Bedding is the surface your pet walks on within a cage. The bedding is placed on the cage’s bottom as a way to provide a soft and comfortable sensation to your pet. Guinea pigs have very sensitive feet that should not be on hard surfaces for long periods of time. They are susceptible to issues such as swollen feet or developing bumblefoot, a serious inflammation caused by bacterial infection or prolonged irritation.
All good bedding is made out of soft material. It must be absorbent enough to absorb urine, while also providing comfort to your guinea pig.
There are typically three options for guinea pig bedding, each with their own pros and cons: Paper, Wood, and Fleece.
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What Makes Good Guinea Pig Bedding?
The most important aspects of good bedding can be divided into three factors: absorbency, odor control, and comfort.
Absorbency is crucial for keeping moisture away from your pet to maintain a dry environment.
Odor control is equally important, as waste can build up quickly in a cage and lead to strong smells if not properly managed.
Comfort should never be overlooked, since your guinea pig spends all of its time on the bedding. A soft, supportive surface helps protect their feet and encourages natural resting and movement behaviors.
Loose Bedding
Both paper and wood shavings are known as ‘loose bedding.’ This is a type of disposable bedding composed of small, loose pieces that are spread across the entire cage floor.
It is the most ‘traditional’ bedding option and remains popular because of its ease of use. It is very easy to clean loose bedding as it is disposable. Simply discard any soiled bedding and replace it with a fresh one. However, that also makes it a rather expensive option since it requires repeated purchases.
Loose bedding is best when used in layers. Create a thick, even layer that is at least 2-3 inches deep for the best absorbency and odor control.
Tip: When using loose bedding, make sure it is contained within the cage. It is very easy for pieces to scatter. Some owners find it works best when used in high activity areas, such as a litter box or near food.
Paper Bedding
Paper bedding is made from various types of paper that are then processed into a softer, more absorbent material suitable for smaller animals like guinea pigs.
When purchasing paper bedding, make sure it is specifically made for small animals. If it is not the right type, paper bedding can contain harmful additions like inks, dyes, and other chemicals.
Avoid paper products like newspaper or toilet paper. Both options are not absorbent enough, and the ink in newspaper may be harmful.
+ Highly Absorbent
+ Very Soft
+ Low Dust (Varies based on Brand)
+ Great for Burrowing
– More expensive than Wood Shavings
– Grows Soggy Quick
Paper Bedding Recommendations
Paper bedding across different brands is almost identical. Most are made from recycled paper and perform the same in terms of absorbency and softness. The main differences come down to price, brand preference, and available bag sizes. These three options all provide high-quality paper bedding, just with different quantities and pricing.
They are all 99% dust-free with no added fragrance or dyes.
Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding
Oxbow is a trusted brand among guinea pig owners, known for producing high-quality small animal products. Their paper bedding is made from blank paper that contains no ink or dyes for the comfort of your pet, as well as a 30% higher absorbency rate than the average paper bedding. They offer 24 to 72-liter bags depending on your needs.
Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Paper Bedding
Kaytee Clean & Cozy Paper Bedding is the #1 best seller in small animal bedding on Amazon. This bedding can absorb up to “6x its weight” with no added chemicals or fragrances.
Carefresh 99% Dust-Free White Natural Paper
Carefresh bedding is slightly fluffier than competitors and expands well, providing soft cushioning for sensitive guinea pig feet. Carefresh is the most expensive among the three options.
Wood Shavings
Wood shavings are made by processing large timbers or logs into thin, small pieces. These shavings are softer and contain no sharp edges that may injure your pet.
Not all wood shavings are safe for guinea pigs. Safe wood shavings must be kiln-dried and dust-extracted before being used in a cage. These processes remove the aromatic oils and excess dust that could otherwise lead to respiratory or liver problems.
Aromatic oils are toxic to guinea pigs. They are highly sensitive to these oils. Just breathing in the fumes can cause health problems.
