A small animal spends most of its life in direct contact with its bedding, which is why the material matters more here than it would for a dog or cat with a bed they can simply climb off. Bedding is enrichment, insulation and nesting material all at once.

Safe Bed Paper Wool comes as long strands rather than a pre-shredded mix, so it can be torn to whatever length suits the animal and the enclosure rather than being stuck with one fixed size. The manufacturer describes it as encouraging natural nesting behaviour and keeping small animals entertained for hours, and it is made from natural raw materials that are non-toxic to animals.

• Long-strand format, torn to the length required
• Encourages natural nesting behaviour
• Natural raw materials, non-toxic
• 2kg pack

One thing worth knowing. We have not been given a coverage figure for how far 2kg goes in an average hutch or cage, so it is worth judging the first bag against your own set-up before assuming how often you'll need to reorder.

Who it's for: owners of rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters or other small animals who want a nesting material the animal can shape itself, rather than bedding that only comes in one pre-cut length.