Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs –
Vet-Approved Top Picks
If you’re a guinea pig owner, you’ll already know that these adorable little creatures are huge poop and pee machines. Or, if you’re just becoming a piggy parent, you’ll soon learn what we are talking about.
It’s important that your piggies have a setup that is safe, clean, comfortable, and caters to their needs.
– Dr. Ivana Crnec, DVM
It’s also important that the setup is easy to clean and keep hygienic and as smell-free as possible.
When it comes to keeping the habitat clean, safe, and comfortable, bedding plays the most important part.
So how do you know what type of bedding you should pick, and which are the best options? Let us help you.
- What Kind of Bedding for Guinea Pigs? Quick Guide
- Best Guinea Pig Bedding – Our top picks
- Guinea Pig Bedding Alternatives – What Can You Use for Guinea Pig Bedding?
- What Is the Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs? – 10 Factors to Consider
- Bedding Materials You Should Avoid
- Summing Up – Guinea Pig Bedding Options
- Vet's Comment
What Kind of Bedding for Guinea Pigs?
Quick Guide
With guinea pig bedding, you’ll want to find something that is comfortable for both you and your pets. You’ll be cleaning the cage and changing the bedding quite often, and your piggies need a clean, dry and safe environment to stay healthy.
This means the bedding should
- be safe and comfortable
- absorb urine and prevent smells
- be dust-free
- easily cleaned or changed
- budget-friendly
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With these factors in mind, we have chosen our top picks for the best bedding for guinea pigs. First, we’ll go through these top choices, after which you can learn more from our complete buyer’s guide to guinea pig bedding.
Best Guinea Pig Bedding – Our top picks
Best Guinea Pig Cage Liners
GuineaDad Cage Liner – The Top Choice
With this highly popular top-quality cage liner, you won’t be disappointed. It’s the favorite of millions of guinea pig owners because it’s specially designed to answer all the needs you have for guinea pig bedding. Check the latest price.
Key Features
- Available in many sizes and colors
- Moisture-wicking, absorbent, and waterproof
- Soft and comfy
- It has a burrowing pocket
Our Review
These GuineaDad liners are the premium option for your piggies. The products are made with high-quality materials, and they offer just about everything you need from a cage liner.
The liner is made with three layers of fabric. The top layer is fleece that wicks away any moisture keeping your pet dry. The middle layer is highly absorbent bamboo fiber, which is also very odor-resistant. Thirdly, you have a waterproof bottom layer that prevents urine from seeping through.
Getting one or two of these cage liners is, of course, somewhat more expensive than a bag of aspen or paper bedding. But with the sturdy, high-quality materials, these liners are made to last and will save you money in the long run.
The liners are easy to keep clean since they are machine washable and can be dried in the dryer. To keep the odors away, we recommend adding a little vinegar when washing your liners. Laundry bags like these Wheeky Pets Laundry Helpers are also something to consider since they prevent your washer from being blocked by hay and pet hair.
The liners come in several colors and a few different sizes that fit the most common guinea pig setups like the MidWest perfectly. Guinea pigs love to burrow, so the cage liner has a soft fleece burrowing pocket in the other end for your piggies to hide in.
Guinea dad has thought about everything! The liner even comes in a package that can be reused as a chew-safe hide for your pets. These cage liners are just perfect!
Pros
- Soft and comfy
- Available in several sizes
- Moisture-wicking to keep the cage dry
- Absorbs urine and odors
- A waterproof layer on the bottom
- Cost-efficient
- Eco-friendly
- Have a burrowing pocket
Cons
- Like all reusable cage liners, they can start to smell eventually
Arm & Hammer Super-Absorbent Cage Liners – Best Disposable Cage Liners
These disposable cage liners can be used under fleece bedding as a practical and waterproof absorbent layer that keeps the cage dry and prevents odors. See the latest price here.
Key Features
- Super absorbent
- Wick away moisture to keep the surface dry
- Odor-resistant
- Can be trimmed to fit the habitat
- Waterproof
Our Review
These Arm & Hammer disposable cage liners are highly absorbent, and they keep your guinea pigs’ cage dry – preventing many health issues. They are best used under fleece, paper, or aspen bedding, as they have a waterproof plastic layer you wouldn’t want your piggies nibbling on.
