Owning one of these small rodents means that you will need the best guinea pig bedding for allergies and odor control.
Bedding helps trap odor while keeping your cage in order, and every guinea (including yours) deserves bedding to stay happy.
There are many types of beddings out there aimed at making small animals like guinea pigs comfortable. Each of these beddings claims to be the best item you can buy for your pet.
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To help you make the best choice for your cage and pet, we’ve put together a list of the 12 best guinea pig bedding ideas currently available for buy.
In today’s article, we show you how to get the right kind of guinea pig bedding that will help keep your cage odor-free and offer a soft surface for your guinea pigs feet.
In the article, we will cover Guinea pig fleece bedding odor control, paper-bedding, homemade guinea pig bedding and wood bedding (which we do not recommend). Here are a couple of highlights:
- Fleece-based bedding: Cost more up-front but also cheaper and washable in the long run. Comes in a variety of colors and patterns, providing many options for decorating the cage.
- Paper-based bedding: Is removable and you can thus skip washing the bedding, as you need when using fleece-based bedding. Less expensive but will cost more in the long run.
- Homemade Guinea Pig bedding: Economical but not always the best. In most cases, it’s a one-use thing.
This article will start by providing the bedding types to avoid before we move to guinea pig safe fleece bedding and then paper-based bedding (that is just as safe).
At the end of the article, we’ll describe why you should no longer use wood-based bedding.

What Bedding To Avoid?
Many Guinea parents aren’t aware of Cedar and pine bedding for guinea pigs when adopting their first guinea pig. These beddings cause dust and irritate the sinuses of many small pet animals.
When consumed, they can cause painful impaction in the body of your pet. Aspen bedding for guinea pigs, although not dangerous, is quite dusty and should be avoided as well.
Never use the Newspaper that you tore yourself. The ink on the paper can prove harmful to your guinea pigs if fed on. The same goes for most fleece guinea pig litter.
If you wish to try out some homemade guinea pig bedding, you will still need to research a lot. There are plenty of animal-safe products out there, but they can be few and far between.
Best Guinea Pig Bedding Types
There are lots of safe bedding choices for your pet. Fleece, hemp, and even paper bedding make sweet choices for your guinea pig’s cage.
If you prefer reusable bedding, then the fleece is a washable choice you can use for months at a time. For disposable bedding, paper is a great choice that can be spot cleaned on a daily basis.
Both bedding types aids in reducing odor to the minimum and absorb moisture in the process. Plus, you clean your cage less when using an absorbent material, then you can clean your cage less often. These bedding types are even eco-friendly.
Most paper beddings are produced from recycled materials or natural fibers. This helps keep the planet green while giving you the protection your guinea pig needs.
There are some Guinea pig bedding alternative types as well, like corn and pellets. These can be great when classical bedding doesn’t work for your pet.
Kaytee Clean & Cozy Small Pet Paper Bedding
The Ckean & Cozy Kaytee shaving is a colorful bedding solution. The paper shavings are recycled, free of dust, and safe for your guinea pig safe.
This product comes with an odor control guarantee that the company backs. The shavings are said to absorb up to twice the amount of liquid as harmful wood alternatives.
Kaytee paper bedding comes in both summer storm, and lavender smells to hide unwanted pet odor. All paper bedding is made in the USA and available in several different colors.
Pros:
- Smells Great
- It is cost-effective and affordable
- Several Colors and Sizes
Cons:
- Can Leave Residue
- Sticks Together When Used
Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding
Small Pet Select makes use of papers without prints to produce its bedding. Harsh chemicals like bleach were never applied to the paper produced into the bedding.
The bedding is made to be super absorbent to keep the guinea pig mess at a minimum. All packs of bedding are produced within the USA for close quality control by Small Pet Select.
Due to its natural nature, this bedding does run higher. Natural Pet Bedding comes in one single color. The product is 99.9% free of dust.
