After a long hard day, the only thing I want to do is curl up in my warm, soft bed. I spoil myself with a cozy mattress, lots of fluffy pillows and warm blankets.
My dog, Bruce, gets the same attention to his bed as I do because I’m a crazy dog mom.
He has a huge bed (he’s an American Bulldog and Pitbull mix and weights 90 pounds so he needs the space!) with warm, cozy blankets to curl up in.
Hello pet parents! My name is Bri, and as I said before, my pet’s bedding is just as important to me as my own bed. We all want our pets to be comfortable when they sleep!
A common household pet that requires a nice bed for their long sleeping hours is the hamster. Hamsters are nocturnal animals, so they sleep throughout the day and become active in the evening.
These little creatures are naturally prey animals, so they gather food in the safety of the dark at night to avoid predators.
It’s crucial for hamsters to stick to this sleep cycle, because if they don’t it can cause severe stress and health problems.
No hamster owner wants to stress out their little hams, but what kind of bed does a tiny furball sleep in?
Make the Bed!
There are many options when creating a hamster bed. However, the first thing you’ll want to consider is the location.
The cage should be in a place where he or she can get used to seeing and hearing humans, but not somewhere they will be disturbed throughout the day.
Once you’ve found a good place for the cage, it’s time for bed.
Hamsters make their own beds out of raw materials in the wild, so the best way to create a bed for your pet is to let them do it themselves!
Best Bedding For Hamsters – What To Use For hamster bedding?
Many people like to use items they already have around the house for hamster bedding such as old kitchen towels torn into small pieces or fresh hay.
However, there are many pre-made materials that your hamster would love to curl up in! Here are a few:
1. Small Pet Select Premium Soft Paper Bedding
The best part is that it’s made in the USA without any chemical additives that might be dangerous for the hamster.
Also, this super soft material is very absorbent so if your hamster is a mess maker, this bedding will keep them dry and warm as well as controlling odors.
The paper pieces are the perfect tiny size for little hamster hands to construct their ideal bed.
Comfort is key!
2. Carefresh Complete Pet Bedding
This bedding is made of super soft paper that they make themselves, specifically for small pets like hamsters and rabbits.
This paper is made of raw, natural fiber, two-times more absorbent than shavings and has a 99% dust free guarantee.
Plus, Carefresh guarantees a ten-day odor control with a special, natural formula they add that suppresses odors for ten days.
3. CritterCare Pet Bedding
With long lasting odor control and a safety guarantee, this bright and fun colored bedding is sure to please any hamster!
This bedding is also all-natural paper, making it safe for your hamster and family.
The paper is extremely absorbent to keep the bedding dry and free of odors.
It’s also super soft so you know your little ham will be cozy in their beds for a good night’s sleep!
4. Kaytee CritterTrail Small Animal Habitat Bedding Trays
This product isn’t necessarily required for your hamster sleep zone but can come in handy when you want to keep your cage clean.
These are little trays that contain soft, absorbent paper bedding.
When you want to clean it, simply pull the tray out, throw out the bedding and refill it, or throw the whole thing away and start completely new!
They are the perfect size for your hamster to have plenty of room, but still have their safe and secure burrow.
Just stick them in a corner of the cage and let them do the rest – literally!
The trays are fully recyclable and disposable, which makes cleaning super easy and environmentally friendly!
They even come with Kaytee Clean & Cozy bedding, making it even easier!
Bad Bedding Materials
It is important to know the difference between a fluffy bed and a soft bed. You should always go for soft material – but not fluffy!
Using fluff like cotton or similar materials (think the filling of stuffed animals, if you need an example, I can show you the stuffing Bruce rips out of all his toys!) can be extremely dangerous for little hams.
Hamsters use their paws and mouths to move their bedding around, and fluff can get stuck in their mouths and become a choking hazard.
The last thing you want is for your poor baby to choke on their own bedding!
Another material you may want to reconsider is wood chips.
Although wood chips may be common in their natural habitat, wood chips are not very absorbent so much of your hamster’s waste will either end up in their fur or on the floor of the cage, causing unpleasant odors.
Keeping the Bedding Clean
Keeping my bedding clean is crucial for me to get a good night’s sleep, and pets aren’t any different!
It’s pretty easy to keep hamster bedding clean.
All you have to do is take hammy out and put him in safe place, sweep out all the bedding and maybe take a damp paper towel to the rest of the cage and then refill with fresh, new bedding!
A great product to clean out cages is Nature’s Miracle Cage Cleaner.
I use Nature’s Miracle to clean up messes Bruce leaves behind and I LOVE this brand!
It naturally deodorizes the space without that harsh chemical smell and leaves the area squeaky clean. Just spray and wipe out with a paper towel!
With the trays mentioned earlier it’s even easier. Just take the tray out, dump the bedding in the trash, wipe it out with soap and water or cleaning solution if it needs it and refill!
Alternative Hamster Bedding Options
However, there is an alternative if you don’t want to deal with paper confetti and filling. Let’s take a look:
GuineaDad Fleece Liner 2.0
The liner has a pocket that is perfect for your hamster to curl up in. It’s made of super soft materials that are cozy and warm.
The hamster burrows in the included pocket instead of making their own bed out of raw materials.
The water-proof bottom absorbs all moisture without letting it spill through to the cage.
Simply take the liner out once a week and through it in the wash! So easy!
Plus, these liners are made with bamboo fiber and are completely natural. If you hamster likes to chew on their bedding, this won’t harm them a bit!
It’s also a money saver because it eliminates the need to keep buying more and more bedding refill.
Keeping Your Hamsters Cage Fresh!
If you’re okay with cleaning out shredded material bedding, a good way to keep the cage fresh between cleanings is a good deodorizer.
As always – these should be temporary fixes between cleanings and NOT replacements for cleaning out the cage! If they start to stink up the room, it’s time to clean out the cage!
However, for short term solutions, here’s a couple of options!
1. Arm & Hammer Deodorizing Spray.
You can spray this directly onto your little hammy to keep their coat nice and fresh between baths, or just spray the bedding and interior of the crate.
The baking soda is the active ingredient that deodorizes the animal or the space!
2. Citrus Magic Pet Odor Absorbing Solid Air Freshener.
These nifty little air fresheners can be hung right on the outside of the cage or just placed nearby.
They give off a pure-linen scent while also absorbing foul odors.
These can last up to six weeks and are safe for people and pets with no harsh chemicals or additives! Win win!
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this information helps you create the perfect, cozy sleep space for your hamster.
Let us know how you get on with your bedding selection.
As always, happy pet parenting!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below!
More hamster articles below:
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