Whichever small pets you have, each has different requirements when it comes to creating a cosy, safe snoozing space. Discover how to make the best bedding choices for your small furry friends – which is extra important during the colder months of the year.
24th October 2024
When the weather turns chilly, we humans reach for the high-tog duvet, our favourite onesie and an oversized blanket hoodie to snuggle down in. Things aren’t quite as straightforward for our small pets who have to rely on us to provide them with the right bedding to keep them warm and toasty.
However, according to Burgess Pet Care’s recent Small Animal Census, there are still a number of small pet owners who aren’t aware that they may be using bedding materials that are not suitable.
For example, ferrets like snuggly fleeces – but these are no good for chewy rabbits. Wood shavings and sawdust are often used for rabbits and guinea pigs, but these can be really harmful to their health.
Our survey revealed the types of small animal bedding that are most used by owners:
- 21% Bedding hay
- 18% Towels or fleece
- 13% Wood shavings
- 11% Straw
- 11% Paper
- 7% Newspaper
- 5% Sawdust
- 4% Cardboard
Burgess Pet Care in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes MVB MRCVS says: “Our Small Animal Census – which surveyed 6,514 owners and 20,915 small animals – has given us a fantastic insight into the lives of small pets across the UK. However, it’s worrying that caring owners may unwittingly be causing their small pets harm by not providing them with the correct bedding materials.”
To help you make the best bedding choices, here’s a run-down of what rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, degus, hamsters, gerbils, pet rats and mice require to enjoy their nap times in comfort.
Cosy, comfy rabbits
With their warm fluffy coats and thick fur pads on the bottoms of their feet, rabbits can manage colder temperatures quite well – as long as they have adequate shelter. In fact, rabbits kept outdoors shed their light summer coats and grow thicker fur to protect them from the elements. Indoor bunnies don’t do this.
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Outdoor pet bunnies should be housed in a shed or outbuilding during the winter, with space to run about inside when it’s wet and chilly. If this is not possible, then it’s essential to ensure that their hutch and run is winter-proof and placed in a sheltered area, away from wind and driving rain.
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Extra insulation will be required in the form of a hutch cover. You can buy these from pet retailers or make your own using tarpaulin or old carpets covered in a weatherproof outer layer. Your buns will still need fresh air, so you need to create a cover that provides protection from cold and wind but provides good ventilation.
Insulate the floor of your rabbits’ sleeping box area with thick layers of newspaper and pile in some paper bedding, designed specifically for rabbits. Also add plenty of extra hay for them to snuggle up for the ultimate in cleanliness and comfort. Ensure this is regularly changed and doesn’t become damp. Excel Nap & Nest is designed for use as both bunny bedding and litter, so it’s ideal for putting in your rabbits’ litter tray as well as in their favourite napping spots.
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During cold snaps, provide a couple of pet-safe heat pads that you can warm up in the microwave each evening for your pets can lie on. If your rabbits are old, thin or young and have not built up a winter coat, the RSPCA recommends moving their home indoors.
Blankets or fleeces are not recommended as bunnies may chew on them, causing a blockage in the gut.
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Deep piles of sweet-smelling meadow hay are ideal for rabbits and guinea pigs to snuggle into – and gives them something delicious to munch on when they wake up!
Toasty, warm guinea pigs
Guinea pigsreally don’t like the cold and ideally need to come inside during the winter. Create a quiet, cosy space for them in a porch or utility room.
Their housing should be spacious, with plenty of space and tunnels to explore, and also have toilet areas separate to their sleeping areas. For bedding, you can use a combination of a thick layer of newspaper for lining, with deep piles of meadow hay and a paper based non-expanding litter.
Never use wood shavings or sawdust as these not only absorbs the natural oils that guinea pigs have which they need to keep their coats and skin in good condition, they also create dust, which can lead to potentially fatal respiratory problems.
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You could even provide them with a fleecy, cup shaped guinea pig bed each. These are made from a durable cotton outer, a layer of wadding and a hardwearing fleece inner and are a great place for your piggies to snuggle and snooze while feeling safe, warm and comfortable.
