Are you tired of searching for the best hedgehog bedding out of the countless options available on the internet? Then stop for a while and go through the following list, as it will resolve the issue.
We have explored hard and prepared a list of best hedgehog beddings for you to end your search here. The beddings that we have listed in our reviews will be ultimately comfortable for your hedgies for their good night’s sleep.
Contents
The 10 Best Hedgehog Bedding of 2023 (Reviews)
Editors’ Pick:
- Ideal Bedding for small pets
- Soft, Comfy & Super Absorbent
- NO additives, dyes & irritants
Hedgehogs are unique little creatures with requirements similar to that of other small animals or rodents. Hence, when you look for bedding for hedgehogs you can choose from the options available for similar pets. You just need to take care of some minor differences, which we have kept in mind while making the list given below.
1. Carefresh Complete Hedgehog Bedding
Carefresh offers superior quality bedding with odor limitation and high absorbency. The bedding is easy to clean, hence, it keeps you and your pet healthier. Collected right from its source the Carefresh bedding is made of raw natural fibers.
It does the job right for small animals such as hedgehogs. It can absorb the fluids (animal wastes) and keep the odor away for more than a week. As a result, the pet feels comfortable with this soft and clean bedding.
- Brand: Carefresh
- Size: 60 L
- Color: Natural
- Material: Comfyfluff
- Freshness: Odor control up to 10 days
The bedding stays drier than the wood shavings, with double absorbent material. It contains low dust and it’s easy to clean.
Note: The bedding is good for your pet, home, and the planet, as it’s made from 100% natural fibers.
2. Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding
Ideal bedding for small pets like hedgehogs. The bedding contains no harmful chemicals or additives. It is soft, comfortable, and highly absorbent. Moreover, it reduces odors and the natural material protects your pet’s gentle feet and eyes.
Made of unbleached fibers the bedding is unused, not recycled, not printed and hence completely harmless. The bedding is made of left-over food-grade material, so the pet can sleep on the non-toxic plant fibers.
- Brand: Small Pet Select
- Size: 178 L
- Color: Natural
- Material: 100% natural unbleached paper
Specially created for small pets such as rabbits and hedgehogs, this bedding provides the animal with a fluffy, cozy, and suitable environment to live joyfully. Furthermore, it expands three times than its packed volume, hence, it’s sufficiently big.
Made in the USA with toxic-free paper.
3. Kaytee Clean & Cozy Small Animal Bedding
Small animals enjoy making nests and burrows in the wild. Therefore providing them with a similar environment makes them feel homely. Clean & Cozy has soft and fluffy fibers that allow your pet to make burrows or nests.
It absorbs twice the liquid than wood shavings do, and expands 3 times to its package size. The bedding is 99.9% dust-free for the good health of your pet and a cleaner cage.
- Brand: Kaytee
- Size: 24.6 L
- Color: Blue
- Material: Chemical-free Harmless fibers
- Freshness: Odor control with more absorbency
It can absorb 6 times the liquid than its weight which helps reduce the odor. Moreover, the blue color looks vibrant and cute in the pet cage.
Note: Your pet must not ingest the fibers. Take more caution if you have a baby animal as a pet.
4. Hartz Absorbent Cage Liners for Small Pets
The Hartz cage liners are made of absorbent polymers placed between the layers of the liner. This lets the upper layer stay dry making it safe and hygienic for your pet. The liner reduces odors related to pet waste. Moreover, they can be cut to fit any size of a cage.
The Leak-proof design makes cleaning easy and stress-free. However, they absorb moderately as compared to other highly absorbent products. Specially designed for small pets like sugar gliders or parakeets, these liners can also work for hedgehogs.
- Brand: Hartz
- Size: 16″x28″ (includes 7 liners)
- Material: Absorbent Polymers
- Freshness: Reduces odor
Note: Make sure your pet does not chew and ingest the product. It is suggested to place is under the mesh grate of the cage.
5. Kaytee Wood Pellets Bedding for Small Pets
Kaytee wood pellet bedding for small pets is 100% natural wood-based bedding. These Wood Pellets absorb fluids and control odor, giving your hedgehog a clean and comfortable home. Cleaning becomes easy as the pellets do not cling to the cage of your pet.
However, it is recommended to remove the bedding and wash the cage with mild soap every week. Use fresh bedding after cleaning the cage. The product eliminates dust and debris, hence, prevents dust allergies in your pet.