+ Cheaper than Paper Bedding
+ Excellent Odor Control
+ Natural Texture
– Less Absorbent than Paper Bedding
– Contains more Dust than Paper Bedding
– Less Soft
Some woods contain higher levels of aromatic oils that can remain even after kiln-drying. These types are harmful and must be avoided.
Tip: Always make sure every wood shaving you use has these two labels: “dust-extracted” and “kiln-dried.”
Safe Wood Types:
Aspen Shavings: Aspen shavings are considered by most to be the best option. Aspen is a wood that is naturally low in aromatic oils.
Kiln-dried Pine Shavings: Pine wood is high in aromatic oils. However, once it is processed properly, these harmful additions are removed.
Unsafe Wood Types:
Natural Pine: This is Pine wood that has not been kiln-dried. Avoid
Cedar Shavings: Avoid cedar at all costs. It contains high levels of aromatic oils that still persist even after it is processed.
Sawdust: Sawdust is not the same as wood shavings. It consists of fine wood dust, which is a danger if inhaled.
Wood Chips: Wood chips are not the same as wood shavings. They are much larger and may pose a splinter risk.
Wood Shaving Recommendations
I only recommend aspen and kiln-dried pine shavings because they’re the only wood types proven safe for guinea pigs when properly processed.
Kaytee Aspen Small Animal Pet Bedding
Kaytee Aspen bedding is the gold standard for wood shaving bedding. Made from 100% all-natural aspen shavings, this bedding is naturally low in aromatic oils, making it the safest wood option for guinea pigs. The shavings are soft, absorbent, and provide excellent odor control without the health risks associated with pine or cedar.
Kaytee Pine Small Animal Pet Bedding
Kaytee Pine Bedding is made from 100% kiln-dried pine shavings that have been heat-treated to remove harmful aromatic oils. It provides stronger odor control than aspen and is slightly more absorbent. It works well for guinea pigs who produce a lot of urine. However, always verify the package says “kiln-dried” before purchase, as untreated pine is dangerous.
Fleece Bedding
Fleece is a reusable fabric bedding that is also the most popular bedding option for guinea pigs. Unlike loose bedding, fleece can not only be reused for years, but also offers the exact same benefits of loose bedding. While it is expensive upfront, it is more cost-effective in the long run.
Fleece itself is not absorbent. Instead, it must be paired with absorbent layers underneath to properly wick away moisture. The fleece acts as a soft top layer that stays relatively dry while liquid passes through to the absorbent layers below.
Always make sure the fleece is 100% polyester. Cotton blends do not wick moisture properly and will stay wet.
+ One Time Purchase (Reusable)
+ Very Soft
+ No Dust
+ Aesthetically Pleasing
– Requires Regular Washing
– Droppings, Hay, and Hair stick to the Surface
– Not Absorbent by Itself (must be paired with absorbent layers)
– Not Ideal for those with Limited Access to a Washing Machine
To use fleece bedding properly, you need a three-layer system:
Layer 1: Coroplast Base/Canvas Bottom
This is the very bottom of the cage that secures the cage’s structure and acts as a waterproof barrier. This is typically bought with the cage.
Layer 2: Absorbent Middle Layer
This is the absorbent layer. The middle layer sits between the waterproof bottom and the fleece top, soaking up urine to keep the surface dry. There are several options that can be used in this layer, depending on your preference.
Sunheir Washable Pee Pad
This washable pee pad offers both a waterproof barrier and absorbency. It is designed specifically for small animals and works perfectly as a middle layer.
U-Haul Furniture Pads
U-Haul Furniture Pads are the most popular option for a middle layer because of their high absorbency. This pad comes in packs of two and has the perfect size for a standard 2×4 C&C cage. You can easily fold the edges under or cut the pad to fit smaller cages. For larger cages like 2×5 or 2×6, you may need two pads and overlap them.
