If you are going to keep a rat as a pet, then you need to ensure it has the best habitat. As part of creating the best habitat, you would need to introduce the best bedding for rats.
The good thing about rat pets is that they can use the same bedding as other small animals. As a result, it is going to be easier for you to find the best option.
Learn more about bedding for rats from this guide below.
Contents
- Tips for Choosing the Bedding for Rats
- Best Bedding for Rats
- Top 8 Best Bedding for Rats Reviews
- 1. Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding
- 2. Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Small Animal Bedding
- 3. Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding
- 4. Kaytee Pine Bedding for Pet Cages
- 5. So Phresh Paper Pellet Small Animal Litter
- 6. Purina Yesterday’s News Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter
- 7. Carefresh Complete Pet Bedding
- 8. Healthy Pet HPCC Natural Bedding
- What is the Best Bedding for Rats?
- Good Bedding Types for Pet Rats
- Dangerous Pet Rat Bedding
- When to Change the Bedding
- Conclusion
Tips for Choosing the Bedding for Rats
On overall, rats have always had a bad reputation, but that can change if you decide to keep one as a pet. It will be great if you can get the right bedding for pet rats so that you can give it the right environment. Below are some of the considerations to keep in mind when buying bedding for rats.
The Size
The overall size of the package is important. This is because you might have to change the bedding after a week or two. Considering that many people now buy most of the supplies online, it would better to buy more at once rather than having to order online each time you have to change the bedding.
The Material
The material is always going to affect the overall functionality of the bedding. There are several materials that can be used for making bedding for rats. The most common includes wood shavings and recycled paper.
Make sure that the material is good on overall in terms of absorption rate, comfort, and safety. For most bedding, they will be able to absorb up to three times their volume. This helps a lot with keeping the bedding warm and dry while at the same time eliminating odor.
The Safety
Of course you want a safe material for your pet. As a result, take the time to pick the best material that is dust-free. Being dust-free makes it good on overall to keep the pet from suffering from respiratory related issues.
The Brand
The top brands will always ensure that you end up with the best product on overall. It is the reason you would want to get your product from a well-known brand. Also, read reviews on the product to understand more about it before buying.
Best Bedding for Rats
Working with the right bedding for small pets is always crucial to their comfort and overall health. It is the reason you would want to take more time to compare the different bedding on the market first. This will help you to end up with the right now. Below is a table that should provide you with the right comparison you need.
| Pictures | Bedding for Rats | Made from | Links |
 | Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding | 100% Recycled Paper | Buy from Amazon |
 | Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Small Animal Bedding | Paper | Buy from Amazon |
 | Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding | Pure Unbleached Paper | Buy from Amazon |
 | Kaytee Pine Bedding for Pet Cages | Soft Wood | Buy from Amazon |
 | So Phresh Paper Pellet Small Animal Litter | Natural Paper Pellets | Buy from Amazon |
 | Purina Yesterday’s News Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter | Recycled Paper | Buy from Amazon |
 | Carefresh Complete Pet Bedding | Paper | Buy from Amazon |
 | Healthy Pet HPCC Natural Bedding | Reclaimed Wood Pulp | Buy from Amazon |
Top 8 Best Bedding for Rats Reviews
1. Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding
The first feature that stands out for the bedding should be its material. It is made from recycled material to help in conserving the environment. Also, the pet will feel that the bedding is soft and good for use on overall. You should be able to enjoy working with it on overall.
The superior odor control that the bedding offers is also another good thing. This means that you will never have to worry about the room smelling as the bedding can take care of that. The best part is that the odor control will last up to 14 days.
It is still biodegradable and compostable to make it even more usable when you decide to dispose it.
Pros
- High quality
- Biodegradable
- Baking soda free
Cons
- Tends to easily crumble with minimal effort
2. Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Small Animal Bedding
To make it stand out, this type of bedding is 99.9% dust free. That is a great feature as it goes a long way to help prevent respiratory diseases in your pet.
You will also find that it is soft and fluffy. This kind of texture is great for your pet to burrow with ease. In the end, you would have provided the best environment for the pet.
It is also more absorbent than what you get with other models on the market such as wood shavings. This helps with keeping the cage cleaner for longer.
The bedding also comes in a wide range of colors and scents. You can choose what works for you.