- Brand: Kaytee
- Size: 8 lb
- Color: Natural Wood
- Material: Wooden pellets
- Freshness: Controls odor
Note: Hedgehogs are mostly allergic to wood, hence, use the bedding under the mesh to avoid direct contact with the pet.
6. Kaytee Kay-KOB Bedding and Litter
Kaytee Kay-Kob bedding is made of natural corn cob, especially to exclude dust and wood debris found in other products. It absorbs the messes, does not stick or cling to the cage, and makes cleaning easy.
The cob bedding reduces the urine stink and also makes discarding easy. However, it requires frequent cleaning as compared to other beddings. But the good part is, it’s 100% natural, safe for your hedgehog, safe for you and the environment.
- Brand: Kaytee
- Size: 8 lb
- Color: Brown
- Material: Corn Cob
- Freshness: Smell reduction
Note: Cove the floor with loose cobs to a depth of 1 to 3 inches
7. Grass Woven Bed Mat for Hedgehog
Hamiledyi presents this hand-woven mat made of grass for small pets to nap or play on it. This grass-made bedding is safe and sturdy for your hedgehog. You can place this highly sustainable and reusable product inside the pet’s cage.
If your hedgehog loves chewing, this grass mat is totally harmless to him. The product includes 3 grass mats. Your pet will love this little carpet, and it definitely will protect your carpets from the pet’s urine.
- Brand: Hamiledyi
- Size: 11 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
- Color: Natural
- Material: Grass
- Freshness: Washable and reusable
Note: Contains no chemicals and no artificial fragrances
8. Zoo Med Aspen Pet Bedding
This Zoo Med product is made of Aspen, that’s natural and renewable. It is 99.9% dust-free, hence safe for a hedgehog to play in. It also helps control odors and good to use as bedding for small pets. The bedding size is 8 quarts, sufficient for a hedgehog.
The product contains all-natural Aspen fibers and absorbs fluids well which helps control odor with its natural aspen aroma. Hence, it makes a healthier pet home for both, your hedgehog and you.
- Brand: Zoo Med
- Size: 8 quarts
- Color: Natural
- Material: Aspen fibers
- Freshness: Controls odor
Note: Aspens do not contain allergic wood oils like cedar or other wood shavings.
9. Arm & Hammer Super-Absorbent Pet Cage Liners
These liners are meant to be placed over the waste tray to prevent odor from animal wastes. These cage liners for small animals like hedgehogs wicks away the moisture by its super-absorbent quality.
It, therefore, helps keep your home and your little friends stay clean and fresh. It can fit well in a small animal cage with a mesh grate. You may cut the liner to fit the tray, if required. Just place it underneath the wire or mesh grat6e. Change whenever soiled.
- Brand: Arm & Hammer For Pets
- Size: Contains 7 liners
- Color: White
- Freshness: Baking soda for odor control
The brand, Arm & Hammer, presents products for gentle yet efficient cleaning. These cage liners for hedgehogs, keep your pet and home smelling fresh with baking soda as a content. However, these should not touch the pet’s feet directly, hence place it under the grate.
Note: Use only for the cages with wire/mesh grate over the waste area. Your pet must not consume it or walk over it.
10. Kaytee Clean & Cozy Scented Hedgehog Bedding
Kaytee’s Scented bedding for Hedgehog is specially designed to reduce odor due to animal wastes. The bedding is 99.9% dust-free that keeps the cage clean and prevents respiratory allergies in your pet. It can absorb up to 6 times the liquid than its weight.
The super absorbent bedding made of paper includes Tahitian Vanilla scent and is safe for your hedgehog. Especially, Clean & Cozy is loved by pets because it’s fluffy. The fiber strands are recycled to provide good quality and better absorbency.
- Brand: Kaytee
- Size: 24.6 L
- Color: White (Also available in other colors)
- Freshness: Vanilla Scented to control odor (Also available in other fragrances)
Note: The pet should be prevented from ingesting the bedding. Also, make sure to dispose off the used bedding.
Buyer’s Guide
If you are confused on which bedding to choose for your hedgehog, then go through this buyer’s guide. Here you can learn about the types of beddings in the market and what you must consider before buying one.
Types of Hedgehog Beddings
The types of hedgehog beddings mainly available in the market include Paper, Wood, and Fabric. Let’s see the properties and benefits/drawbacks of each type.