Disposable Cage Liners
For convenience, there are also disposable liners that work great as an absorbent layer. However, these are also more expensive compared to reusable options.
These cage liners were designed specifically for small pets, with 5 layers of absorbency and available in a range of sizes. They can be used in smaller areas like litter boxes or for full cage coverage. The “Midwest” size (47×26″) fits the Midwest Guinea Habitat and most standard 2×3 and 2×4 C&C cages.
Towels
Towels are another viable option due to their high accessibility and reusability. However, they are also less absorbent than U-Haul pads.
Layer 3: Fleece
The top layer is the fleece. This is the surface your guinea pigs walk on and should always remain dry (by having urine soaked up by the middle layer). For this to work properly, the fleece must be 100% polyester. This allows urine to travel to the middle layer rather than remaining and spilling on the top.
This 100% polyester anti-pill polar fleece works for guinea pig bedding, but it’s notably thin and won’t hold up as well compared to to thicker options. It only comes in yard sizes.
A standard C&C cage (2×3 or 2×4) needs about 2-3 yards of fleece for proper coverage.
Amazon does not have the best selection of fleece suitable for guinea pig setups. Most of their fleece are either treated with coatings that prevent proper wicking or is too thin to be durable.
Instead, I recommend going to physical stores such as Walmart, Hobby Lobby, or a fabric store like Joann Fabrics. These stores offer higher-quality fleece by the yard at comparable prices, and you can feel the thickness before buying.
What to Look For:
- 100% Polyester
- Keywords: Blizzard fleece, Polar fleece, Anti-Pill
Avoid any tagged with: Sherpa, Flannel, Plush, Minky, or Water Resistant.
Wicking Fleece
- Must be 100% Polyester (Check the Label)
- Wash the Fleece 3-4 times before use. This removes any water-repellent coating. DO NOT use fabric softener
Check out our guide: [How to Set Up a Guinea Pig Cage] to learn how to properly prep and wick fleece.
All-In-One Fleece Recommendations
There are brands that offer an ‘All-in-one’ fleece liners, which contains all three layers into one.
The overall best is GuineaDad.
GuineaDad Liner
The GuineaDad liner is composed of three layers that are waterproof and absorbent. A unique feature of this liner is the small pocket included. The pocket allows for burrowing and also functions as a hideout.
It comes pre-wicked for use.
You can also visit the GuineaDad website directly for possible lower prices and more size options.
Less Common Bedding
Hay: It has many functions, one of them being bedding. However, hay is better used as an addition with proper bedding or used for a small location as it does not absorb well and gets soiled quickly. It can also be used as enrichment. A pile of hay can be used for burrowing and as a play area.
Hemp: It is less absorbent compared to wood shavings or paper bedding.
Pellet: Pellet bedding is compressed paper pellets. These pellets are absorbent and can be used as bedding. However, they are also hard and produce a potentially irritating sawdust once they grow wet. So, it is not recommended to use it for the entire cage
Bedding to Avoid
Newspaper: Poor absorbency and contains harmful ink.
Toilet Paper/Paper Towel: It has poor absorbency, and guinea pigs are often drawn to eat it.
Cat Litter: It contains chemicals, and excess dust can cause respiratory issues. If consumed, it can be life threatening.
Scented Bedding: Guinea pigs have sensitive noses that get irritated once exposed to overpowering scents. Always use unscented natural bedding.
Unsafe Wood: They contain aromatic oils, which can lead to health problems.
Choosing the Right Bedding for Your Guinea Pig
There’s no single “best” bedding. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages; what matters most is your own preferences. Start with one type, and don’t be afraid to experiment or combine options to find what works best for you and your pets.
Related Guides:
[How to Set Up a Guinea Pig Cage]
[Guinea Pig Cage Cleaning Guide (Complete Schedule & Tips)]
[Guinea Pig Cages: Types, Sizes & Best Options for 2025]