What Bedding Is Best for Guinea Pigs? 6 Safe Options Compared

Choosing the right guinea pig bedding is essential for keeping your cavies healthy and comfortable. The wrong material can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and painful foot conditions, while the right bedding keeps your piggies dry, clean, and happy.

With so many options available, it can be tricky to know where to start. This guide compares six safe guinea pig bedding choices, covering dust-free, absorbent, and easy-to-clean options for Australian guinea pig owners.

Why Does Guinea Pig Bedding Matter?

Guinea pigs spend most of their time in their enclosure, so bedding directly affects their wellbeing. Solid floors covered with dust-free bedding such as paper, hay, or washable fabric mats are preferred (https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/where-should-i-keep-my-guinea-pigs/).

Good guinea pig bedding should be:

Dust-free: Guinea pigs have sensitive respiratory systems. Dusty bedding causes sneezing, eye irritation, and serious lung infections.

Absorbent: Cavies produce a lot of waste. Bedding must absorb urine effectively to prevent wet feet, ammonia build-up, and skin problems like bumblefoot.

Soft and comfortable: Hard or rough surfaces can cause pododermatitis, a painful foot condition.

Easy to clean: You will need to spot clean daily and do a full change regularly.

Safe if nibbled: Guinea pigs love to chew, so bedding should be non-toxic if eaten.

6 Safe Guinea Pig Bedding Options

Here are six popular choices that meet these requirements.

1. Fleece Liners

Fleece liners have become the go-to choice for many guinea pig owners, especially for indoor setups. These reusable liners feature multiple layers: a soft fleece top that wicks moisture through, an absorbent middle layer, and often a waterproof bottom.

Pros:

• Soft and gentle on sensitive feet
• Reusable and eco-friendly
• Easy to spot clean with a dustpan
• Available in fun colours and patterns
• Cost-effective long-term

Cons:

• Requires daily sweeping to remove droppings
• Needs washing every few days
• Higher upfront cost
• Hay and hair can stick to the fabric

Fleece liners work best for indoor guinea pigs and owners who do not mind daily maintenance.

2. Paper-Based Bedding

Paper bedding is made from recycled paper fibres processed into soft, fluffy material. This is a popular choice because it is the softest, most absorbent bedding with excellent odour control.

Pros:

• Soft and comfortable
• Highly absorbent
• Low dust when dust-extracted
• Biodegradable and compostable
• Safe if nibbled

Cons:

• Needs replacing every few days
• Can be kicked out of the enclosure
• Ongoing cost adds up

Paper bedding is excellent for beginners and works well for both indoor and outdoor setups. Always choose brands labelled “dust-free” for safest results.

Check out our Back-2-Nature Paper Bedding for a trusted dust-extracted option.

3. Hay

Hay serves double duty as both food and bedding. Soft meadow hay or Timothy hay creates a cosy nest area where guinea pigs love to burrow and munch.

Pros:

• Natural and safe to eat
• Encourages foraging behaviour
• Guinea pigs love burrowing in it
• Readily available

Cons:

• Not very absorbent
• Can become soggy and smelly quickly
• Needs frequent changing
• Best used alongside other bedding

Hay works brilliantly as supplementary guinea pig bedding in sleeping or eating areas, but should be combined with a more absorbent material underneath.

4. Hemp Bedding

Hemp bedding, sometimes sold as Aubiose, offers excellent absorbency and is made from the sustainable hemp plant. Originally used for horses, it has become popular with guinea pig owners.

Pros:

• Highly absorbent
• Good odour control
• Low dust
• Sustainable and eco-friendly
• Composts quickly

Cons:

• Not as soft as fleece or paper
• Can be harder to find
• Some guinea pigs may not like the texture

Hemp works well in “kitchen” sections where guinea pigs tend to toilet. Combine it with fleece liners in sleeping areas for the best results.

5. Aspen Shavings

If you prefer wood shavings, aspen is the only safe option for guinea pigs. Unlike pine and cedar, aspen does not contain harmful aromatic oils (phenols) that can damage your guinea pig’s liver and respiratory system.

Pros:

• Natural appearance
• Good odour control
• Can be composted
• Readily available

Cons:

• Less absorbent than paper bedding
• Light shavings scatter when piggies run
• Must be dust-extracted

Always choose kiln-dried, dust-extracted aspen from a reputable brand.

6. Grass and Seagrass Mats

Natural grass or seagrass mats provide a comfortable resting surface and double as a chew toy. They are perfect for creating designated lounging spots.

Pros:

• Natural and safe to chew
• Provides enrichment
• Soft resting surface
• No dust

Cons:

• Not absorbent
• Needs replacing when chewed through
• Best used alongside other bedding

Explore our Guinea Pig Hideaways & Beds for natural mats and cosy resting spots.

What Guinea Pig Bedding to Avoid

Some materials marketed for small pets are dangerous for guinea pigs. Suitable bedding includes hay, fleece fabric, and shredded paper, while sawdust or wood shavings should be avoided (https://www.rspca.org.au/latest-news/blog/how-should-i-care-my-guinea-pig/).

Always avoid:

Cedar and pine shavings: Contain aromatic oils (phenols) that cause liver damage and respiratory problems.

Sawdust: Far too dusty and poses serious respiratory risks.

Straw: Not absorbent, can harbour mould, and sharp stalks can injure guinea pig eyes.

Cat litter: Can cause digestive blockages if ingested.

Fluffy “teddy bear” bedding: Synthetic fibres can wrap around limbs or cause blockages if swallowed.

Puppy pads (alone): Guinea pigs may chew and swallow the fibres.

How Often to Change Guinea Pig Bedding

Keeping the enclosure clean is essential. The bedding should be cleaned and changed as required, typically once a day for spot cleaning.

Daily: Remove soiled bedding, droppings, and uneaten fresh food.

Every 2 to 3 days: Full wash for fleece liners or change heavily soiled disposable bedding.

Weekly: Complete bedding change and thorough enclosure clean with guinea pig safe disinfectant.

Guinea pigs are very sensitive to ammonia from urine, so maintaining a clean environment prevents respiratory and skin problems.

Australian Climate Tips

Guinea pigs are comfortable in temperatures between 16 to 24°C and are very susceptible to heat stress.

In warmer months:

• Choose breathable bedding like fleece or paper
• Ensure excellent ventilation
• Consider ceramic cooling tiles as resting spots

In cooler months:

• Add extra hay for burrowing and warmth
• Use thicker fleece liners
• Ensure bedding stays dry

Creating the Perfect Setup

Many owners find a combination works best:

• Fleece liners covering most of the floor
• A “kitchen area” with paper bedding or hemp under the hay rack
• A hay pile for burrowing and foraging
• Grass mats in favourite lounging spots

This keeps piggies comfortable while making cleaning manageable.

Keep Your Guinea Pigs Happy and Healthy

The best guinea pig bedding is dust-free, absorbent, soft, and easy to maintain. Whether you choose fleece liners, paper bedding, or a combination, the key is keeping the enclosure clean and dry.

At WeLoveMochi, we stock safe bedding and accessories for happy guinea pigs:

• Back-2-Nature Paper Bedding for dust-free absorbency
• Guinea Pig Hideaways & Beds for cosy spots
• Guinea Pig Toys for enrichment

Create a comfy home for your piggies. Shop safe bedding at WeLoveMochi today.