Litter for small pets
Litter for small pets covers both the litter itself — a corner litter such as Clean 'N' Tidy Potty Litt'a' or an odour-control granule like Beaphar Cage Fresh Granules — and the trays that hold it, since most rabbits and guinea pigs can be encouraged to use one corner of their enclosure fairly reliably.
Why a litter corner works for small pets
Rabbits and guinea pigs naturally tend to toilet in a favoured spot rather than at random, which makes a litter tray in that corner genuinely effective once they've settled into the habit, unlike trying to train them to use a whole enclosure evenly. A dedicated small pet litter tray, sized to fit the corner of a hutch or cage, makes cleaning that one area far quicker than clearing loose bedding across the whole space.
It won't work for every individual animal, and some take longer to settle into using a tray consistently than others, but placing the tray where they've already chosen to toilet is more effective than putting it where you'd prefer it to be.
Choosing a litter and keeping it fresh
A corner litter product such as Clean 'N' Tidy Potty Litt'a' is designed specifically for this use, while a granule like Beaphar Cage Fresh Granules is aimed more at controlling odour within the wider enclosure rather than replacing the main bedding entirely. Check what a product is actually designed to do before assuming any absorbent material will work the same way.
Whatever litter you use, avoid anything containing ingredients unsafe for the species — some cat litters, for instance, aren't suitable for rabbits or guinea pigs, so stick to products genuinely made for small pets rather than repurposing something from elsewhere.
Cleaning routine
Scoop or spot-clean the litter tray daily, since a small pet's toilet area gets used often and a build-up quickly becomes unpleasant for both the animal and anyone nearby. A full change every few days keeps ammonia smell from building up between cleans.
Wash the tray itself periodically with a pet-safe cleaner rather than just replacing the litter inside it, since residue can build up on the tray itself over time.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Moderna Corner Litter Pan Olive Green
A corner litter pan in recycled plastic, for rabbits and small pets that pick one corner
£11.99
Country Values Bedding Hay for Small Animals
Country Values dust-extracted bedding hay for small animals, 1KG
£3.42
Burgess Excel Nap & Nest Luxury Paper Bedding for Small Animals
Absorbent paper bedding and litter for small pets, made from teabag production offcuts
£10.39
Ancol Small Animal Nail Clipper
12cm nail clippers for small pets, with a groove in the blade to judge how much to cut
£7.49
Ancol Ergo Small Animal Double Comb
A double-sided comb for small pets, with coarse and fine teeth for detangling and smoothing
£6.79
Johnson's Tea Tree Cream Small Animal
A 50g antiseptic tea tree cream for rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals
£4.79
Johnson's Small Animal Antibacterial Wound Powder
A 20g antiseptic wound powder for minor cuts and abrasions in small animals
£4.95
Beaphar Small Animal Milk
A low-lactose milk replacer for hand-rearing orphaned rabbits, guinea pigs and other small mammals
£18.55
FURminator Undercoat DeShedding Tool for Small Animal
A stainless steel deShedding tool for small animals, for 10-20 minutes of use a week
£30.03
Johnson's Small Animal Shampoo
A mild, non-irritant shampoo for rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets, 125ml
£3.35
Johnson's Clean 'N' Safe Small Animal
A 500ml disinfectant spray for hutches, cages, bedding and feeding equipment
£4.99
Common questions
- Will my rabbit or guinea pig actually use a litter tray?
- Many will, since rabbits and guinea pigs naturally tend to toilet in one favoured spot rather than at random. Placing a tray where they've already chosen to go is far more effective than trying to move the habit somewhere else.
- Can I use cat litter for my rabbit or guinea pig?
- It's better to use a litter made specifically for small pets, since some cat litters contain ingredients that aren't suitable for other species. Products like Clean 'N' Tidy Potty Litt'a' are formulated with small pets in mind.
- How often should I clean a small pet's litter tray?
- Scoop or spot-clean it daily, since a busy toilet corner builds up quickly, and do a full litter change every few days to keep odour under control. Wash the tray itself periodically as well, not just the litter inside it.
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.