Pros:
- It Lacks Harmful Chemicals
- Very Absorbent
- Extremely Low Dust Concentration
Cons:
- Expensive
- Less Odor Control
Rabbit Hole Hay Ultra Premium
This bedding is 100% eco-friendly, thanks to its natural formula. This bedding is even pet-edible. The FSA approves this bedding for consumption.
How sweet is that?
Being one of the best guinea pig bedding on the market right now, it is comfortable for your pet and can provide excellent material for burrowing.
This bedding absorbs odor and saves you the time of going between cleanings.
Perhaps, the best part is that this bedding is the dust-free son that sensitive pets can use it. This bedding comes in white color only.
Pros:
- Food Grade Bedding
- Environmentally Friendly
- Super Absorbent
Cons:
- Urine Coloring Shows Up
Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding
Amazingly, this is one of the few best guinea pig litter out there that can take up 800 percent of its weight in urine.
This helps control odor better than some other paper brands.
The bedding is produced from never-printed paper for a pure untainted product your pet is sure to love. This brand recommends spot cleaning on a daily to achieve the best results.
A single package of this bedding expands up to 250%. This makes a compact package that will give you various cleaning sessions without hogging room in your home.
Pros:
- High Absorption
- Generous Portions
- Natural Material
Cons:
- Weighs more than Than Most Paper Bedding
GuineaDad Fleece Liner
GuineaDad Fleece Liner is one unique guinea pig fleece bedding odor control to buy right now. Like you, many rodent owners see fleece as the superior choice in terms of bedding.
This fleece liner has moisture-wicking technology combined with an absorbent bamboo layer that keeps pets dry. The liner can be cleaned for more than one use.
By avoiding traditional beddings, you can avoid bumblefoot and other bedding-related health issues like allergies. This fleece lining even has a pocket for your guinea pig to burrow in.
Using GuineDad Fleece helps to save you money and the environment by cutting down on the use of paper bedding. One fleece purchase can last you months at a time.
Pros:
- Made from reusable Material
- Eco-Friendly/Environmentally Friendly
- Reduces Chances of Bumble Foot
Cons:
- Frequent Washes
- Difficult To Spot Clean
Carefresh Complete Pet Bedding
It is specially formulated to be low in dust so that sensitive pets can use it without a problem. The bedding is formulated to keep odors at bay for up to 10 days.
Thus bedding comes in various colors. Carefresh does tend to clump up; this makes spreading it out a little bit of a challenge.
Pros:
- Produced From Natural Fibers
- Low Dust
- 10 Day Odor Control
Cons:
- Clumps Together
RentACoop Hemp Bedding
It lacks pesticides or harmful chemicals used during its growing process. Once mature, it is naturally harvested and turned into animal bedding for your use.
Hemp also absorbs more moisture than other homemade guinea pig bedding types leading to superior odor control without added scents like oils or Febreeze.
This bedding costs quite a lot but is one of the most natural solutions for your pet. It also aids in preserving the environment by not using paper shreds.
Pros:
- Natural Hemp
- Lacks Chemicals
Cons:
- A bit more on the expensive side
Small Pets And Company Guinea Pig Fleece Cage Line
Smalls Pets company is another excellent choice to pick up a fleece liner from. These liners do an excellent job of absorbing poop and urine. Plus, it keeps your guinea pig dry.
This company cage liner are made to fit your cage perfectly. They also prevent accidents and flod items from slipping under the liner and smelling up your room.
Made in the USA for quality control, the fleece can be washed in your washing machine so that you can keep using it for months to come.
Smaller pets offer many different fleece patterns to give your cage style. Just pick from one of their different designs to have more environmentally friendly bedding.