Since fleece or bathmats keep the surface dry but let moisture through, you need to have an absorbent and waterproof layer underneath to absorb the urine and to contain smells. Because these cage liners effectively absorb moisture and keep odors under control, they are the perfect choice for disposable liners.
Cleaning is easy, as you can just toss the liners away. They are not the most eco-friendly solution, but certainly a convenient and effortless one.
The liners only come in one size, but they can be cut to fit your cage or enclosure perfectly.
Pros
- Makes cleaning super easy
- Highly absorbent material
- Controls nasty odors
- Can be trimmed to fit any cage
- Keeps the moisture away from the surface
- Waterproof layer prevents urine from leaking through
Cons
- Not the most environmentally friendly solution
- Heavy chewers may nibble on the plastic layer
Best Fleece Bedding for Guinea Pigs
Comsmart Fleece Blanket Six Pack – Top Choice
A soft, warm, and snug choice of bedding that is machine washable and comes in many colors to choose from. Check the latest price.
Key Features
- Super soft
- Machine washable
- Wicks away moisture
- Many colors and patterns to choose from
- Available in three sizes
Our Review
These fleece blankets are perfect for your guinea pigs because they are soft, comfortable, warm, and wick away moisture to keep the surface dry.
As moisture can cause health issues like respiratory problems or infections, fleece is a great fabric to be used as bedding. It quickly wicks the moisture and leaves the surface dry. However, you do need an extra absorbent layer underneath to soak up the urine and odors (like the disposable cage liners we have reviewed above).
The fleece is easy to keep clean, as you just shake off hay, poop, and other debris before throwing it into the wash. Again, using vinegar with a scent-free and pet-friendly laundry detergent is recommended to keep the fleece smelling nice and fresh. In addition, a Wheeky Pet laundry bag will protect your washer from any hay and pet hair that doesn’t come of before washing.
The fleece blankets are available in three sizes, and you can choose from different colors and patterns. We also love that they come in a pack of six since it’s always good to have a few you can rotate when washing and drying.
You can also use these fleece blankets to hold your guinea pig if they haven’t been used to handling, they love to snuggle inside a blanket while being held, or you’re teaching a child to hold a small pet safely.
Pros
- Warm and very comfortable for your piggies
- Keep the bottom of the cage dry
- Different sizes, colors, and patterns available
- They come in a six-pack, so you always have spares
Cons
- It needs an absorbent and waterproof layer underneath
- Not as sturdy as proper cage liners
Best Bath Mat for Guinea Pigs
Gorilla Grip Original Luxury Chenille Bathroom Rug Mat
Being soft, highly absorbent, and easy to keep clean, bath mats are an excellent choice for guinea pig bedding. See the latest price.
Key Features
- Super soft and plush
- Absorb moisture
- Machine washable
- Stay in place
Our Review
Yes, bath mats are an excellent bedding option for guinea pig habitats. They are highly absorbent, soft, warm, and gentle to your piggies’ delicate feet. Plus, you can find them in many colors, and they are easy to keep clean.
A chenille bath mat like this one from Gorilla Grip comes in many sizes and colors, so you can choose which one fits your pet’s habitat and your taste. The chenille material is extremely soft and will keep your pets warm and snug.
Bath mats are easy to keep clean as you can just wash them in the washer. Again, we’re repeating our advice on using vinegar to prevent urine smell and a laundry bag to avoid blockages of hay and pet hair in your washing machine.
This high-quality bath mat can also be tumble dried, and because it has a sturdy backing, it will last long, even with weekly washings. The rubber backing also keeps the rug in place even with your guinea pigs popcorning around in enjoyment because of their new cozy home.
Pros
- Extremely soft
- Absorbs moisture easily to keep the surface dry
- Stays in place
- Easy to clean in the washer
- Many different styles and sizes
Cons
- It can start to smell with time if not washed thoroughly
Best Paper Bedding for Guinea Pigs
These two paper bedding brands are both highly popular and well-known. Some guinea pig owners (and their piggies) prefer Kaytee, while others like to use Carefresh. The best way to see which one is the ideal choice for you and your pets is to test both of them. Basically, the differences between the two are very small, and by trying out both, you’ll see which one your piggies prefer.
