Content

  1. How to choose a composition for a rodent cage
  2. Hay
  3. Woody
  4. cellulose
  5. Corn
  6. For cats
  7. Premium class
  8. Why do pets need bedding?
Ranking of the best hamster litters for 2022

Ranking of the best hamster litters for 2022

Whatever breed the hamster is, for its full life, the toilet in the cage must be fresh. However, this does not mean that improvised materials such as paper, hay or sawdust should be used as a filler. Modern litters are designed under the supervision of leading veterinarians so that they cannot harm the hamster. They can be used as a full-fledged toilet, or you can put it under a layer of hay familiar to your pet. Fillers have many functions. They not only perfectly absorb liquid and unpleasant odors, but also simplify the cleaning of the cage, and also make the pet's habitat saturated.

The best representatives of fillers for small pets are presented in the ranking. Here are collected products of excellent quality, with a lot of positive reviews. They are absolutely safe for rodents. Products have a budget price, while they make it easier to care for the cage. The main task of the owners is the correct choice of filler.In order to try a new product, it is recommended to purchase a small amount for testing. So you can understand whether it is suitable for the pet.

How to choose a composition for a rodent cage

When the litter is chosen well, the pet feels comfortable, because his coat is dry and clean. Often, paper, hay, or fine sand is used to fill the cages of small pets such as rats, hamsters, or guinea pigs. The paper version is bad because it practically does not absorb moisture and unpleasant odors. Sand gets dirty quickly, so it needs to be changed regularly. Rodents love hay not only as a warm bed, but also for lunch.

However, there are modern and no less effective fillers of different types:

  1. Wood pellets do an excellent job with bad odors and moisture, and besides, they are of natural origin. This filler option is popular. There are various sizes of granules, to choose you need to look at the size of the pet. This composition is successful for chinchillas, hamsters and rabbits.
  2. Wood sawdust is also a natural filler. They are easy to dispose of by flushing down the toilet.They are great for small domestic rodents such as djungarian hamsters. However, this option has disadvantages. Sawdust often scatters around the cage and gets stuck in the coat of the ward. They do not have the highest efficiency in absorbing moisture and odors.
  3. The cellulose version is liked by both owners and rodents. It does not cause irritation and does not stick to the coat. But it can easily scatter around the room, is ineffective in eliminating unpleasant odors and is rarely found on store shelves.
  4. The corn composition is suitable for everyone, as it perfectly absorbs moisture and bad odors and is safe for the pet. It is ideal for rats, hamsters and mice. However, it has a high price and is rarely found on sale.

Pet preferences also play a significant role. For example, chinchillas like to take baths in dry sand. They also fit sawdust. Guinea pigs also like softwood sawdust, only larger.
The main thing is that the composition is natural and does not cause an allergic reaction. An important requirement is high absorbency. Cage bedding consisting of wadding or pieces of paper is undesirable as it may cause harm to the animal.

Hay

Hay is a good option for filling the jungarik's cage. It can be purchased at a pet store or prepared with your own hands. Rodents like bedding because it is very similar to their natural habitat. However, when buying, you should study the composition and take into account the size of the rodent. the cover should not be too hard or dusty. Rodents like to make small nests from hay, as well as feast on dry grass.

Vitakraft VITA VERDE meadow with dandelion flowers 0.5 kg

The product contains a large amount of fiber.Hay consists of meadow grasses, dandelion flowers and timothy grass. In addition, this hay contains very little calcium. Therefore, this product is considered not only tasty, but also useful for rodents and other rodents. Hay normalizes the digestive system and prevents abrasion of the incisors.

Also in the composition you can find all the minerals, vitamins, useful micro and macro elements necessary for the development of a pet. Hay improves immunity. It consists of specially selected herbs subjected to gentle drying. Therefore, the nutrition of the rodent is balanced and healthy.

However, the main function of hay is to absorb odors and liquids. It is characterized by economical consumption.

Vitakraft VITA VERDE meadow with dandelion flowers 0.5 kg
Advantages:
  • hay is perfectly compressed;
  • has a pleasant herbal aroma;
  • no fragrance;
  • natural composition;
  • dense packing;
  • optimal price / quality ratio;
  • economically spent.
Flaws:
  • occasionally there is dust;
  • not too much variety of herbs.

