Norfolk Industries small pet bedding
Norfolk Industries makes small pet bedding built around paper rather than wood shavings, and the range we stock includes recycled paper, paper flakes, paper strips, natural cotton and jcloth bedding, plus a chewy cardboard tube for enrichment. It suits owners who have moved away from wood-based bedding or are looking to.
Why paper instead of wood shavings
Some wood shavings, particularly cedar and untreated pine, have been linked to respiratory irritation in small pets because of the aromatic oils they release, which is why paper-based bedding has become a common recommendation as an alternative. Norfolk Industries' recycled paper, paper flakes and paper strips are all built around that switch.
Cotton and jcloth-style bedding go a step further for nesting behaviour, giving burrowing species like hamsters and gerbils softer material to shred and build with, rather than just something absorbent to sit on. Different small pets take to different textures, so it is worth trying more than one type if your current bedding is not being used the way you would expect.
Choosing between the types
Recycled paper and paper flakes are the more absorbent, practical everyday options and work well as a base layer across a cage. Paper strips and cotton-style bedding suit animals that actively burrow and nest, since the longer fibres can be gathered and shaped rather than just sat on.
The Chewy Tube with Paper adds something to gnaw and forage through on top of the bedding itself, which is worth having for species that benefit from foraging opportunities rather than food and bedding being kept entirely separate. It also gives a burrowing animal an extra source of material to shred and add to a nest, on top of whatever bedding is already down.
Common questions
- Is wood shavings bedding bad for small pets?
- Cedar and untreated pine shavings in particular have been linked to respiratory irritation in small animals because of the oils they release, which is why many owners and vets recommend paper-based alternatives instead. Kiln-dried, dust-extracted shavings are less of a concern, but paper avoids the question entirely.
- Which Norfolk Industries bedding is best for a hamster?
- Paper strips or the natural cotton bedding tend to suit hamsters best, since they can gather and shape the longer fibres into a nest rather than just sitting on a flat layer. A deeper base of recycled paper or paper flakes underneath gives them something to dig through as well.
- How often should small pet bedding be changed?
- A full change once a week is standard for most bedding, with any obviously wet or soiled patches removed daily in between. A strong ammonia smell between full cleans is a sign the bedding needs changing sooner rather than waiting for the usual schedule.
- Can I mix different types of bedding together?
- Yes, and many owners do — a practical, absorbent base layer of recycled paper or flakes with a softer nesting material like cotton or paper strips on top gives an animal both drainage underneath and something comfortable to burrow into.
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Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
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.