Paper Beddings: The beddings made of non-toxic and unrecycled paper material are safe for small pets to use. They are soft and super absorbent. The Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding is one such kind of a product that is 100% harmless, soft, unbleached and never printed.
Wood Bedding: The Wood beddings are available in two types – wooden pellets and wood shavings. Both types are safe for small pets, however, hedgehogs are allergic to certain wood oils like cedar.
As hedgehogs are allergic to cedar shavings and other aromatic woods, avoid using cedar beddings for them. The wood pellets are easier to clean and better alternatives for them.
Fabric Bedding: Fabrics like fleece, pillow cover, and baby bedsheets work really good for pets. They can absorb the urine and other wastes well and are washable as well as reusable. However, they have to be washed frequently to keep your home odorless and your pet healthy.
There are also other types of effective and safe bedding options like corn cobs and cotton. Hence, choose the bedding which you find – safest for your hedgehog, easiest to clean, and best for nature too.
How to Choose the Best Hedgehog Beddings?
The actual reason to use bedding is to keep the house clean and odor-free along with providing ultimate comfort to your hedgehog. Hence, to choose the best hedgehog bedding you should consider the following factors.
Material Used for Bedding
Hedgehogs like digging and making burrows in the wild. Hence, they like soft and cozy bedding that allows them to dig and play. One more important factor is that the bedding should be 100% chemical-free. Hedgehogs are very sensitive and any chemical product can be fatal for them.
Dust-Free Beddings
Hedgehogs are highly allergic to dust which may cause respiratory issues. Mostly wood shavings contain a lot of dust. Hence, make sure to buy dust-free beddings. While choosing a product, confirm that the bedding is either nicely filtered or made of paper/fabric.
Avoid Allergens
Natural fragrances of paper, grass, or cotton are mostly harmless to any pet including hedgehogs. But added artificial scents may not be liked by your pet at all.
Citrus smell or perfumed bedding is absolutely the wrong choice, as it can cause allergy to the hedgehog. Moreover, hedgehogs are highly allergic to cedarwood oil. Therefore, avoid using cedar shavings.
Absorption
Excellent absorption is the most required element in a small pet bedding. A product with good absorption keeps the home and cage hygienic, and therefore maintains your pet’s health too.
Safety
Consider a material that is safe for your hedgehog even if he chews it. It should be safe to use directly in contact with your pet’s skin. If the product is not safe enough for the pet to sit on, place it under the mesh grate. Your pet should not be able to touch or chew the bedding which isn’t safe for him.
Other Factors to Consider
Other useful factors to consider before buying the bedding are
- Size: If you are buying a stuffed bedding or fabric bedding check for the size that suits best to your pet. It should be big enough to accommodate your pet or fit in his cage properly.
- Colors: All natural colors of wood, unbleached paper, and fabric are safe to use. But never prefer to buy dyed bedding. If the bedding anyhow has chemical colors or prints, use it under the mesh to avoid direct touch to the pet’s feet.
- Price: Look for bedding that is harmless as well as fits your budget, but never compromise with the quality for a lower price.
- Quantity: The beddings are mostly compressed when packed. Therefore, check well that the product, after it expands, sets nicely into your pet’s cage.
FAQs About Hedgehog Beddings
Hedgehogs like soft and cozy materials. They also like burrowing in the wild and hence also in the beddings. Also, the material should be super absorbent to keep the bedding dry and comfortable for at least a week.
We would recommend a paper bedding that isn’t reused or recycled. It should contain no bleach, dyes or prints. Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding is an ideal product to serve the purpose. Other dust-free materials that are natural and non-allergic to hedgehogs can also be used.
Hedgehogs are usually allergic to wood oils, especially cedar. The oils from the cedar shavings can cause respiratory disorders to them. Aspen is considered a safer alternative and therefore preferred in the place of other wood shavings.
A good quality hedgehog bedding may cost between $15 to $40. However, there are products available at lower costs as well ranging from $5 to $15. But we would recommend using unbleached paper beddings for hedgehogs which are mostly costlier.
As per our recommendation, Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding is the best product for hedgehogs. It is made of unbleached paper fibers, unused and non-recycled. It contains no harmful chemicals, no artificial color, and no scents. Also, it is soft and highly absorbent.
Final Note
We hope that the Buyer’s guide and the list of products would have helped you choose the right product for your hedgehog. We always want our pets to stay happy, healthy and comfortable in their small habitat. So get a cozy bedding/liner for your pet which also keeps your house clean and odor-free.