A hamster may be a suitable pet friend for those who do not have too much time to look after a cat or a dog, but these rodents also have their special needs. In order to ensure a long and happy life to your fellow hamster rodent, it is crucial to provide him with the best housing and nourishing elements. And, while hamsters are not usually very pretentious when it comes to food, meaning they would anything from fresh lettuce leaves to dry food sold in pet shops or dehydrated fruits, when it comes to bedding, things are a little more complicated. Since hamsters are usually small, choosing the perfect bedding is essential. Below you will find a list of materials that can be used for ensuring your hamster’s bedding, as well as some of the harmful material.
What not to use when sheltering your hamster friend
- Fluffy bedding: All hamster owners want what’s best for their little fellow friends, but, in this case, a “fluffy” texture might not be the perfect choice. Hamsters are small creatures that can easily take what you give them for granted. Most fluffy bedding textures are artificial, made out of plastic fibers, which can harm your hamsters in many ways. First of all, these artificial fibers are not edible, meaning that your little rodent could easily develop digestive problems if he would try to eat the bedding. Secondly, since hamsters have small and fragile legs, they could get easily tangled and hurt in this type of bedding.
- Aggressive wood bedding: Cedar wood or pine are great for a multiple of reasons, but are definitely not bedding friendly for your fellow rodents. These types of wood are recognized for being hard and abrasive, which would harm your hamster. Moreover, splinters could be sharp and edgy, thus they should be avoided.
- Newspapers: Although this type of bedding is easy to replace, the ink used in printed newspapers could be toxic for hamsters.
- Scented bedding: Similar to fluffy beddings, although they may seem harmful, they could, in fact, create discomfort to your friend. Scented bedding contains chemicals which could lead to severe health problems for your pet.
- Cat litter: Since hamsters are used to eating and digesting their bedding, they would probably try doing the same with the cat litter. But, since these pieces are big and stony, this could also harm your pet.
What can you use for bedding?
- Sawdust: It is one of the most common beddings for small animals, making it perfectly safe and suitable for your hamster. It is best to procure it from your local pet shop in order to make sure it is made out of non-harmful pieces of wood.
- Paper: Clean, white paper is also recommended when making the bedding for your hamster. Cellulose is harm-free and it is safe to use. Moreover, since it does not contain any traces of ink or smell, your hamster will make the best out of it in no time.
