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calicloud · 10-07-2019, 06:25 PM

Hi, Right now I’m using fleece to line my hedgehogs cage but I hate it because it is hard to clean and super smelly.. I want to change beddings but I’m not sure to which one ..
I can’t use CareFresh/clean and cozy because I’m allergic to the dust, and I know cedar is super bad.
I bought this huge bag of pine shavings from petco but I’ve read some health issues with pine. Should I still use it?
I’ve also heard rabbit pellets being used? can someone please help me out here?
I’m just looking for a dust free absorbent bedding.
Thank you very much! : )

Ria · 10-07-2019, 07:09 PM

Shredded cardboard dust extracted horse bedding. Is what I use with Holly.

HedgieDreams · 10-07-2019, 07:29 PM

Im also pretty curious about bedding for my hedgehog. Ive researched the cardboard bedding. It seems pretty good. Im using pine shavings with Peggy right now with no problems so far, but I might switch too.

Mecki · 10-08-2019, 09:29 PM

You mentioned on an earlier post that your current cage is on the small side and you are considering making a larger one. If your cage is small, that could explain why you are having difficulty with the fleece -- smaller cages tend to get smellier more quickly regardless of what type of bedding is used.

I use fleece for my hedgehog and it is super easy. It takes a couple weeks (or more) before I can begin to smell anything. Of course I still clean the wheel every day and I have a litter tray under the wheel.

But the fleece itself couldn't be easier for me...just something to consider.

Emc · 10-09-2019, 07:57 AM

I too use fleece, and i have never noticed a smell. If your cage is on the smaller side, how long are you waiting before cleaning it? and how exactly are you cleaning it?

I'd wonder if youre not perhaps changing it frequently enough (smaller cages will get dirtier quicker, and need more regular cleaning) or if theres something amiss with how youre washing it and its not getting washed thoroughly.

Bluegirl · 10-09-2019, 08:18 PM

I'm wondering how big everyone's cage is. I use fleece in my guy Teo's 24x47 enclosure. Yesterday's News as litter. I spot-clean every day, including fully cleaning the wheel, and usually change out fleece strips and soft toys (inside his igloo and digbox, etc.) 2 or 3 times a week. But I also notice a smell.

BUT. Teo is in a pretty small room since we moved a month ago. I keep the door closed so no other pets bother him (and one cat is sick). At our old house, he was upstairs in the loft part of a huge open cathedral room. So maybe it's not a bad smell and it's just that before there was no smell at all. My son, whose bathroom open to Teo's space, seems a bit put off by the Yesterday's News smell. But until he pointed it out to me, I thought it was neutral to nice (paper smell!).

badger · 10-09-2019, 08:38 PM

I have been using baby changing pad liner (Amazon, 5/pk) as a full cage liner and putting half a Hartz disposable cage liner under my hog’s wheel to catch pee and poop. I switch out the disposable liner each day and the changing pad 2x week. I like it better than messy shredded bedding.

badger · 10-09-2019, 08:45 PM

Forgot to mention the baby changing pad liners are washable. I also have a Hamilton Beach Trueair plug in odor eliminator which really helps with odor. It has a replaceable charcoal filter.

JuliaB009 · 10-10-2019, 09:15 AM

When I first got my hedgehog, frito, I was using fleece lining too. I had some of the same problems. Hard to clean, started to smell pretty quick, and he kept moving the fleece to run around underneath it at night. After asking the vet about it, he recommended paper bedding. I’ve noticed it helped with the smell and Frito seems to like it more than the fleece. He likes playing in it and searching for buried toys. Haven’t had any problems with the paper bedding since I switched.

calicloud · 10-13-2019, 03:35 PM

Thank you for all the help, and sorry for coming back to you all so late. 😅
I have switched to pine (for now, as i threw out my super dirty/used fleece and have nothing else), and ill soon switch again to paper or cardboard. I'm getting a custom cage built for her, metal with glass and screen sides and screen top, metal frame. (I have the heating and ventilation all figured out.) Its going to be 28 x 24. Thanks again for all the advice!

