Bedding for small pets
Bedding for small pets — rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and similar — mostly falls into a few main types: paper-based bedding like Safe Bed Paper Shavings and Carefresh Sea Glass Pet Bedding, natural fibre options like Rosewood Naturals Soft & Safe Bedding, and washable fleece such as Back 2 Nature Animal Bedding. Which one suits your pet depends on their species, how messy they are, and whether you want something disposable or washable.
Paper and shredded bedding
Paper-based bedding is soft, absorbent and generally low-dust compared with older wood shaving products, which matters for small pets with sensitive respiratory systems. Carefresh Sea Glass Pet Bedding and Safe Bed Paper Shavings are both this type — good for burrowing species and easy to spot-clean, since you can simply lift and replace the soiled patches.
It's disposable rather than washable, so factor in how often you'll be changing it and buying more, particularly for a pet kept in a larger enclosure that goes through bedding faster.
Fleece and washable options
A washable fleece bedding gives you an ongoing cost saving over disposable bedding once you've bought it, and some pets find it more comfortable to lie on than a loose, shifting material. It needs regular washing to stay hygienic, and doesn't suit every species equally well — burrowing animals in particular often prefer something they can dig into.
Have at least two sets if you go this route, so one can be in the wash while the other is in use, rather than leaving your pet without clean bedding on wash day.
Choosing what suits your pet
Match the bedding to what your particular species actually does — a rabbit or guinea pig that burrows and digs benefits from a deep, loose material, while a hamster building a nest does well with something soft they can shape and shred, like Rosewood Naturals Soft & Safe Bedding.
Whatever you choose, check it regularly for damp patches and change those areas promptly, since damp bedding is uncomfortable and can lead to skin problems if left.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Back 2 Nature Animal Bedding
Dust-free paper pellet bedding for small animals, with strong odour control
From£9.99
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
Norfolk Industries Paper Strips Bedding
Norfolk Industries compressed paper-strip bedding in three pack options
From£5.55
Rosewood Naturals Soft & Safe Bedding
Kapok nesting fibre for hamsters, mice, gerbils and pet birds, from the seed pod
£1.75
Rosewood Naturals Play 'n' Bedding Pods
Natural Kapok seed pod bedding toy, pack of 2, for hamsters, mice and gerbils
£3.00
Country Values Bedding Hay for Small Animals
Country Values dust-extracted bedding hay for small animals, 1KG
£3.42
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
Norfolk Industries Recycled Paper Bedding
Norfolk Industries recycled print-free paper bedding for small furry pets, 80G
£1.99
Norfolk Industries Natural Cotton Bedding
Norfolk Industries repurposed cotton nesting bedding for hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats, 60G
£1.39
Norfolk Industries Jcloth Bedding
Soft cloth nesting bedding for hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats and rabbits, 100g
£1.65
Common questions
- Is paper bedding better than wood shavings for small pets?
- Paper-based bedding is generally lower in dust than traditional wood shavings, which matters for small pets prone to respiratory irritation. Both can work well; paper tends to be the gentler, if slightly pricier, option for a sensitive pet.
- How often should I change my small pet's bedding?
- Spot-clean soiled patches every day or two, and do a full bedding change at least weekly, more often for a heavily used enclosure or a pet prone to dampness. A consistently damp or smelly area is a sign it needs changing sooner.
- Can I use washable fleece bedding for a rabbit or guinea pig that likes to burrow?
- You can, but a burrowing species often gets more natural enrichment from a loose, diggable bedding than a flat fleece liner. Some owners combine the two — fleece as a base layer with a digging area of loose bedding on top.
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.