Best Bedding for Guinea Pigs

This is a list of the best bedding for guinea pigs.
Guinea pigs are little pooping and peeing machines! I’m always amazed at how much mess they can make. One of the biggest struggles with keeping guinea pigs as pets is keeping their cage clean and controlling the odor.
Our goal is to find the best bedding for your guinea pigs that is comfortable, safe, helps control odor, and fits into your lifestyle (how much time you have to spend cleaning and your budget).
This article will go into detail about the best bedding options available and what options are dangerous and to stay away from.
My Top 3 Recommended Bedding for Guinea Pigs:
GuineaDad Liner – Midwest Size
Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding
PURINA Yesterday’s News
Let’s go into more detail about the bedding options
Here are the 3 main types of bedding I recommend:
• Fleece bedding
• Paper bedding
• Aspen bedding
Fleece Bedding
Fleece bedding is currently one of the most popular options used by guinea pig owners. The up-front cost can be more, but over time it can save you money as it is reusable.
Fleece is what I currently use for my guinea pigs. The reasons why I love it are that it is super comfy for the guinea pigs and you can find it in all colors and patterns, so you can get really creative with how their cage looks! The downside is that I am always doing laundry, so it is a bit more time consuming than the other options.
With fleece bedding, you need to have an absorbent layer beneath the fleece. Fleece works best when it wicks liquid down to the absorbent layer, so the top where your guinea pigs are will stay dry. Its more sanitary and helps with odor.
Some options for the absorbent layer are puppy training pads (this is what I use), U-Haul furniture pads, or even old towels. U-Haul pads will shrink a bit in the wash, so make sure you cut them bigger than needed.
I recommend washing your fleece and changing/replacing the absorbent layer once a week to keep it sanitary and to keep down odor. With guinea pigs, its hard to completely eliminate odor, but we do the best we can. You can also keep the cage looking clean in between bedding changes by sweeping up the poos. I use a mini dustpan and brush and its quick to do.
Where to buy fleece bedding
Fleece is usually sold by the yard and you can buy it in any fabric store or online like on Amazon. Make sure you measure your cage and get enough fabric. I always like to buy more than I need as its much better having it too big than too little and you can always cut it smaller. You should plan for at least 2 sets so you have one to put in your cage while the other is in the laundry.
If you don’t mind sewing and want really nice looking fleece liners to perfectly fit your cage with the absorbent layer built in, here is a video on YouTube on how to make your own: How to make fleece cage liners
If you aren’t good at sewing but want your fleece to look really good with the absorbent layer built in, you can buy premade liners like these GuineaDad liners. GuineaDad liners have fleece on top, an absorbent layer in the middle, and a waterproof backing for the bottom. The absorbent layer is made of bamboo fiber fill which has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
GuineaDad Liner – Purple Pocket
- Made of premium materials
- Soft fleece pocket for burrowing
- Moisture wicking fleece to keep piggies dry
- Bamboo fiber fill blend absorbent layer
- Waterproof backing
You can also find many other options for premade liners on websites such as Etsy for different cage sizes and some shops on Etsy will do custom orders if your cage is not one of the standard sizes.
I don’t sew and I don’t have a premade liner. What I do is put the absorbent layer on bottom and lay the fleece on top. Then, I take binder clips and clip the fleece to the cage bars all the way around so the guinea pigs can’t get under the fleece. If there is any excess fabric, I like to just let it hang over so they can hide under it rather than cutting my fleece smaller!
Since I use puppy training pads for my absorbent layer, I make sure to clip my fleece really well so there are no areas where they can get under and chew the pads.
Pros of fleece bedding
• More affordable in the long run as it is reusable and lasts a long time
• You won’t have paper or wood shavings all over the place
• Comes in many colors and patterns
• Can quickly sweep clean in between changing
• No dust
• Hypoallergenic
• Comfortable
Cons of fleece bedding
• Have to spend time doing laundry
• Need to purchase an extra set to put in cage while the other is in laundry
• Can make a mess in washing machine, laundry bag can help
How to clean fleece bedding
Older fleece wicks better than new fleece, so you may wish to wash your brand new fleece several times before using. You want to make sure liquid is going through and not just pooling on the top.
DO NOT use dryer sheets or fabric softener with your fleece as it will hinder the fleece’s ability to wick liquid to the absorbent layer and it will pool on top.
Before putting soiled fleece in the washing machine, take it outside and shake off any stuck on poo, hay, etc. You can also use a lint brush to remove hair.
This step is optional, but you can also presoak before putting in the washing machine. I put mine in a big bucket of hot water to presoak and get off any extra loose bits that might have been missed before putting in the wash. This step may additionally help with odor. They can also be soaked with some white vinegar or baking soda to help with odor.
If you are worried about hair and such getting all over in your washing machine, you can use this laundry bag.
Wash in hot water to kill germs and use a pet safe detergent (unscented and hypoallergenic). Don’t overfill your washing machine so the fleece will be able to rinse properly. Fleece can be put in the dryer or hung to dry. Some premade liners should be hung to dry rather than put in the dryer, but you will have to see the care instructions for whichever you purchase.