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Guinea pigs have very sensitive skin, so keeping your piggies’ accommodation dry is essential throughout the year. Damp and dirty bedding creates the ideal environment for bacteria, fungi and other harmful things to thrive in, which ups the chances of your pets developing a nasty skin condition.
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Keeping things dry is a number one priority. Wet bedding will freeze on cold nights, which could lead to your pets becoming ill. Clean out the paper bedding in your pets’ toilet area daily and their whole home regularly, at least once a week. Always replace a small amount of used, un-soiled bedding to maintain familiar scents and reduce stress.
Snuggled down ferrets
Ferretsare actually more tolerant of cold than they are of heat, but if kept outdoors, they ideally need to be inside a shed with a pet-safe shed heater to ward off the worst of the wintry chill. If this isn’t possible, place them in a sheltered spot, with a cover on at night.
As snoozing is one of a ferret’s favourite things – they like to nap in dark enclosed areas – it’s important that within their safe and secure accommodation they have a choice of cosy sleeping spots.
This could include soft hammocks, sleeping sacks, a nesting box filled with dust-free bedding (don’t use straw) and some fleecy blankets – ferrets love to make nests in them. Giving a range of options enables your ferrets to enjoy a solo sleep or a cuddle with a friend.
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Water bottles need to be checked several times a day to make sure the contents is not too cold or has frozen. Also check the metal spout hasn’t iced up. Wrapping water bottles in bubble wrap or an old sock can help.
Crashed out chinchillas
Your chinchillas may choose to sleep on a platform or inside a hanging hammock or nesting box. In the wild, chinchillas are hunted by other animals, so even as pets, they like to have a range of hiding places with soft bedding so they feel safe and secure. They will often try to wedge themselves into a tight space for protection, mimicking their natural behaviour of seeking cover in rocky crevices.
A good combination is a nesting box each, a spare one, plus an additional, large nest box where they can curl up together if they want to, giving them plenty of choice. Nest boxes should be quiet and secluded and around 25cm x 25cm x 25cm, lined with shredded paper bedding or soft hay.
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Although they can survive quite cold temperatures (they originate from the rocky slopes of the Andes Mountains of South America), draughts can be very dangerous for chinchillas, so they should be kept as indoor pets in as big a cage as possible, located in a quiet, draught-free environment.
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Super absorbent, luxury paper bedding is ideal for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and other small animals. Nap & Nest is made from unused offcuts from teabag production. Soft on little paws, it’s easy to spot clean, reducing waste and making each bag last longer. Simply remove the bedding from the pack a handful at a time and gently pull it apart. Add a 3-5cm layer to your small animals’ bedding and toilet areas. Remove and replace and soiled areas of bedding daily.
Sweet dreams for degus
During daylight hours, degus are never happier than when they’re digging – so they need enough space in their accommodation for a deep layer of bedding consisting of hay and shredded paper on the floor for them to get their paws and claws into. Clay piping can also be added to provide a tunnel system for further happy burrowing.
When it’s time to sleep, a cosy nest box or two – around 20cm long x 15cm wide x 15cm high – will also be required. Provide a pile of shredded paper bedding so your degus can make a nest inside their sleeping box with it, just as they would naturally do in the wild.
The ultimate guide to happy, healthy degus >>
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With indoor pets such as hamsters, rats, mice, gerbils, degus and chinchillas, move their accommodation away from drafts – cold air from windows and doors can give small pets a chill. Choose somewhere where they can stay warm without overheating. Also protect them from toxic household fumes – non-stick frying pans, aromatherapy oils and wood burning stoves produce fumes that can be harmful for small pets.
Happy naps for hamsters
In the wild, hamsters are extremely good diggers and construct deep, dark, underground burrows. Your pet hamster will appreciate a thick layer of paper bedding in which they can dig and burrow to their heart’s content.
Your hamster needs a nesting box to retreat to, keep warm, feel safe and sleep in. A shelter should be big enough for your hamster to store food placed nearby, make a nest and comfortably move around.
There are many options available, from wooden lodges to plastic huts. Or why not go all out and treat them their own mini log cabin which will provide hours of hamster-friendly fun and a safe, cosy space to enjoy the food they’ve stashed.
