Best Rat Bedding – Top Bedding Brands for Pet Rats in 2019
Although rats prefer to sleep in tunnels or holes, they still like to sleep on a cozy and soft bed. In your rat cage at home, the rat bedding will probably be one of the most crucial additions to the cage. A proper rat bedding not just helps your critters remain warm and comfortable, it also makes it clean and odor free. This article is all about the comparison of some of the best rat beddings available in the market. Going through this list will help save your time in choosing the best bedding for your pet critters.
Top 5 Bedding for Rats
Points To Look For While Shopping For Rat Beddings
There are various types of rat beddings available in the market. Sometimes, you may find it tough to decide upon the best if you are not too sure what to look for in such products. However, once you decide upon the right type of rat bedding for your pet mice or rats, there are certain factor to ensure before you make the final choice. Some of these considerations have been discussed below.
- Quantity: From a customer’s point of view the more the merrier at an affordable price. Always look for a rat bedding that comes in a good quantity without burning a hole in your pocket.
- Price: The price is another major factor to consider when it comes to buying rat beddings. Always ensure that you buy something that is well within your budget. However, that does not mean you will sacrifice on the quality.
- Quality: When it comes to rat beddings, there are certain questions you need to ask yourself or the seller. Does it contain any nasty chemicals and is it dust free, are some of the questions you need to get a clarification on.
- Effectiveness: It is also crucial for the bedding to be highly effective. It should be highly absorbent and should fulfil all that is claims to do for rats. Thus, it is better to read the reviews properly before purchasing.
- Value: The rat bedding you purchase should give you a good value for the money you pay to purchase it. Buying a worthless rat bedding which costs you a fortune makes no sense.
Sings That Prove the Need for You to Change Your Rat Bedding
There are several sings that tell you repeatedly to change the rat bedding for your pet critters. If you ignore these signs, it may prove dangerous for the health of your rats. Check and see if your rats get repeated porphyrin. This may be due to rat bedding that contains a lot of dust.
It may also happen that the rat cage tends to smell more frequently than earlier. This may be within a time span of 2 to 3 days. This may signify that the rat bedding might no longer be absorbent enough. Thus, changing it is the best option you have.
Has it ever happened that your rats have suffered from respiratory infections? This may be another sign that it is time for you to change your rat bedding. Respiratory infections in rats may be due to the bedding it uses.
Rat Bedding Comparisons
As mentioned above, there are various types of rat beddings in the market. Choosing the right one may take a good amount of your precious time and effort. However, going through this list may help save some of your time. Here are some of the best rat beddings compared for your benefit.
① Carefresh Small Animal Bedding
If you are looking for a rat bedding that will absorb 3 times more liquid as compared to wood shavings and also provide superior odor control, then nothing beats the Carefresh Small Animal Bedding. This helps the product to keep your pet rat clean and healthy all the time. This bedding is made of natural reclaimed paper fiber, which is a renewable resource, which is compostable and biodegradable.
The high-performance rat bedding is practically dust-free. As a result of this, your pet and you can breathe in easily. The proprietary odor stop formula used in the Carefresh Small Animal Bedding has been tested numerous times and proven to suppress even the most overpowering ammonia odors for a time span of 10 days.
Pros
- Comes with all the features to help keep your small fur ball as clean and healthy as possible.
- It is made from comfyfluff, which is a reclaimed paper fiber that is compostable and biodegradable.
- Can stop even the strongest ammonia odors for almost 10 days.
Cons
- Rick of impaction if rats ingest a big portion of any type of bedding.
- The new formula gives off a disgusting smell from the bedding.
② Kaytee Clean and Cozy Small Animal Bedding
As an owner of small animals, you probably know that despite being smelly, these small ones are quite particular and concerned about detail and accuracy. This is in terms of dirtiness and bad odor. Such bad odor may take place if the habitat is not cleaned as it should and if the bedding is of a poor quality.
The Kaytee Clean and Cozy Small Animal Bedding made of paper that is FDA approved. This paper is 20% more absorbent than most other leading brands of rat beddings. Tests have also proved that it is almost 99% dust free and is guaranteed to control bad odor. All you need to do is cover the flooring with 1 to 3 inches and make sure to change the bedding on a weekly basis.
Pros
- Can absorb 4 times its own weight in liquid.
- 99% dust free and eco-friendly bedding.
- It can easily expand to 3 times its own size.
Cons
- Paper shreds are fluffy and may easily spread all over your house.
- Some users have also complained of spending a lot of time in spreading the bedding properly.
③ Vitakraft Fresh World Ultra Strength Small Animal Bedding
This rat bedding has been designed to absorb moisture and get rid of bad odor with ease. This is rather crucial to ensure that your little pet lives in a clean and dry environment. The Vitakraft Fresh World Ultra Strength Small Animal Bedding has been proved to control bad odor effortlessly and absorb moisture for as long as 14 days at a stretch.
The bedding itself is made from super-soft crumbles and is able to absorb 3 times its own weight in liquid. It also has a very level of dust that simplifies cleaning of the area.
Pros
- 99.5% dust free.
- It is extremely safe, unbleached, and non-toxic.
- The bedding is super-soft and made to help your pet live in utmost comfort.
Cons
- There are mixed reviews about this bedding being 99.5% dust free.
- The high level of dust may not be suitable for sensitive animals.
④ Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding
This small animal bedding is ultra-soft and extremely clean. The material used in the making of the Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding is able to absorb almost 800% its own weight in liquid. As a result of this, it is able to absorb moisture with ease and also control bad odor effortlessly.
This small animal bedding is made up of 100% pure paper that has been never used for printing. This is makes it extremely dust-free and ultra-soft. Simply 1 to 3 inches of this bedding is sufficient for your pet. You also have to replace the entire bedding minimum once every week.
Pros
- The paper used to make this bedding has never been used for printing and is 100% pure.
- Can easily absorb 800% its own weight in liquid.
- Naturally gets rid of unpleasant odor from the cage.
Cons
- There are mixed reviews about its capabilities of getting rid of bad odor.
- Some users have said that it is too thin for their pets.
⑤ Living World Pine Shavings Small Animal Bedding
As the name suggests, this small animal bedding is made from 100% natural pine. These are scented to help maintain a clean smell inside the cage and get rid of bad odor. The Living World Pine Shavings Small Animal Bedding is also designed to inhibit the growth of fungus, bacteria, and mold.
Since the pine shavings are kiln-dried, it can easily get rid of wood debris and aromatic oils. Even when poured out of the bag, no dust is released, which makes it less probable for it to cause any respiratory problems.
Pros
- Made from 100% natural pine.
- Come with great absorption properties.
- Eliminates dust, wood debris, and aromatic oils.
Cons
- There are small sharp pieces that may be dangerous for small animals.
- Compared to the price, the quantity is not sufficient.
Conclusion & What is the Best Bedding for Pet Rats
There were quite a few rat beddings discussed here. These include Carefresh Small Animal Bedding, Kaytee Clean and Cozy Small Animal Bedding, Vitakraft Fresh World Ultra Strength Bedding, Oxbow Pure Comfort Bedding, and Living World Pine Shavings Bedding. Out of these the best is the Carefresh Small Animal Bedding (CHECK BEST PRICE HERE).
It basically comes packed with all the features that are good for small animals. It gets rid of bad odor, it absorbs liquid effortlessly, and it is also soft and comfortable. From a pet owner’s point of view, what else can you gift your pet?