Pros:
- Different Uses
- Machine Washable
- Environmentally Friendly
Cons:
- Hard To Spot Clean
Guinea Pig Fleece Bedding

Fleece bedding for guinea pigs is a still pretty new phenomenon but quickly rising in popularity. The primary reasons are the following:
- Colorful material with different patterns you can choose from. It looks cute and adorable
- Soft material which provides for a comfortable sleep for your guinea pig
- Super absorbent and will easily contain fluids for a week, providing great odor control
- A material we understand as humans. The guinea pigs look more comfortable in it
- It will likely require more up-front investment, but over the long term, it is cheaper than using paper-based bedding
If you decide to pick fleece beddings, we agree with you that it is a good choice. Belo, we have handpicked Guinea pig Fleece bedding odor control properly treated to maintain odor.
Piggy BedSpreads Washable Absorbent Fleece Cage Liner for Midwest Guinea Pig Habitat (Big Dino)
Want to know the interesting part?
This can save you lots of dough because you won’t be purchasing beddings over and over again when it runs out. Plus, it is less messy compared to paper beddings or wood shavings.
It is fairly simple to clean since fleece wicks the urine from the surface. You have to wipe the droppings once to twice a day and make sure to wash weekly.
This bedding is reversible and allows you to have two variant looks for your guinea pig enclosure.
The size of this item is great for Midwest Guinea Habitat. So, you might need to do a little alteration for a different cage with a different size.
Key Features |
Reversible and allows you to beautify your pet’s cage with 2 looks |
Measures 24″ x 48″ |
It is Washable, reusable and absorbent |
Guinea Pig Fleece Fabric Sold By The Yard – Premium, Anti-pill, Green, Pink, Purple, Flowers
It is right to say that this product is not technically bedding. It is a fabric sold by the yard that you can use to make pet and animal products such as beddings, blankets, and pillows.
We love this product because you can customize the fabric to fit your cage’s needs. You can cut it to whatever size and shape you prefer and see necessary.
Plus, when you have extra fabric, you can make other things for your pet like a hammock, ramp cover, etc.
It is a premium anti-pill fleece which means that your bedding will stay comfortable and smooth for quite some time.
Key Features |
Easily Customisable to fit your pet’s needs |
Premium anti-pill fleece |
Can be made to a lot of pet products |
Small Pets and Company Guinea Pig Fleece Cage Liner for Midwest Habitat | Fleece Guinea Pig Bedding (Midwest, Rainbows)
But, you can make this bedding wicked by following a process that can be searched online.
To reach maximum performance of the Guinea Pig Fleece cage liner, you must follow the instruction that comes with the product. Otherwise, it might not effectively carry out its purpose, and your hard-earned money might go to waste.
Key Features |
Reversible |
Designed to fit cages that measure 24” x 48” |
Best Paper Bedding For Guinea Pigs
Still looking for the best guinea pig bedding on sale right now?
Look no more! You should choose paper-based bedding and not wood-based bedding if you need disposable guinea pig pet bedding.
The Paper-based bedding we recommend offers many of the qualities of fleece-based bedding, including:
- Very Absorbent and has a great odor control
- Comes in many colors, so you can customize the look of the cage
- Safe for the feet of your guinea pig
- Comfortable and Soft
As a result, it is a matter of taste whether you go for fleece-based bedding or paper-based bedding. If you decide to go with paper-based bedding, we have hand-picked the best bedding for you (and your guinea pig) below.
Small Pet Select Jumbo Natural Paper Bedding, 178 L
To be honest, paper bedding is the most preferred by experts and guinea pig owners. Apart from the fact that it has a super absorbent trait, it is also dust-free and readily available in the market.
The Premium Small-Animal Bedding from Pet Select is the best choice when it comes to guinea pig beddings.
It is produced from paper that has never been bleached or printed upon. This means there were no chemical additives in the processing of this bedding, making it safe for your pet.
We love that a single bag expands 3x in volume from its packaged size, translating to you get more than what you paid for.
It costs less than the Carefresh complete bedding, but they do not differ that much in terms of performance. Both can absorb well and can control odour good as well.