Many guinea pig owners say Kaytee paper bedding is softer, while Carefresh absorbs moisture and urine better. Some owners prefer mixing them together to get the best of both products.
Carefresh Small Pet Bedding
Highly absorbent and all-natural with a soft texture and 10-day odor control. Check the latest price here.
Key Features
- All-natural paper fiber
- Soft and good for burrowing
- 2x more absorbent than wood shavings
- 10-day odor control
- 99% dust-free
- Biodegradable and compostable
- No chemicals or synthetic dyes
Our Review
The Carefresh paper bedding is made of all-natural paper fiber. It’s soft, and it keeps the cage dry to protect your piggie from respiratory problems and bumblefoot.
The package is compact and lightweight, but once you open it up, it expands and becomes fluffy. Because the bedding is extra soft and pillowy, it’s very comfortable to be used as bedding and allows guinea pigs to burrow – which many cavies love to do!
The bedding helps keep moisture away, and it’s twice as absorbent as traditional aspen bedding. Because it absorbs urine effectively, it also keeps the pee smells at bay and keeps the cage smelling fresh for up to 10 days.
Being 99% dust-free and containing no chemicals or synthetic dyes, the bedding is safe for your pets and prevents respiratory issues. It is also biodegradable and compostable, so cleaning the cage is easy peasy. You just throw the bedding away (or you can compost it) and add a layer of fresh bedding.
Although, in the long run, paper bedding is more expensive than fleece or reusable cage liners, you don’t have to do laundry, and paper bedding effectively contains any smells. However, paper bedding can be more expensive if your piggies soil the bedding quickly and it needs to be changed very often.
Pros
- Natural and does not contain harmful chemicals
- Soft and fluffy for pigs that love burrowing
- Highly absorbent to keep the cage dry
- It controls odors effectively
- Low-dust to prevent respiratory issues
- It makes cleaning the cage effortless
Cons
- – Can be expensive if the bedding needs to be changed often
Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Small Animal Pet Bedding
This bedding has a super soft texture, and it absorbs urine well while also enabling burrowing. See the latest price.
Key Features
- All-natural paper fiber
- SofPackage 250 cu in
- Expands to 750 cu in
- Twice as absorbent as wood shavings
- Absorbs 6 times its weight in liquid
- Fluffy and soft texture
- 99.9% dust-free
- Odor-control guarantee
Our Review
This Kaytee paper bedding is another very popular product among guinea pig owners using paper bedding. It is extremely soft and fluffy, so many piggies love the texture and are excited about the burrowing possibilities it offers. The package is very compact, but once you open it, the bedding triples its volume.
Although not considered quite as absorbent as Carfresh bedding, the one from Kaytee still absorbs 6 times its weight in liquid and is twice as absorbent as wood shavings. It also contains the urine smell quite well and is 99.9% dust-free to protect your guinea pigs from ammonia build-up and dust, which cause respiratory issues.
Paper bedding makes cleaning the cage a breeze since you can just throw the dirty bedding away and replace it with a new fresh layer. Again, if your pigs do not have a separate toilet area and the bedding needs to be changed often, paper bedding can become more expensive than reusable cage liners. Still, if it’s high absorbency and ease-of-cleaning you’re looking for, then paper bedding is definitely the perfect solution.
Pros
- Super soft and comfortable for guinea pigs
- Absorbs urine and controls the odors
- Very low-dust to prevent respiratory issues
- It makes cleaning the cage effortless
Cons
- Not as absorbent as CareFresh bedding
Best Aspen Bedding for Guinea Pigs
Small Pet Select Aspen Bedding
Soft and safe aspen bedding that is environmentally friendly and keeps the cage dry and smelling nice. Check the price.
Key Features
- All-natural aspen bedding
- Made of kiln-dried shaved wood
- 4.0 cubic feet useable volume
- Recyclable and compostable
- 99% dust-free
Our Review
This Small Select Aspen Bedding is the premium choice if you want to use wood shavings as bedding for your guinea pigs. It’s soft for your pets’ feet and keeps the cage dry.
The shavings also absorb urine and smell quite well, although the cage might need spot cleaning a few times a week if your guinea pigs are not potty trained and don’t have a separate toilet area.
