Rabbit Bedding Compared
Rabbit bedding consists of two layers: a lower layer which mainly functions as a litter; and an upper layer which is usually a softer nesting material such as hay, straw or shredded newspaper.
This article will compare the types of commercial or home-made rabbit bedding available to help you make the right choice for your pet.
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Rabbit Bedding - Litter Layer Types
Rabbits like to live in a neat, clean environment so an effective under layer is vital to soak up urine. A good litter will keep your rabbit’s living quarters dry as well as odour free. Here we shall talk through some of the most commonly used rabbit bedding options.
Before adding litter to the hutch, it is recommended you use a layer of newspaper between the base of the cage and the litter. This is cheap and absorbent and if you don’t get a regular newspaper there are people you can ask (a friendly neighbour perhaps?). They will usually be happy to off-load their old copies. Soiled newspaper can easily be disposed off during the weekly cleanout.
The next thing to think about is adding litter. There are all sorts of rabbit bedding products out there for your rabbit, including some home-made options too. Here we shall discuss some of the different types of rabbit litter available such as cardboard, sawdust, hemp, chopped wood, food pellets and SmartBedz.
Sawdust
Sawdust, and even scented sawdust, is readily available from all pet shops and is a common form of rabbit litter. However, it is too dusty for rabbits as they use their nose to forage for food. Small particles can irritate your rabbit’s nose and eyes and can cause respiratory problems, so it is best avoided.
Chopped Straw
Chopped straw is soft for your rabbit to walk on. However, it is not very absorbent, so the hutch will need frequent cleaning. It is a natural product and can be quite easy to get hold of and although it is low cost, you will need a lot of it because of you will have to clean the cage out often to control smells. It is also quite a dusty product, so it is not good for pet owners with allergies.
Wood Stove Pellets
Wood stove pellets is another low cost litter alternative. It is made from compressed sawdust and is used in many parts of Britain for winter heating. Again sawdust particles are too dusty for rabbits and can aggravate allergy symptoms for pet owners as the particles become airborne during handling. Some products also contain lighter fluid, so read the label before buying and steer clear of anything that says ‘fast-lighting’.
Food Pellets
Food pellets are another litter option and are good at controlling odour. They are also safe for your rabbit to eat. However, it can lead to obesity problems in rabbits and if wet pellets are not removed and are left too long in the hutch they can mould. This can cause health problems as mould is toxic to a rabbit.
Paper Pulp
Paper pulp rabbit bedding products are safe for your rabbit to nibble on - as long as they don’t ingest too much of it. It is also an absorbent form of rabbit litter - up to 300 per cent - and is good at keeping smells at bay. It is very economical product, as you don’t need to use so much. Some people are reported to have allergies to this type of product, but this is much less of a problem than other products such as sawdust. It is made from recycled paper, so it is eco-friendly.
Chopped Cardboard
Chopped corrugated cardboard is a low dust product which is very absorbent and soaks up urine keeping the top dry, so your rabbit stays comfortable. This type of litter can be tricky to get hold of but is cheap to buy in bulk. It is a good insulator so it helps keep your rabbit warm. It is also environmentally friendly.
Chopped Wood
Chopped wood can be difficult to get hold of and is not that cheap to use. There is risk of injury if your rabbit munches on it as it is possible that the wood can splinter or get trapped in your pet’s teeth. It is also not so comfortable for your rabbit to walk on. However, chopped wood can control odour in the hutch and is fairly absorbent product for rabbit litter.
Hemp Stalks
Hemp stalks can be sharp and pose a danger to eyes, nose and skin of small mammals. Hemp should definitely be avoided as rabbit bedding.
SmartBedz
SmartBedz is a good choice as it is an entirely natural product so it is kind the environment and your pet. It made from straw with the dust extracted so it can be used by pet owners with allergies who would otherwise be exposed to dust particles during the cleaning process.
It is a highly absorbent form of litter, taking in four times its weight in liquid and masks odours well. It is very economical to use as the dirty pellets can be easily identified and removed and fresh litter put on top. This means the cage needs less frequent cleaning so one bag of SmartBedz can last a long time.
SmartBedz is safe for your pet to eat and is soft enough for your rabbit to walk on and has no sharp elements that can cause possible injury. As it is organic, SmartBedz can easily be disposed of without causing harm to the environment.
Rabbit Bedding - Nesting Layer Types
The top layer in your rabbit’s hutch should be made up of a fairly large quantity of bedding as rabbits like to use it to burrow and nest. It works to keep your rabbit warm in the hutch and should be absorbent, so it can effectively soak up urine to keep your rabbit healthy and dry.
Some of the things to think about when choosing rabbit bedding is the safety of the product i.e. does it have any sharp elements, is it safe for my rabbit to eat and is it too dusty for my pet to sleep on? Other aspects to take into account are the cost, absorbency and ease of cleaning.
Shredded Newspaper
This is very economical form of rabbit bedding which is easy to get hold of. You can use your old newspapers, or get friends or neighbours to donate some and rip them up yourself. Also ask at the office as you may well be able to bring back some of the shredded paper from work for your rabbit to use. This is an absorbent material, but it does not keep smells at bay, so the bedding will need changing often.
Straw
Like hay, this is a traditional form of bedding. However, the sharp ends can poke into your rabbit’s eyes and may cause injury, so it is best to avoid this form of bedding material. It is also not very absorbent but it does work as a good insulator so it can help keep your rabbit warm.
Hay
This is again a very traditional form of bedding that is readily available. It is also a much softer alternative to straw. It is also safe for your rabbit to eat as it gives your rabbit vital fibre which is good for their digestion. It keeps your rabbit warm and well insulated but it can be quite dusty, so it is not good for pet owners with allergies. If you buy a bale from a local farm this will cut costs but make sure there is no mould in it as mould is toxic to your rabbit. Untreated hay can also harbour bacteria and mites.
Material
You can make your own bedding by cutting up bits of material, such as cloths, or old jumpers. Cut them into fairly sizeable pieces so that your rabbit does not get trapped in them. If you are using old cloths makes sure they are free of any chemicals, so they are safe to use.
SmartBedz
This is a great natural material, made from straw with the dust extracted so it is a good choice for owners with allergies. It has also been heat treated so it will kill any bacteria that may multiply in the warm or moist conditions in the hutch. It is highly absorbent and works rapidly to soak up urine keeping your rabbit clean and dry.
It is entirely safe to your rabbit to ingest and in fact is beneficial for your rabbit to eat because of its high fibre content. Although SmartBedz is a good insulator and works to keep your rabbit warm, your pet needs to be able to nest. So use SmartBedz at the bottom of the cage and put straw on top to keep your rabbit secure and happy.
Rabbit Bedding - click here to buy our universal bedding litter from our online shop