrance
From£1.09
Bestpets Wood Shavings
Biodegradable softwood shavings with a pine fragrance, for rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters
£4.99
Back 2 Nature Animal Bedding
Dust-free paper pellet bedding for small animals, with strong odour control
From£9.99
Pillow Wad Large Wood Shavings
A 3.6kg bale of kiln-dried, dust-extracted white wood shavings for small pets
£6.65
Norfolk Industries Paper Strips Bedding
Norfolk Industries compressed paper-strip bedding in three pack options
From£5.55
Common questions
- Is Carefresh bedding safe for rabbits?
- Yes, paper-pulp bedding of this kind is a widely used choice for rabbit hutches and cages. Make sure your rabbit still has access to hay kept separately for eating, since bedding is for lying and toileting on rather than being a food source.
- How often should I change Carefresh bedding?
- A full change once a week is typical for most small pets, with spot-cleaning of wet or soiled patches in between. Larger animals, or more than one pet sharing an enclosure, may need a full change more often to keep things dry and low-odour.
- Is Carefresh better than wood shavings?
- It depends what you are optimising for. Paper bedding is generally lower-dust and free of the aromatic oils some softwood shavings contain, but shavings are usually cheaper and some owners find them more absorbent for very messy pets. Either can work well if changed regularly.
- Can I compost used Carefresh bedding?
- The unsoiled paper fibre is compostable through most home systems, but check your own compost setup's guidance on adding pet bedding, particularly once it has been used by an animal, before mixing it in with garden waste.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.