Cleaning is quick and easy, as you can just dump the shavings – they can be recycled or composted – and add a new layer of bedding for a dry and clean cage. The bedding is also 99% dust-free, so it’s safe for your piggies and won’t leave dust around when cleaning the cage.
Pros
- Safe and natural choice
- Easy to clean, and no laundering needed
- Contains the pee smell quite well
- Absorbs urine and keeps the cage dry
- Eco-friendly as the bedding can be composted
Cons
- – Can get costly in the long run
Guinea Pig Bedding Alternatives –
What Can You Use for Guinea Pig Bedding?
The guinea pig bedding is a vital part of the guinea pig enclosure. Bedding is important because they ensure comfort, warmth, and hygiene.
Finding the right bedding match for both you and your guinea pigs may take some time and experimenting with different choices.
– Dr. Ivana Crnec, DVM
There are different types of guinea pig beddings, and each has its pros and cons.
1. Cage liners for guinea pigs
There are two types of cage liners for guinea pigs – disposable liners for one-time use and fabric liners that can be washed and reused.
Both types are budget-friendly alternatives and come with several pros: safety, high absorbency, comfort, ease of use, and sustainability. The fabric liners are available in different designs.
Cage liners are made of several layers, and each layer is essential for preventing wet surfaces and health issues stemming from such moist conditions.
Finally, cage liners come in different sizes, and you will easily find a liner that fits your cavy’s cage. Plus, there are many simple tutorials for making cage liner bedding for your guinea pig at home and on your own.
2 Guinea pig fleece bedding
The use of fleece for guinea pig bedding is a relatively new but trendy option. Fleece is an excellent bedding alternative for two main reasons – softness and absorbency.
Guinea pigs love the feel of fleece and will enjoy spending time on such a cozy and comfortable surface. It is safe to say that fleece is the most paw-friendly choice of bedding.
As for absorbability, to increase the amount of absorbed water, manufacturers pre-treat the fleece and line it with a high-absorbent layer.
Fleece bedding is a great choice for guinea pigs prone to respiratory issues and allergies. Simply put, fleece is classified as a hypoallergenic material for guinea pigs.
In the long run, fleece bedding is cheaper because it can be washed and reused. Not to mention that the reusing feature makes fleece an eco-friendly and conscious option. However, the washing part might be considered as a con.
Keep in mind that if you choose fleece, you will have to regularly wash it (most brands allow machine washing) and then thoroughly dry the bedding before reusing it.
Plus, you will have to have at least two fleece beddings so the enclosure can be covered with one bedding while the other is being washed and dried. Basically, you will have to spend time on laundry but save time and money on bedding shopping.
Finally, we highly recommend lining the cage with an additional high-absorbing material like an old towel or disposable pappy pads if using fleece bedding.
3. Paper bedding for guinea pigs
Paper bedding is a relatively popular choice among guinea pig pet parents. This is because the paper is a soft and pretty high-absorbing material.
Although the exact level of absorbability varies among manufacturers, even low-quality paper beddings will prevent moisture accumulation on the bottom of the cage.
Paper bedding is also quite odor-resistant and, depending on the brand, not very likely to promote dust accumulation. However, depending on the brand, some paper beddings can be dusty.
However, paper bedding is not a good choice for guinea pigs that like to nibble on the bedding. Although no manufacturer uses a paper type that is toxic to guinea pigs, ingesting a more substantial paper bedding amount can lead to the formation of wet balls inside the digestive tract. These wet balls can cause various health issues and sometimes even have lethal consequences.
If you notice your guinea pig nibbling on its paper bedding, switch to another bedding type as soon as possible.
Vet Tip! Always opt for non-scented paper bedding versions. Although marketed for rodents use, scented alternatives are troublesome and likely to cause respiratory irritations and allergies.
4. Aspen bedding for guinea pigs
Considering some woods are dangerous for guinea pigs (more on this later), pet parents are often reluctant to use aspen bedding.
However, aspen does not contain aromatic oils and phenols, meaning this hardwood cannot trigger health issues and allergies even in sensitive guinea pigs. In fact, aspen bedding is among the most popular vet-recommended beddings for guinea pigs. This is because it is an all-natural material.