Beast my meadow hay

This natural herb formulation creates a natural habitat for pet rodents. Unfortunately, it does not absorb moisture and odor as well as other types of fillers. But hay allows the rodent to feel comfortable, to twist nests in the litter and feast on delicious herbs. Pet owners praise this product and leave positive feedback about it.

When buying, you should pay attention to the presence of dust. Due to numerous transportations, the bag of hay is shaken and dust is formed. If its quantity exceeds half of the package, it is better to refuse the purchase. However, there are breeds that prefer hay with a large percentage of dust, for example, the Dzungarian.

One bag contains 20 liters of quality meadow hay. This amount is enough for a long time. When you open the package, you can feel the smell of fresh grass, because the collection and drying is carried out in accordance with all the rules. This is a plus not only for the rodent itself, but also for its owners: now a pleasant aroma will prevail in the room. The composition does not include herbs and flowers harmful to the pet, as well as thorny stems that can injure the hamster. It is impossible to flush this material down the toilet, since hay does not dissolve in water.

Beast my meadow hay
Advantages:
  • profitable price;
  • pleasant aroma;
  • economical packaging;
  • excellent composition;
  • lack of fragrances;
  • well compressed;
  • tight package;
  • does not cause an allergic reaction;
  • natural product;
  • creates a comfortable environment.
Flaws:
  • the volume is less than stated on the package;
  • ineffective in terms of absorbing moisture;
  • not suitable for all rodents.

Woody

The wood type is pressed sawdust. It slightly exceeds the cost of ordinary sawdust, but it pays off with its properties. It copes better with moisture and bad smells, so it does not need to be changed often. Unlike sawdust, it does not stick to rodent fur. Easy to find at the pet store at a budget price.

Sawdust

Sawdust belongs to the universal types of fillers. They are easy to find on the shelves of pet stores at a reasonable price. They perfectly absorb moisture, eliminate unpleasant odors. It is enough to change them every 3 days. However, this option also has downsides. They stick to the hamster's fur, gradually turning into tangles. Some pets may develop allergies to wood dust.

sawdust filler
Advantages:
  • affordable price;
  • popularity;
  • rodents love to dig in sawdust;
  • easy to find.
Flaws:
  • can cause allergies;
  • accumulate in wool.

Linen

Linen cat bedding is also great for hamsters, as it is designed for pets with sensitive skin on their paws. It is hypoallergenic, does not dust, does not crumble outside the cell. Linen composition is a completely natural biodegradable product. It has excellent absorbency and is very economical consumption.

linen filler
Advantages:
  • smells good;
  • biodegradable product, completely natural;
  • economical consumption;
  • hypoallergenicity;
  • high absorbent characteristics;
  • affordable price;
  • has antibacterial properties.
Flaws:
  • not found.

Fiory Woody 14 l

Great for decorative rabbits, guinea pigs and other rodents. It is recommended to use it only as a bedding. The composition of the product is exclusively natural, thanks to which the health of the pet only improves. Sawdust is obtained from hardwood trees.

One of the main advantages of the product is economical use. One package is enough to care for the cage for several months. Sawdust retains moisture well and relieves the apartment of an unpleasant odor.
It is recommended to store in a dark and dry place. It must not be exposed to sunlight. In this case, it will retain its properties until the expiration date.

Fiory Woody 14 l
Advantages:
  • lack of sharp elements, dust and smell of needles;
  • does not cause an allergic reaction;
  • nice smell;
  • perfectly absorbs liquids;
  • no restrictions on the period of use;
  • sawdust is perfectly compressed;
  • no fragrance;
  • environmentally friendly composition;
  • economical consumption.
Flaws:
  • chips may occur;
  • price.

Clean paws arboreal for rodents

The composition of granulated sawdust is ideal for a hamster's habitat. One package contains 4 liters of small granules. The product perfectly absorbs moisture and unpleasant odors. When liquid enters, the granules break up into sawdust, but they still do not stick to the paws and fur of the rodent. The composition fully justifies its name. Owners should take into account the fact that active pets can scatter sawdust that is light in weight.

