Bedding is important in keeping hedgehogs warm and any choices must also take into consideration the bedding is non-toxic, safe, easy to clean, inexpensive, dust-free, absorbent, environmentally friendly and burrow friendly.
These are the Top 3 fabric bedding options for 2020:
- Courtney’s Handmade Pet Bedding (check price on Amazon)
- Kameiou Polar Fleece Cage Liner Bedding (check price on Amazon)
- C&C 2×4 Anti-Pill Fleece Cage Liner (check price on Amazon)
Why I picked Courtney’s Handmade Pet Bedding?
When I looked at bedding options, I found Courtney’s Handmade Pet Bedding ticked a lot of the boxes, as it is:
- great value for money, compared to the other options which I found very expensive;
- easily fits our ZooZone Habitat cage, with many different sizes to suit most cages and vivariums available;
- easy to clean by simply putting it into the washing machine at a low-temperature wash;
- environmentally friendly by being reusable with a simple wash;
- good at absorbing liquids so there are no pools of urine or water;
- good at keeping dust levels low;
- well made, limiting any stray threads or fraying thereby protecting the limbs of the hedgehogs from getting caught;
- warm enough to retain some heat, providing protection from any cold surfaces such as the cage floor.
Features to look at in a quality fabric bedding
These are the features to look at in a quality fabric bedding:
- is well made without any fraying of threads as these can be dangerous to hedgehog limbs should their legs get snagged;
- provides excellent warmth by retaining some heat from the heat mat;
- provides an excellent shield against the colder parts of the cage floor;
- good at absorbing any liquids especially urine as well as water spillages thereby avoiding pools of liquid from forming;
- isn’t made of toxic materials that could be detrimental to hedgehog health;
- is low dust or dust free;
- odour free, as odours can be problematic to a hedgehogs sense of smell.
These are the Top 2 paper-based bedding options for 2020:
- Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Small Animal Bedding (check price on Amazon)
- Purina Yesterday’s News (Non-Clumping) Cat Litter (check price on Amazon)
- Purina Yesterday’s News Unscented Paper Cat Litter (check price on Amazon)
Why I would pick Kaytee Clean & Cozy for bedding?
When I looked at paper-based bedding options, I found Kaytee Clean & Cozy bedding ticked a lot of the boxes, as it is:
- great value for money, compared to the other options which I found very expensive;
- unscented so doesn’t irritate the hedgehog’s sense of smell;
- excellent at absorbing liquids so there are no pools of urine or water;
- excellent at keeping dust levels low; and
- allows the hedgehog to burrow through it they forage.
Features to look at in a quality paper-based bedding
These are the features to look at in a quality paper-based bedding:
- good at absorbing any liquids especially urine as well as water spillages thereby avoiding pools of liquid from forming;
- isn’t made of toxic materials that could be detrimental to hedgehog health;
- is low dust or dust free;
- is odour free, as odours can be problematic to a hedgehogs sense of smell.
WARNING: Some hedgehogs may try to eat paper bedding, if this happens, switch to fabric-based bedding immediately.
Wood-Based Bedding
I don’t recommend using wood-based bedding because:
- there is risk shaving could injure hedgehogs, with shaving getting lodged in their privates or cutting their limbs;
- may contain traces of chemicals;
- may contain mites;
- may be dusty causing respiratory problems; and
- may contains scents to mask odours causing irritation to a hedgehog’s sense of smell.
Clumping Cat Litter
Avoid using clumping cat litter as whilst this is good at soaking liquids, it has a tendency to get stuck to the hedgehogs body. Ending up in their noses, mouth, ears and even in their eyes, and if it is not removed it can dry out the skin in the area and cause skin problems like dermatisis.