High-quality aspen bedding is dust-free and scent-free, but on the downside, it does not offer satisfactory odor control. If you decide to use aspen bedding, you will have to clean the guinea pig cage more frequently.
Last but not least, aspen bedding is less absorbent than fleece and paper, and it usually comes with a higher price tag.
Vet’s Tip! As a precaution measure, you can freeze the aspen material for 48 hours and then let it thaw before pouring it into the enclosure. The freezing method is quite beneficial for killing the mites and parasites that might live in this type of wood product.
What Is the Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs? –
10 Factors to Consider
To help you navigate through the plethora of guinea pig bedding choices available on the market, we will review the most important factors worth considering.
Although there are many different factors worth considering when choosing the ideal bedding, the three most important factors that count are safety, comfort, and practicality.
1. Comfort
Considering your guinea pig will spend the majority of its time living on top of the bedding, comfort is paramount. The ideal bedding should be paw-friendly and non-abrasive.
The absorbency capacity also affects the comfort level as no guinea pig would feel comfortable stepping or sitting on a wet surface.
2. Absorbency
This feature is a matter of both comfort and safety. The right bedding material should be highly absorptive and prevent the formation of urine pools and wet patches.
Spending time on wet surfaces is a health hazard for guinea pigs – from paw irritations through urinary infections to respiratory issues.
What is more, if the bedding is not absorbent enough, the urine smell will easily spread outside the enclosure. Eventually, the guinea pig will start smelling too, and you will have to practice more frequent bathing sessions.
3. Waterproofness
The bedding needs to absorb water and prevent water pooling and accumulation, but it must not start degrading when wet. Some paper bedding materials are generally better with water than others, but there are also significant variations among the same materials coming from different manufacturers.
If you use paper bedding or aspen shavings, your guinea pig’s cage probably has a plastic bottom that prevents urine from leaking to the floor underneath. However, if you’re using a C&C-type cage with no bottom, you’ll need something that stops urine from seeping through the bedding.
Often commercially manufactured guinea pig cage liners have a waterproof layer, but if you’re just using fleece or bathmats, you need to add this layer underneath the bedding yourself. Puppy pads are one popular option.
4. Odor control
Neither you nor your guinea pigs appreciate the smell of urine. While most beddings offer some level of odor control during the colder months, managing the smell in summer requires high-quality bedding with extra-strong odor control powers.
The bedding your use should be in accordance with your cavy’s needs and preferences and easy for you to maintain, clean, and change regularly.
Cleaning the cage routinely is the best way to keep those smells at bay, but if you don’t want to be doing a thorough cleanup every day, you should choose bedding that has good odor control.
Potty training your piggies is possible, but they will probably still pee and poop around the cage, making it smell pretty quickly with a poor bedding choice.
5. Ease of cleaning
Practicality and convenience are other important considerations. Since you are the one cleaning the cage, it is essential to find something you can easily deal with.
If washing and reusing the bedding is more straightforward to you, the right choice is definitely to invest in a couple of good cage liners, bathmats, or fleece liners. However, if you do not want to spend time on laundry, get disposable bedding like paper bedding or aspen shavings.
6. Eco-friendliness and biodegradability
If possible, it is advisable to look for an option that can be reused several times before disposing or, alternatively, a biodegradable option. It may not seem like much, but when it comes to being eco-conscious, every little thing you do counts.
Plus, bearing in mind how frequently the guinea pig bedding needs to be changed, the overall impact of your choice is more significant than you can imagine.
7. Dust
Dust is a health hazard for guinea pigs as it can trigger allergies and respiratory issues (upper respiratory tract infections are quite common in guinea pigs). It is also a cleaning nightmare – it is almost impossible to keep the enclosure clean if the bedding itself is too dusty.
When choosing the bedding for your guinea pig, read the package label carefully and look for a product stating ”low dust” or ”dust extracted.”
8. Safety
When it comes to bedding, safety is an umbrella term indicating the bedding should be non-toxic, non-aromatic, and non-abrasive while well-absorbing and dust-free.
Finding all these features into one product can be challenging, but your cavy’s safety must be your primary consideration.