"Clean paws" are quite successfully combined with hay bedding, as they level out its shortcomings. Thanks to the pleasant aroma of pine needles, the owners can not worry about an unpleasant smell. Sawdust is easy to throw away, you can flush it down the toilet, which greatly facilitates the care of the cage. "Clean paws" are safe for rodents, because they do not contain chips and elements that can cause allergies. Inquisitive hamsters can gnaw on sawdust, but this will not harm their health. On the contrary, they even improve the condition of their teeth from cracking natural hard granules.

Clean paws arboreal for rodents
Advantages:
  • does not stick to wool;
  • completely natural composition;
  • copes well with moisture and odors;
  • relatively budget price.
Flaws:
  • should not be used for rodents of small breeds.

cellulose

Paper cage bedding material is great for use as hamster cage bedding, especially when the pet is intolerant of wood dust. Such a filler is absolutely safe, although it weakly retains moisture and unpleasant odors. But paper bedding material is almost non-existent in pet stores. But each owner can easily make the composition himself using scraps of soft paper.

Carefresh Natural 14 l

Made from natural raw materials.Perfectly absorbs moisture and retains unpleasant odors. A big advantage of the product is its ease of disposal. In order to dispose of the used cage bedding material, you can simply flush it down the toilet as the product is biodegradable.

Carefresh Natural contains no pine or cedar resins and is completely free of dust. In this regard, the composition is completely safe for the hamster, ensuring the proximity of its habitat to the natural one. Carefresh Natural is in huge demand among hamster owners.

Carefresh Natural 14 l filler
Advantages:
  • contains no essential oils;
  • masks odors much better than woody;
  • lack of dust;
  • harmless to animals and people;
  • completely natural;
  • does not conduct static electricity;
  • does not give irritations or allergies;
  • strong packaging;
  • economically spent;
  • biodegradable product;
  • does not stick to hands.
Flaws:
  • high price.

Carefresh Colors Confetti

Cellulose product, consisting of soft multi-colored fibers, will delight pets and entertain owners. It combines bright bedding and material for building a rodent nest. The hamster gladly digs a mink in it or drags material for bedding into the house and makes a bed. Carefresh Colors Confetti is completely harmless and does not contain any tar or dust or other ingredients harmful to hamsters. Suitable for even the most picky or sensitive hamsters as it is hypoallergenic. The biodegradable material flushes down the toilet easily and safely.

The package contains 10 liters of multi-colored filler, which has excellent characteristics: each colored piece absorbs liquids three times its own weight and masks odors well. There is no need to be afraid that the hamster may get poisoned or stained, since the paint does not come off the filler when wet. Consumers praise the product and note in the reviews that it looks smart and does its job well.

Carefresh Colors Confetti filler
Advantages:
  • hypoallergenic;
  • absolutely harmless;
  • affordable price;
  • environmental friendliness.
Flaws:
  • difficult to find in stores;
  • Compared to wood fillers, it retains moisture and odors worse.

Corn

Corn cage bedding material has proven itself to be the best and most environmentally friendly product for rodents. It is made from the core of the cob of corn and is completely harmless to the hamster, even if he tries it on the tooth. Hypoallergenic, does not scratch sensitive skin in the cheek pouches. Works great for moisture and odor. A small fraction of corn filler is very popular with hamsters, who are happy to dig into it. It lasts approximately 9-10 days.

Fiory Maislitter 5 l

Formula suitable for hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and other rodents. It can even be used for cats and ferrets. The main advantage of the filler is its environmental friendliness, since the product is made from real corn. The soft and dry bedding that the caged bedding material creates is pleasant for pets and has a beneficial effect on their health.

The absorbent components that make up the Fiory Maislitter corn filler effectively block unpleasant odors.The product is absolutely safe for the health of the hamster: even if he accidentally eats a little filler, this will not affect the health of the pet. It is advisable to store in a dark dry place. If the storage conditions are observed, the shelf life of the product is quite long.

Fiory Maislitter 5 l
Advantages:
  • lack of fragrance and unpleasant odor;
  • the product does not stick to hands and is not electrified;
  • used segments change color;
  • safe to eat;
  • hypoallergenic;
  • completely natural.
Flaws:
  • high consumption of the product;
  • very fine fraction;
  • poor absorption of moisture;
  • the packaging is very inconvenient;
  • high price.

