The floor of your hamster cage will need to be covered in a bedding material, not only for your hamster’s enjoyment and comfort, but also to absorb urine. Your hamster’s natural instinct is to burrow and dig, so make sure you give them a good layer, at least two inches thick. Do not use blankets or towels! This will become dirty and wet very quickly.

There are several bedding material options available, the most common being wood shavings. Avoid cedar shavings!! It contains phenols that have been linked to liver and respiratory problems in hamsters. Pine shavings aren’t as dangerous as cedar, but can cause allergic reactions in some hamsters. If you do want to use pine shavings it’s a good idea to get the kiln-dried variety. Sawdust is another option, but it is not recommended as it’s too fine and can cause sneezing and irritation in your hamster.

You should also avoid any scented bedding material as it can irritate your hamster. You may also find bedding material made from corn cobs – these too should be avoided for two reasons: first, they tend to go moldy; second, hamsters have been known to eat them and the cobs can then swell when they become wet inside the hamster’s stomach.

Your best choice for bedding material is wood shavings made from Aspen, or small animal litter made from wood pulp. CareFresh and Kaytee both provide excellent bedding material that is pine and cedar free. You may be tempted to use ordinary cat litter as bedding material. Don’t! It’s too dusty and can cause respiratory problems for your hamster. The abrasive litter also irritates their feet. Stick to the wood shavings and other bedding material designed for hamsters and your hamster will thank you for it!

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