Can You Use Shredded Paper For Guinea Pig Bedding? {What Are My Options?}

Do you need to figure out which bedding option is the most suitable for your guinea pig? Are you thinking Can You Use Shredded Paper For Guinea Pig Bedding?

Will shredded paper suffice or do you need more expensive options?

In this article, we’ll find out if shredded paper works as a nice bedding choice for your guinea pig.

Can You Use Shredded Paper For Guinea Pig Bedding?

Yes. Shredded paper is a very popular choice for your guinea pig’s bedding. It’s cheap, easy to use, but must be replaced often as it gets wet and attracts odors.

Should I Use Shredded Paper For Guinea Pig Bedding?

Shredded paper is the cheapest and easiest source of bedding for guinea pigs. It’s soft and comfortable enough and you can shred it by hand, scissors or a paper shredder.

Make sure the paper is free of ink or chemicals that may get ingested when your guinea pig chews on it. It may also fall into bowls and contaminate drinking water if there are dyes that release from any colors or ink on the paper.

Why Is Shredded Paper Good For Guinea Pig Bedding?

Shredded paper is a great option to line a guinea pig’s enclosure in your home for the following reasons:

• cheap
• easy to source
• odorless
• free of dust
• comfortable
• easy to change

If you do not replace the paper bedding weekly, it will get damp or attract bacteria. Tiny microbes could lead to skin problems or further complications. It may also smell like urine or become fouled to a point where it does more harm than good.

Why Should I Not Use Shredded Paper Bedding?

Shredded paper bedding needs replacing often. You may not be able to wait a week before replacing it. Here are some other cons associated with shredded paper bedding for guinea pigs:

• gets soggy easily 
• porous
• doesn’t trap air well
• not warm enough in cold weather
• highly flammable
• not reusable
• messy when wet

While it gets soggy, shredded paper is beneficial for its ability to be absorbent. Your cage will remain dry while the paper is easily replaceable.

You will need warmer options for cooler months or add a heat pad or heating lamp to maintain comfortable temperatures.

What Is The Best Bedding For Guinea Pigs?

We tend to rely on shredded paper bedding for its ease and cost effectiveness. The problem is that we can’t reuse it as often as fleece or paper bedding made from the Carefresh brand.

You can choose the brand name options for their natural, colorless and scent-free bedding. They will stake their claim that they are producing bedding for your guinea pigs that is:

• free of dust and oil
• doesn’t contain toxic chemicals
• softer than regular paper
• more absorbent
• biodegradable 
• better at odor control 

Carefresh or fleece beddings are our favorite options when we feel like spending a little more money. Otherwise, we tend to go back to good old plain white paper.

How Do I Use Shredded Paper Bedding?

The task of spreading out shredded paper bedding is yours to master. Thankfully, it’s quite easy and you will have to get used to doing this every 3-7 days.

• Shred paper into small pieces.
• Spread it out over the bottom of the cage.
• Make it 2-3 inches thick. 
• Add bowls and other items on top.

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Why Choose Paper Bedding For Guinea Pigs?

Paper bedding is easy to rely on because it’s so readily available. The following reasons make us choose shredded paper more often than other options:

• It’s affordable.
• Guinea pigs find it comfortable.
• It’s sustainable or natural.
• It’s easy to clean up.

We will back anyone who wishes to use shredded paper bedding. We only hope that the paper is free of ink, dyes, dust or other toxic chemicals.

Is Shredded Paper Bedding Odorless?

Shredded paper bedding starts off odorless. Scented papers should be avoided unless the manufacturer has specifically designed it for bedding purposes.

Soon enough, the shredded paper may begin to smell. Your guinea pig will notice it first before you do. Insects, microbes and respiratory issues may develop as a result of stinky shredded paper that is in need of replacing.

Is Fleece Bedding Better Than Shredded Paper Bedding?

Shredded paper is the cheaper option, but there are enough reasons to support fleece as the better option. Fleece is:

• reusable
• easy to spot clean
• more absorbent
• odor-resistant
• very comfortable 
• available in several size options

Fleece doesn’t need to be changed as often. You might be able to spot clean certain messy areas without replacing the entire bedding. The absorbing nature of fleece makes it far more resilient to odors.

Your guinea pig will be comfortable and you can choose from different sizes to suit the needs of the cage and your companion.

What Can You Use As Bedding For Guinea Pigs?

Your bedding options for your guinea pigs are not limited to shredded paper. Here are some other alternatives:

• fleece
• wood
• hay
• aspen shavings
• hemp

You are not limited to one choice over another. You can mix and match bedding options to create the best overall look and feel for your guinea pig.

Fleece or branded options from Carefresh are on the higher end of comfort. Hemp is also costly while wood tends to cause irritation.

What Do You Put At The Bottom Of A Guinea Pig Cage?

Your guinea pig relies on you to create a warm and comfortable substrate setting. Make sure the bedding you choose is soft, odorless and free of ink or harmful chemicals.

Shredded paper is the easiest option, but hay and fleece can be mixed along with it. You can choose brand name options that are more costly or grab a pair of scissors and start shredding!

 

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