Paper Bedding
Paper bedding can vary greatly by brand and type. I have had the unfortunate experience of some very bad paper bedding. The smell was horrible after only 2 days! It was so bad I ended up just throwing it all away. Inferior paper bedding can also be very dusty, which is bad for your guinea pigs’ health and can cause respiratory issues.
If your guinea pigs tend to nibble on their bedding, paper bedding may not be a good option as that can cause some health issues with blockages. If you decide to try paper bedding, monitor your pigs and make sure they are not eating it.
Paper bedding is less work than fleece bedding as you don’t need to wash it. You just throw it away and put fresh back in, so it is a great option for people who don’t have the time to spend doing laundry. The downside is that you have to keep buying it, so over time it is more expensive than fleece.
There are several types of paper bedding:
• Crumpled paper bedding (comes compressed in the bag and then fluffs up once you take it out)
• Small granule paper blend (super tiny pieces)
• Paper pellet bedding (very absorbent, controls odor, less dusty)
Crumpled paper bedding
This is probably the most popular type of paper bedding. It is soft, fluffy, and absorbent. Some guinea pigs like to burrow and make nests, so this type of bedding is great for that. It also helps control odor somewhat.
Here are 3 good options for this type of bedding:
Small granule paper blend
Small granule paper blend is made from wood fibers into tiny little pieces. It is absorbent, great for controlling odor, and is comfortable for guinea pigs. This can be used for their entire cage, but I noticed a lot of people especially love to use this for their guinea pig’s kitchen or litter pan area.
Kaytee Soft Granule Blend Bedding
- Highly absorbent
- Comfortable and safe
- Great for controlling odor
- Low amount of dust
Paper pellet bedding
I have not tried pellet bedding myself, but it is a favorite for many people. It is super absorbent and controls odor. Pellets are an eco-friendly option as they are made from recycled paper and are nontoxic. It is also mostly dust free.
The best pellet bedding is Yesterday’s News. It is actually a cat litter, but is also great for small animal bedding! Make sure you get the nonclumping and unscented kind.
PURINA Yesterday’s News Odor Control, Lightweight, Unscented Paper Cat Litter
- Made from recycled paper
- Mostly dust free
- Super absorbent
- Controls odor
- Nontoxic
Pros of paper bedding
• Easy to clean (no laundry!)
• Comfortable
• Absorbs liquid
• Controls odor
• Can spot clean heavily used areas in between changes
• Allows burrowing
Cons of paper bedding
• More expensive as you have to keep buying it
• Some dust (amount of dust depends on brand and type)
• Can get smelly fast depending on the type or brand so might need to change it more often
Aspen Bedding
Aspen bedding is the only safe wood option.
Just like paper bedding, aspen bedding is less work than fleece bedding as you don’t need to wash it. You just throw it away or compost it and put fresh back in, so it is a great option for people who don’t have the time to spend doing laundry. The downside is that you have to keep buying it, so over time it is more expensive than fleece.
Small Pet Select Aspen Bedding
- Natural and compostable
- Made from wood shavings from logs
- Safe and comfortable
- Nontoxic
Pros of aspen bedding
• Natural and compostable
• Allows burrowing
• Comfortable
• Easy to clean (no laundry!)
• Nontoxic
Cons of aspen bedding
• Not as absorbent as paper or fleece bedding
• More dusty than paper or fleece bedding
• More expensive as you have to keep buying it
• Not as absorbent as paper or fleece bedding
Dangerous Bedding – DO NOT USE THESE!
• Cedar and pine bedding – They smell good and are natural, but the toxins in the wood are bad for guinea pig’s respiratory system and should never be used. Some people use kiln-dried pine bedding as the process removes some of the toxins from the wood, but I would only use as a last option.
• Newspaper – The ink can be harmful, especially when it gets wet
• Straw – Smells horrible when it gets wet, doesn’t absorb well, not comfortable, can cause injury (most commonly getting poked in the eye), and can grow bacteria
• Clumping cat litter – Not comfortable, bad for their feet, and has chemicals in it
Final thoughts on best bedding for guinea pigs – My Top Pick
You can probably tell from the above that I prefer fleece bedding over paper or aspen. It saves money over time, is absorbent, controls odor (there is always going to be some odor), and isn’t as messy. The downside, of course, is having to do laundry!
It is a personal decision though. Some people do not like fleece and hate doing laundry. Any of the options in this article will work well, so pick one you like and try it out. See how your guinea pigs like it. If it turns out not to be for you, you can always try a different type of bedding next time. I have tried several over the years and ended up coming back to fleece in the end.
My Top Pick:
GuineaDad Liner – Midwest Size, Purple Pocket
- Midwest size – 24 x 47 inches
- Made of premium materials
- Soft fleece pocket for burrowing
- Moisture wicking fleece to keep piggies dry
- Bamboo fiber fill blend absorbent layer
- Waterproof backing
Related guinea pig articles:
• Ultimate Guinea Pig Care with Interesting Facts
• Gift Guide for Guinea Pig Lovers
• Guinea pig
• What are the best pets for apartments (that aren’t cats or dogs)?