Small animal bedding
This aisle covers what goes on the floor of a hutch, cage or run — paper bedding, wood shavings and hay-based options for rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets. What suits your animal depends on the species, how much they burrow or chew, and whether dust is a concern for a sensitive respiratory system.
Choosing a bedding type
Dust-extracted paper bedding and shavings are worth prioritising over cheaper, dustier alternatives, since small pets housed close to their bedding can be more affected by dust than a larger animal would be — this matters most for rabbits and guinea pigs, who spend most of their time at floor level.
Hay-based bedding does double duty for rabbits and guinea pigs, since both species also eat hay as part of a normal diet — a deep hay bed encourages the natural grazing and foraging behaviour the Rabbit Welfare Association and PDSA both flag as important for wellbeing, not just something to lie on.
How much, and how often
A deep enough layer that your pet can dig and burrow into is generally better than a thin scattering, particularly for rabbits and guinea pigs who naturally want to nest. Spot-clean soiled patches between full changes rather than waiting for the whole hutch to need doing at once.
Change bedding fully on a regular schedule rather than only when it looks obviously dirty — ammonia from urine builds up in bedding before it's visibly soiled, and it's this buildup, more than the mess itself, that affects a small pet's breathing over time.
Common questions
- What's the best bedding for a rabbit hutch?
- A dust-extracted paper or shavings base topped with a generous layer of hay works well for most rabbits, since it lets them nest and forage in the same material. Avoid very dusty or scented bedding, which can irritate a rabbit's respiratory system.
- How often should I change my small pet's bedding?
- Spot-clean soiled areas every day or two, and do a full bedding change on a regular schedule — at least weekly for most setups — rather than waiting until it looks obviously dirty, since ammonia builds up in bedding before it's visibly soiled.
- Can rabbits eat their bedding?
- If it's hay-based, yes, and that's exactly the point — hay serves as both bedding and food, and rabbits benefit from being able to graze on it throughout the day. Non-hay bedding like paper or shavings isn't meant to be eaten and shouldn't make up part of the diet.
- Is dusty bedding bad for small pets?
- Yes, dust can irritate the respiratory system of small pets housed close to floor level, so it's worth choosing a dust-extracted paper or shavings product over a cheaper, dustier alternative, particularly for rabbits and guinea pigs who spend most of their time in it.
Related
Sources
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.