9. Burrowing option
Burrowing is a natural and instinctual habit for guinea pigs. Even if provided with a burrowing den or bed, it will not hurt if the bedding offers this feature. In general, paper and wood beddings allow burrowing while fleece does not.
Therefore, some fleece bedding manufacturers make pockets on one end of the bedding. The pocket allows burrowing, thus supporting your cavy’s innate inclinations.
10. Cost
Last but not least, you need to consider the bedding’s price tag. Unlike the cage or certain items within the cage, the bedding is not a one-time purchase. This means the bedding expenses, although low, are ongoing to pile up.
Reusable beddings are a bigger investment at first but considering they can be used repeatedly, they can pay off in the long run. On the other hand, disposable beddings are low-cost, but you will have to have an ample supply of them.
Bedding Materials You Should Avoid
Knowing what to use and which features to look for when choosing the ideal bedding for your guinea pig is important. However, it is equally important to know which bedding types must be avoided at all costs.
Here is a short review of the most unpopular and potentially dangerous bedding choices for guinea pigs.
Cedar and pine shavings
Cedar and pine are dangerous wood choices for guinea pigs because they tend to develop respiratory and skin issues. Cedar and pine are rich in aromatic oils and phenols and are likely to harbor dust. These three factors combined can easily trigger breathing impairments or skin irritations in guinea pigs.
As an alternative, the modern pet market offers kiln-dried pine shavings, which are supposed to be safe as the drying removes the potentially troublesome ingredients.
However, considering there are far better and safer alternatives, there is no objective point in using this bedding type.
Clumping cat litter
Clumping cat litter is excellent in terms of absorbability, odor control, and ease of cleaning. However, it is not designed for continuous use because it’s not suitable as an under-paw material.
Plus, the chemicals that promote clumping can be dangerous for guinea pigs, and we all know how much guinea pigs like to nibble on their bedding.
Straw
Straw is a drier hay version and is suitable for rodents but only for satisfying their nibbling tendencies. When it comes to bedding, it does not offer any particular qualities.
Straw is a non-absorbing material meaning it will promote urine and feces pooling within the enclosure. Living in such moist and bacteria-rich environments is hazardous. Plus, straw has harsh ends that can easily damage the cavy’s gentle paws or poke their eyes.
Corn husks
Corn husks deserved a spot on this list because of their high proneness to molding. Breathing the mold spores is dangerous for guinea pigs, same as it is hazardous for people.
Additionally, the corn husks are long, wispy, and hair-like strands that guinea pigs cannot digest. If they happen to nibble on corn husks, the strands are likely to cause gastrointestinal blockages.
Newspapers and magazines
Shredded newspapers and magazines are a risky choice because the ink is highly toxic to guinea pigs.
Even if your guinea pig does not nibble on the bedding, the ink can quickly spread on its skin and fur, and your cavy will constantly be stained with dark speckles.
Summing Up – Guinea Pig Bedding Options
There is a myriad of choices when it comes to guinea pig beddings – some more practical and others more high-maintenance, some more expensive, and others more budget-friendly.
Although there are many different factors worth considering when choosing the ideal bedding, the three most important factors that count are safety, comfort, and practicality.
The bedding your use should be in accordance with your cavy’s needs and preferences and easy for you to maintain, clean, and change regularly.
Vet’s Comment
Guinea pigs are prone to allergies and breathing problems, and using a bedding type advertised as ”hypoallergenic” does not mean your cavy will tolerate it perfectly.
Lately, the term hypoallergenic became quite common – something like an indicator of quality. However, it is often misused and misunderstood. In simpler terms, what is hypoallergenic for one guinea pig can be allergenic for another.
Finding the right bedding match for both you and your guinea pigs may take some time and experimenting with different choices. However, with so many bedding types available on the pet market, there is a perfect fit for every guinea pig and parent.
– Dr. Ivana Crnec, DVM
NOTE: Advice provided within this article by FeedingMyPet.com is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Please discuss your pet’s specific dietary needs (based on his breed, weight, age, and health status) with a veterinarian.
Read Next:
> Best Cages for Guinea Pigs in 2022
> Best Guinea Pig Beds
> Hay for Guinea Pigs – Vet-Recommended Choices