Pros
- Multiple color options
- It is dust-free
- It is more absorbent
Cons
- Durability could be better
3. Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding
This is one of the best bedding since it is versatile. The main reason is that the bedding is made for different types of small animals. As a result, you can use it for various pets you might be keeping in your home.
On overall, the material is soft and comfortable. As a result, it is going to be great for your rat pet so that it does not prick its soft paws. Still, it remains super absorbent. This makes it possible for it to absorb up to 3X its size. There is no doubt it will help keep the cage clean.
The paper used in making the bedding is unbleached thus making it safe for pets as there is no ink.
Pros
- High quality
- Made from unbleached paper
- Soft and comfortable
Cons
- The package is small for the size
4. Kaytee Pine Bedding for Pet Cages
Kaytee is a world known brand when it comes to making such products. As a result, we expect that the pet bedding will be top notch. Well, that is what you get when you buy this type of bedding today. It is going to be worth every penny.
The bedding is made from soft wood. This makes it good on overall in terms of comfort and durability. This means that would end up using it for longer as compared to the other options on the market.
It is also worth noting that it is still all-natural and biodegradable. As a result, it is going to be good for the environment when you have to dispose it.
Pros
- It is dust free
- All natural
- Made from soft wood
Cons
- Only good for well ventilated cages
5. So Phresh Paper Pellet Small Animal Litter
The product is generally safe for all small animal habitats. This means that the pet you will have then gets a great environment. It is the reason you can use it for different types of pet without much of a problem.
Also, the use of natural paper pellets will help with locking in the moisture. As a result, it is going to be great on overall to maintain a dry environment for the pet. The use of baking soda makes it also effective in controlling odor. There is no doubt you would love such.
The litter is also biodegradable. This makes it safe for the environment. You should find more people now going for it.
Pros
- Safe for various animals
- Good for locking in moisture
- Good for odor control
Cons
- It has a lot of dust
6. Purina Yesterday’s News Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter
As much as it is cat litter, it is still good for your rat pet. The best part is that the litter is recommended by veterinarians. This makes it good on overall for the safety and comfort of your pet.
You are also going to love the level of odor control you get with the litter. It is able to keep the area in your cage clean and smelling good. The litter is also good in terms of absorbing moisture. It can absorb up to three times its volume.
Since the litter is made from non-abrasive pellets, you should find it good for comfort. It is also dust-free thus keeping the pet safe from the common respiratory issues.
Pros
- Recommended by veterinarians
- Impressive absorption rate
- It is comfortable
Cons
- It is expensive
7. Carefresh Complete Pet Bedding
Coming from such a top brand, you can always expect it to be great. This package is all about giving your pet the best comfortable environment to live in. That is not all as it comes with multiple features as we will see that are all great for your pet.
The pet bedding on overall is clean as it does not end up producing a lot of dust. Since it is low dust, you should also find it being easy to clean.
The bedding is still good in terms of maintaining freshness. This is because it is able to control odor for up to 10 days. This means you will not have to keep on changing the bedding all the time.
Pros
- It is soft for comfort
- The material is low-dust
- Good for odor control
Cons
- The smell is not the best
8. Healthy Pet HPCC Natural Bedding
This is another great option if you are looking for the right bedding. The product is good on overall for suppressing the ammonia smell from the pet urine. As a result, it is able to keep the cage clean and smelling good.
To help with odor control, it also has to ensure that the absorption rate is good. That is why you will find that it is able to absorb up to three times its weight. Even if you have a leaky water bottle, it is able to absorb the water to keep the bedding warm and dry.
Since the bedding is also dust-free, it will be able to keep the respiratory issues at bay. This keeps the pet healthy.
Pros
- Good absorbency rate
- Dust-free
- It is biodegradable
Cons
- Inconsistency between batches
What is the Best Bedding for Rats?
From the list above, it is now easy to end up with bedding for small pets. We have reviewed some of the best options in the market right now. However, if you are now sure the top three products include Vitakraft Fresh World bedding for small animals, Kaytee pine bedding for pet cages, and So Phresh paper pellet small animal litter.
These three products on overall are great in terms of their functionality. They will be able to provide the best environment for your pet to enjoy its stay.
