Bedding
_Bedding refers to the material used to line the floor of the cage. It is generally used to absorb urine and feces, as well as provide a comfortable walking surface and allow for burrowing and nesting. There are many different kinds of bedding; the most commonly used safe ones are covered here.
Bedding to Avoid:
- Cedar - Can be found in many pet stores and this is unfortunate. Cedar bedding should NEVER be used as bedding for any of your pets as it is toxic to all animals. Cedar bedding is characterized by it's "nice" smell, and is a softwood bedding consisting of wood shavings that are tan and "red" or brownish in color. What makes this bedding dangerous is also what makes it smell "nice". The oils and phenols (aromatic hydrocarbons) that give this bedding it's smell are toxic and have been shown to cause problems with the respiratory system as well as the liver. It is the oils containing these phenols that you find in many household cleaning products like pine-fresh and pine-sol. Steer clear of this bedding!
- Pine - Another common pet store bedding. This bedding should also never be used for your pets. It's also a softwood bedding, characterized again by it's "pleasant" smell. It's shavings are typically tan and green in color or just tan. Pine is bad for the same reason cedar is. Though pine is said to have less of the dangerous oils and phenols (aromatic hydrocarbons), it still has them. Stay away from this one too!
- Corn Cob - Another fairly common bedding. Corn cob is considered a bad bedding because of it's tendency to rot and grow mold causing an unpleasant odor and an increase in bacteria within the animals environment. There have also been reports of animals choking on the corn cob pieces or ingesting them, resulting in intestinal blockages.
- Saw Dust - Unacceptable because of how fine the particles are. Sawdust can cause respiratory problems when inhaled.
- Cat Litter - Most are unacceptable as bedding. Their dusty, and again can cause respiratory problems. Another problem is if clumps. They can eat the clumps and can cause a blockage and death.
Preferred Bedding:
- CareFresh - It's made from environmentally friendly biodegradable fiber; it contains no ink, clay or chemical contaminants. CareFresh bedding occasionally harbors parasites (mites and lice) and can be frozen for 24-48 hours before use as a precaution. Rats seem to like this product although some owners complain about its odor being unpleasant, especially when wet. It also tends to be dusty.
- Aspen - It is made up of wood chips like cedar and pine. However, unlike pine and cedar, aspen is a hardwood not softwood bedding. It lacks the oils and phenols (aromatic hydrocarbons) that pine and cedar have, making it a safe bedding option. Aspen bedding occasionally harbors parasites (mites and lice) and can be frozen for 24-48 hours before use as a precaution.
- Yesterday's News - Made from recycled newspaper and is thus quite safe. It's a grey pelleted litter and can be used as a small animal bedding. There is a plain, softer texture version and both make good bedding though the softer textured one might be nicer for rattie feet. The softer textured version also comes in either plain or scented, I'd stick with the plain to be safe. There is also a small animal version (along with a ferret and rabbit one) but they are really the same thing in smaller pieces.
- Shredded Paper - Shredded paper can be used for your rats bedding. It must be changed often as it tends to get mushy when wet. Make sure that if you use shredded newspaper that it is printed with non-toxic soy or vegetable ink. Keep in mind that light colored rats will end up with dirty looking fur from the ink.
- Cloth - A useful alternative to conventional cage bedding especially if the rats, or their owners, have allergies. You can also use material bedding as well. Old clothing, fabric diapers, and fleece make good choices. Be sure to use cloth that does not unravel easily. Long strings can get caught around the rats appendages and cause injury. This is particularly a concern with babies and young rats.
Wash the fabric bedding with a hypoallergenic laundry detergent using warm or hot water. Occasional washing with a small amount of bleach is fine as long as the load of laundry is washed again using detergent only or put through two rinse cycles. If you can detect any bleach odor after washing then please run them through another complete cycle. Refrain from using perfumed fabric softeners which can irritate a rat's respiratory tract.
Cloth used in nest boxes will need to be changed more frequently if you have rats that urinate in their beds.
Nesting Material
_Even non-breeding rats like to nest, as it is one of the natural instincts of a rat to burrow or pile up soft materials to make him or herself a safe and comfortable place to sleep. Providing a smaller portion of a different, softer, kind of bedding can help your rats be comfortable in their beds. CareFresh, while expensive for entire cage bedding, makes good nesting material as it is very soft and absorbent. Shredded paper towels or toilet paper, or strips of a non-fraying material such as polar fleece can also be used.