Padovan Sanipet Profumato

The recognized leader of the rating is Padovan Sanipet Profumato. It is perfect for bedding a Djungarian or Syrian hamster, as it almost perfectly fulfills its purpose - it eliminates unpleasant odors and perfectly absorbs moisture. The fraction of the filler is small enough, but it is often not necessary to change it, since the litter lasts for 7-10 days. Veterinarians are in solidarity with the owners of rodents that it is this type of filler that is absolutely safe for pets and does not cause allergies.

The citrus smell of the litter does not irritate the hamster, and the owner is only glad that the smell from the cage is so pleasant. So Padovan Sanipet Profumato is not only easy to use and hygienic. The ability of the product to absorb moisture and retain an unpleasant odor was highly appreciated even by the owners of rats, the smell of which is much worse than that of a hamster. Doesn't stick to the hamster's fur and paws, so it looks neater. There is only one drawback of this filler - the high price. 10 liters will cost the hamster owner more than many rodent products.

Padovan Sanipet Profumato
Advantages:
  • hypoallergenic;
  • the product is environmentally friendly;
  • high absorbency;
  • economical consumption: changes every 7-10 days.
Flaws:
  • high cost;
  • extremely difficult to find in stores;
  • natural premium.

For cats

For hamster cage bedding, natural cat material is also suitable, which does not contain dyes and additives. For example, a hamster will be comfortable in a cage with wood filler that perfectly retains moisture and odors, while silicate or mineral varieties can harm the health of their beloved pets.

Advantages:
  • easy to purchase;
  • low price;
  • good absorbent properties.
Flaws:
  • must be completely natural.

Premium class

Premium Pet Japan Toyota Silica Gel

Rarely found in the market, premium quality silica gel compound. Due to the high price, it is designed for wealthy owners of rodents, it is available in different versions. This is a bulk composition in a 3-liter package or one plate 45x56 cm. The price of both varieties is equally high, which is explained by a long period of use and excellent quality. Among other things, the composition contains antibacterial components that have a positive effect on the health of the Dzungarian or Syrian hamster.

Since the composition copes with its tasks perfectly, there is practically no smell from hamsters. If a rodent decides to dine on silica gel, nothing irreparable will happen, since silica gel is completely harmless. Of course, such a situation is unlikely, since the filler contains a component that is unpleasant for a hamster. Silica gel has a long service life, so if used correctly, it does not need to be changed within a month.But it’s better not to keep it for so long and change the litter more often - it’s more useful for the hamster.

Premium Pet Japan Toyota Silica Gel
Advantages:
  • high quality;
  • there is a component that is unpleasant for a hamster to taste.
Flaws:
  • not found.

Why do pets need bedding?

Cage bedding material, which is made from a variety of raw materials, is used to retain moisture and odors, that is, as a sorbent. Pets are different species with different bedding needs. Based on this, the necessary method of using the filler is selected:

  1. For cats and dogs of small sizes, it is normal to defecate in a tray that is placed somewhere in the far corner. There they can, following their instincts, mask the smell of excrement by burying it. It is the preferences of a particular pet that have a strong influence on the choice of manufacturer and type of filler. The more comfortable the animal feels, the calmer the owner.
  2. Small rodents, like rats, hamsters or guinea pigs, love to constantly rummage through the filler and use it for various purposes. The main purpose of the litter is its use as a sorbent, i.e. it serves as a toilet. In addition, rodents love to gnaw on the bedding, especially if it is made of corn or sawdust. And, of course, part of the litter will be used by the hamster in order to create and equip the nest.
  3. For greater comfort, bedding material is placed even in cages with feathered pets. Birds love to sort out the filler, throw themselves and delve into it. But they spend a little time at the bottom of the cage, mostly sitting on the perches. Therefore, the composition for them is not so important compared to hamsters.

Very high demands are made on the filler material. It should be hypoallergenic, have antiseptic properties and be easy to clean. The price of the filler for is an important criterion, since the consumption is very large.

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