Good Bedding Types for Pet Rats
- Natural Paper Bedding
The use of paper bedding is quite common right now for rat bedding. The reason they are so popular is because they can be comfortable and soft. This is good to keep your pet comfortable in its new environment. Also, the bedding will also be low on dust, thus making it easy to clean on overall.
Rats tend to have a sensitive respiratory system, so having a low dust bedding will be perfect. The paper bedding is also good in terms of not causing allergies.
This type is still good for controlling odor. This is because it is good in terms of absorption rate as compared to some other types.
- Cloth Bedding
This is another common choice also for rat bedding. Most people opt for it because it is cheap. You will simply have to reuse the old clothing that you no longer need. We all know how rats love to live in clothes.
It is recommended to opt for fleece cloth. It is ideal in terms of being soft while at the same time it does not easily lose the fibers. The same cannot be said for wool as it just has too many fibers.
Having too many loose fibers will affect the pet’s lungs. You are better off with the fleece clothes in this case. Keep an eye on the clothes in the cage and change them if they get too dirty.
- Shredded Paper Bedding
If you cannot afford to buy the natural paper bedding, then you can always go for the shredded paper bedding. This is where you simply shred the papers at home to create the bedding.
It is worth noting that you need to use blank paper. This means using newspapers is a big no. The ink on the newspapers will be toxic to the rats. The pet rats tend to chew on the papers and will end up ingesting the ink. This ink will make the pet sick if it ingests it in large quantities.
As much as the cheapest option, it is often not the most hygienic. You will have to consider cleaning out the bedding more often as compared to the others on the list.
- Aspen Bedding
Aspen bedding is another good and safe bedding you can use for your rodent pet. Make sure it is specially designed for rats. The best part about the bedding is that it is designed in a way that eliminates dust and other wood pieces that might harm the pet.
As much as it can be safe, the only let down will be its absorption rate. It is not as good as the paper based bedding. This means that it might end up getting dirty faster and daily cleaning is required.
The bedding will provide your pet with enough room to play. The pets can easily burrow through it and have fun.
- Pellet Bedding
Pellets are also a good option to consider. They come made by using recycled paper. As a result, you should find pellets being good absorbents.
You will also notice that they are good for keeping the cage odor free and fresh. You will not have to worry about the mess on overall. Also, if the rat loves to dig, then this should be a good bedding for it.
It is also common to find rats chewing on the pellets. Do not worry as they help further with the dental development of the rat’s teeth.
Dangerous Pet Rat Bedding
Since it is possible to make bedding for rats from different materials, it is common to find some people using dangerous materials. We get to look at some of the materials to avoid as they can be dangerous to your pet.
- Corn Cob Bedding
The problem with corn cob is that it will start to rot and grow mold. The resulting fungus from the corn is what can be dangerous to the pet.
Keeping in mind that rats will tend to chew on anything, they will easily ingest the fungus and thus leading to more health problems. So, to stay on the safe side, it will be great to stay away from corn cobs.
If you are to offer corn to the rat as a treat, make sure to clean out the remaining corn so that it does not end up rotting in the cage. It should also be fresh corn.
- Pine and Cedar Bedding
It is common to find pine and cedar bedding in different cages for pets. The reason is that they help with removing the odor from the cage and still keep the environment perfumed. These types of bedding are also natural insecticides. This means that they can kill the bugs and keep the lice away.
As much as they can have many benefits, you will find that they are toxic to some animals and this includes rodents.
When rodents breath in the pine and cedar natural properties, then they end up having respiratory related problems. Well, that is not something you would want for your pet.
When to Change the Bedding
As part of keeping the cage clean, you will have to consider changing the bedding more often. It is recommended that you do a deep cleaning of your pet’s cage every 7 to 10 days.
The deep cleaning will involve changing the bedding, cleaning the toys, and many more things. At this time, you will also have to add new bedding, food, and water.
Depending on the type of bedding, you might also have to check on the bedding daily. This helps with quick cleaning of the soiled parts to help maintain a clean environment. If you are using the paper bedding, you would have to check on the bedding more often.
If your pet is clean, then you will not have to worry about cleaning the cage that often.
Conclusion
By now, you should have an idea of what is the best product to choose. The guide above comes with all the top products in the market. Also, we give you a buying guide so that you can know which one is the best for your pet. Always make sure that you pick the best product so that your pet can be safe while at the same time be comfortable.
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