10-07-2019, 06:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
calicloud Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 13	Bedding help!! Hi, Right now I’m using fleece to line my hedgehogs cage but I hate it because it is hard to clean and super smelly.. I want to change beddings but I’m not sure to which one .. I can’t use CareFresh/clean and cozy because I’m allergic to the dust, and I know cedar is super bad. I bought this huge bag of pine shavings from petco but I’ve read some health issues with pine. Should I still use it? I’ve also heard rabbit pellets being used? can someone please help me out here? I’m just looking for a dust free absorbent bedding. Thank you very much! : )

10-08-2019, 09:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mecki Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Arizona Posts: 335	You mentioned on an earlier post that your current cage is on the small side and you are considering making a larger one. If your cage is small, that could explain why you are having difficulty with the fleece -- smaller cages tend to get smellier more quickly regardless of what type of bedding is used. I use fleece for my hedgehog and it is super easy. It takes a couple weeks (or more) before I can begin to smell anything. Of course I still clean the wheel every day and I have a litter tray under the wheel. But the fleece itself couldn't be easier for me...just something to consider. __________________ here with my Mecki-- born 2/12/19 http://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com

10-07-2019, 07:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ria Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: London-Surrey, UK Posts: 1,964	Shredded cardboard dust extracted horse bedding. Is what I use with Holly.

10-07-2019, 07:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
HedgieDreams Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Milky Way Posts: 8	Im also pretty curious about bedding for my hedgehog. Ive researched the cardboard bedding. It seems pretty good. Im using pine shavings with Peggy right now with no problems so far, but I might switch too.

10-09-2019, 07:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
Emc Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Dublin, Ireland. Posts: 480	I too use fleece, and i have never noticed a smell. If your cage is on the smaller side, how long are you waiting before cleaning it? and how exactly are you cleaning it? I'd wonder if youre not perhaps changing it frequently enough (smaller cages will get dirtier quicker, and need more regular cleaning) or if theres something amiss with how youre washing it and its not getting washed thoroughly.

10-09-2019, 08:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bluegirl Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Colorado Posts: 7	I'm wondering how big everyone's cage is. I use fleece in my guy Teo's 24x47 enclosure. Yesterday's News as litter. I spot-clean every day, including fully cleaning the wheel, and usually change out fleece strips and soft toys (inside his igloo and digbox, etc.) 2 or 3 times a week. But I also notice a smell. BUT. Teo is in a pretty small room since we moved a month ago. I keep the door closed so no other pets bother him (and one cat is sick). At our old house, he was upstairs in the loft part of a huge open cathedral room. So maybe it's not a bad smell and it's just that before there was no smell at all. My son, whose bathroom open to Teo's space, seems a bit put off by the Yesterday's News smell. But until he pointed it out to me, I thought it was neutral to nice (paper smell!).

10-09-2019, 08:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
badger Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 5	I have been using baby changing pad liner (Amazon, 5/pk) as a full cage liner and putting half a Hartz disposable cage liner under my hog’s wheel to catch pee and poop. I switch out the disposable liner each day and the changing pad 2x week. I like it better than messy shredded bedding.

10-09-2019, 08:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
badger Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 5	Forgot to mention the baby changing pad liners are washable. I also have a Hamilton Beach Trueair plug in odor eliminator which really helps with odor. It has a replaceable charcoal filter.

10-10-2019, 09:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
JuliaB009 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 3	When I first got my hedgehog, frito, I was using fleece lining too. I had some of the same problems. Hard to clean, started to smell pretty quick, and he kept moving the fleece to run around underneath it at night. After asking the vet about it, he recommended paper bedding. I’ve noticed it helped with the smell and Frito seems to like it more than the fleece. He likes playing in it and searching for buried toys. Haven’t had any problems with the paper bedding since I switched.

10-13-2019, 03:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
calicloud Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 13	Thank you for all the help, and sorry for coming back to you all so late. 😅 I have switched to pine (for now, as i threw out my super dirty/used fleece and have nothing else), and ill soon switch again to paper or cardboard. I'm getting a custom cage built for her, metal with glass and screen sides and screen top, metal frame. (I have the heating and ventilation all figured out.) Its going to be 28 x 24. Thanks again for all the advice!

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