Key Features |
Made from unbleached, never printed paper |
Expands 3x in volume from its packaged size |
Without chemical additives |
Carefresh Complete Pet Bedding, 60 L, Natural
Aside from other beddings made from recycled or reused shavings or papers, this bedding is produced from scratch. Carefresh makes its material using raw and natural fiber that was acquired straight from the source.
Many guinea pig owners rate and love this product because of its ability to control odor and absorb. Plus, it is also dust-free, making pig owners feel confident and safe that their pets will not have any allergic reactions.
If you are looking for something that can offer safer and softer bedding for the sensitive feet of your guinea pig, then this is the way to go, it may cost you several bucks more, but we can guarantee that it will serve its purpose.
Key Features |
Produced from natural and raw fiber |
Has a pillow-like softness to take extra good care of your pet’s feet |
Ultra-absorbent and 99% dust free |
Healthy Pet HPCC Natural Bedding, 60 Liter
With that said, having this bedding will help you save lots of time, money, and energy.
Beddings produced from wood are often a little dusty. So, set your expectations already to avoid disappointments.
Since this one is almost dust-free, there will be less risk of your pet encountering allergies. However, if you have a super sensitive guinea and the extra budget, then go for the premium products to avoid expenses and unnecessary sickness. As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure.”
Key Features |
Made from reclaimed wood pulp |
It absorbs up to 3x its weight |
Has a lasting Odour-control |
Earth-friendly and Compostable |
Best Guinea Bedding for Allergies/Asthma Sufferer
If you or your pet suffer from allergies, you might try the recommended guinea pig litter:
Back 2 Nature recycled paper bedding and litter for small animals, and it’s great stuff; the only problem is how expensive it is.
Riviera is an oilseed rape straw, and sometimes I have to take out some of the bigger pieces, but the pigs seem to like it, and it’s not dusty or smelly, from what I can tell.
Fleece with puppy pads underneath. It is Allergy-free & cheap, change & washes. If you are talking about the kitchen area, I use a tray lined with newspaper & put their hay in that.
Megacorp is a good soft litter.
Guinea Pig’s Allergic Reactions
An allergy can be expressed in numerous signs. Carefully take note of those:
- Itchy Eyes
- A Consistent Cough
- Skin Rash
- Sneezing
- A Runny Nose
- Wheezing
- Breath Shortness
- Anaphylactic Shock
What are Guinea Pigs Allergic to?
Here are what Guinea pig owner should inhibit and keep out of Guinea pig’s reach:
- Chocolate
- Iceberg Lettuce
- Penicillin
- Aloe Vera
- Pine Bedding
- Cedar Shavings
Conditions Caused By Allergic Reaction
- Conjunctivitis
- Asthma
- Rhinitis
- Eczema
Types of Guinea Pig Bedding
Historically there have been three types of guinea pig bedding. Wood, paper and fleece.
Wood guinea pig shavings
The past years have witnessed wood as the preferred housing option for small animals.
But, times have changed, and you should not use wood shavings for guinea pig bedding. Here is why:
A lot of wood types contain oils that can make your guinea pigs sick and unwell.
Wood is not very absorbent and lacks the odor control that other bedding material offers.
It can prove to be sharp, which can hurt your guinea pig
Overall, there are no good arguments why wood should be rated as one of the best Guinea Pig beddings/litter or for using wood guinea pig shavings and many arguments against it. That is why we recommend going with either fleece bedding or paper-based bedding.
Related Questions
What bedding is bad for guinea pigs? Bedding made from pine, wood, sand, and cedar can irritate your guinea pig’s respiratory problems and result in skin allergies.
Can I use shredded paper for guinea pig bedding? Shredded paper often gets wet too fast and isn’t great bedding to use for your guinea pig.
Can I use newspaper as bedding for my guinea pig? Newspaper can help with warmth but is only good for the base layer; additional bedding will need to be placed on top for better comfortability.
Now that you know some of the best Guinea pig bedding for allergies and odor control. We hope you share these Guinea pig bedding ideas with your social media friends!
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