You can also use every day cardboard items, such as empty tissue boxes. Your hamster will enjoy using them and chewing them up!
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Fabulous forty winks for gerbils
Come day or night, gerbils are happiest when they’re hanging out in tunnels, just like they do in the wild. Wild gerbils live in dry climates, in large, deep burrows that protect them from extremes of weather and predators.
Supply plenty of material for burrowing – the best natural bedding is organic soil with meadow hay or Timothy hay. Don’t use soil from your garden (as it might contain harmful bacteria or parasites), sawdust, or fleecy-style bedding as this can tangle in their long hind legs.
In addition to digging their own shelters, provide your gerbils with cosy nesting boxes (one each so they can choose to enjoy a solo snooze or a group cuddle). These should be large enough to set up a food store, sleep in, and comfortably move around in, ideally with multiple entrances to avoid the bossiest animals trapping others inside. A clay flowerpot cut in half makes a good sleeping area – don’t use anything made of wood or plastic or these crafty chewers will demolish it.
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Siesta time for pet rats
Rats need a good amount of space as they can become stressed if they’re too confined. Your rats’ housing should contain lots of levels connected by tunnels so they can climb. Nesting boxes should be provided for each of your rat pack, as well as a larger enclosed space so they can sleep together if they choose to.
The RSPCA advises that your rats will need:
- Shelters and hiding places – Rats have an excellent sense of touch, preferring to hug walls rather than enter open spaces where they can't hide. They also spend lots of time sleeping and like to hide and sleep in safe, dark shelters.
- Nesting material – Rats like making their own nests and spend lots of time playing with nesting material. Suitable materials are hay, shredded paper, paper strips and paper tissues.
Don't give rats nesting materials that separate into thin strands, such as cotton wool or similar 'fluffy' bedding products, as they can get tangled in them and they aren't safe for them to eat.
Blue Cross adds: “Avoid wood shavings or sawdust as this can cause respiratory problems. And, because rats are so sensitive to smell, you should not use bedding with an added fragrance.”
Also steer clear of straw – it’s too sharp and may damage your pets’ mouths.
The ultimate happy pet rat guide >>
Cosy, dozy mice
Mice are active at night and sleep for most of the day and so need a quiet, comfy nest box to curl up in, lined with shredded paper bedding.
Mice absolutely love nest-building and use nesting material to help regulate their body temperature. Don’t use newspaper, as the ink can be toxic to these tiny pets, or cotton wool – this can cause a dangerous blockage in their gut or get wrapped around their legs, preventing them from moving properly.
Mice are clean pets and require spacious accommodation. They create one place in their cages to put their food, one to use as a bathroom and another area where they like to sleep.
ONLY THE BEST FOR OUR SMALL PETS!
During the winter, your small pets may need a little extra food to maintain their body temperature and condition – so make sure you give them something nutritious and delicious!
At Burgess, all our foods for small pets is made at our factory in the heart of Yorkshire, using only ingredients that meet our stringent specifications. With a long tradition of supporting British famers, we actively source all our ingredients as close to our mill as possible.
It’s no surprise that 92% of UK vets recommend our Burgess Excel small pets range!
- Check out our tasty nugget varieties specially created for junior and dwarf rabbits, indoor bunnies, golden oldies, adult rabbits – there’s even a light recipe for buns who are watching their weight!
- All Burgess Excel guinea pig nuggets, feeding hay and healthy treats are made with the finest ingredients that meet our stringent specifications and homegrown grass that’s exclusive to Burgess – no other pet food manufacturer has access to our grass!
- Burgess Excel has also developed nutrition-packed food for chinchillas and degus, hamsters, gerbils and mice, pet rats and ferrets.
And, with a fantastically nibbly range of healthy snacks available, there are all sorts of 100% natural, tasty treats to reward your small pets!
Are your small pets Burgess small pets? Join the Burgess Pet Club for exclusive offers and rewards.
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CARE MORE Find lots of useful advice on caring for all your pets from Burgess, the pet experts. Training, nutrition, grooming and general care. It’s all here >>
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