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Chinchillas have a pretty different idea of what keeping house means. Especially since millennia spent foraging in the wild meant they really never had to bother with it in the first place. No wonder more fully litter-trained felines and canines, might tend to give them the side eye on occasion. After all, if they have to be tidy, why shouldn’t every other furry too?
But being a miniature fluffball does have its perks, after all. Such as getting to be a tad messy since no one can resist how cute and smart they are. And that means it’s down to you to keep your beloved chin in conditions which are as hygienic as possible and extremely comfy too. Especially since they, just like every other adorably furry pet, do love curling up in a snug spot to snooze or simply relax after a filling meal.
And that’s where bedding comes in. And as is the case with just about everything else pertaining to chins, special care must be taken in getting it right to ensure your pet’s health doesn’t get compromised in your attempt to provide them with improved hygiene and comfort.
Popular Bedding Options
What kind of bedding is best for your chinchilla? Ideal material should be comfortable to transform your chin’s cage into a cozy haven where it can get to enjoy some much-needed downtime at will.
It should also come free of toxins to minimize the risks of the pet being exposed to any discomfort or health hazards. It’s also important for it to be extremely absorbent in the event of your chin momentarily forgetting its litter training an occurrence which is bound to happen pretty often.
Getting bedding which is hypoallergenic is a great idea for pets which have allergies to forestall the eventuality of any troublesome symptoms too.
Below I’ve listed a selection of the most popular bedding choices used for chinchillas. Each one of them meets the criteria mentioned above to varying degrees rendering them more or less suitable for padding your chin’s home.
- Kiln-dried Pine Shavings
The most popular choice among chinchilla owners tends to be kiln-dried pine shavings. Pine on its own while fragrant does contain chemicals which pose health hazards to chins. The process of drying them in a kiln gets rid of these toxins rendering the shavings perfectly safe for rodents. This process is also important for eliminating other potentially harmful bugs and fungi which have a penchant for lurking in fresh wood.
- Aspen Shavings
Another highly popular choice happens to be Aspen shavings. That’s because the wood from this source is free from any harmful resins. What’s more, Aspen shavings are also inexpensive and pretty absorbent. However, they do tend to be dusty which can spell bad news for chinchillas’ lungs.
- Fleece
Fleece is also an excellent choice of bedding since it can be reused several times over. Best of all, it’s super absorbent and can be rewashed at regular intervals eliminating the need to place regular orders for a new batch of bedding. It’s also soft and cozy and will add a special element of comfort for your fluffy charge. It’s recommended to use anti-pill fleece since it’s guaranteed to remain soft and smooth rather than getting rough following subsequent washes.
- Recycled Paper
This next option scores highly on cost, texture, safety and its ability to absorb fluid. It also comes in a plethora of choices ensuring you can get to pick and choose and even observe your chin’s very favorite. Certain chinchilla experts recommend avoiding colored and bleached options and settling for gray paper bedding since that’s the original color it comes in before being treated with any bleach or coloring agents.
Unsafe Bedding Options
In addition to the above options, there are also certain choices of bedding which every chinchilla owner should avoid getting for their pet.
These include:
- Corn Cob Bedding
Although this option scores highly in terms of cost, it comes with a range of hazards which will detract from the hygiene and comfort of your chin’s cage and therefore disqualify it from being a suitable choice of bedding. These include its tendency to get moldy and the fact that it simply isn’t as cushy as bedding made from other materials.
- Cedar Shavings
A first glance — and sniff — of these fragrant shavings might just be enough to tempt any pet owner with its promise of staving off unpleasant smells from their fluffball’s cage. Especially since they are particularly inexpensive and abundant.
However, it’s worth noting that these shavings are rather harmful to chins since they cause liver problems, trigger allergies and also adversely affect their respiratory systems.
- Towels
A staple of households and renowned for being extra absorbent, theyre pretty likely to be the first thing on a chin owner’s mind particularly if no other option seems to be available. And yet, this seemingly harmless option actually poses a significant degree of risk to your pet.
And it’s all thanks to its strings which can be choked on by a curious chin which has decided to chomp on its bedding. Alternatively, those loose threads could actually get tangled around their limbs and toes.
- Newspaper
Cheap, cheerful and ubiquitous, this last option comes second to none, in terms of easily available and disposable materials which can be used for padding surfaces and keeping them clean. And yet, theyre one option which should never pop up on any chin owner’s radar. The particularly offending aspect they possess in this regard happens to be their ink. As noted by PDSA, it can actually be toxic to chins especially owing to their diminutive size.
The Best Chinchilla Bedding
Now we’ve looked at the desirable properties meant to come with your chin’s bedding as well as suitable options and not-so-suitable choices, it’s time to take a look at some of the very best products currently available. Each item on our list has garnered rave reviews from chin owners who’ve only been too delighted to extoll their virtues and all the ways in which they’ve transformed their chin’s cages into havens of delight for their pocket-sized pets.
The Best Absorbent Chinchilla Bedding
Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding
The first item on our list is brought to us courtesy of the renowned pet product manufacturer Oxbow; hence we can be assured that we’re in good hands. Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding ticks all the boxes which will ensure youre able to keep your chin in optimally hygienic conditions.
And it’s all thanks to the super soft material used in its manufacture which is capable of absorbing 800% of its weight in moisture ensuring you’ll be able to relegate concerns such as unpleasant odors, soggy bedding and a moody chin to the past.
It’s also dust-free making it perfectly safe for those tiny lungs and is free from any harmful chemicals too since it’s been made using pure unprinted paper. What’s more, it’s pretty compact ensuring it’s convenient to carry about with ease.
Pros:
- Supremely soft, cozy and perfect for tiny feet
- Perfectly safe and natural
- Excellent odor busting properties
- Super absorbent
The Best Natural Chinchilla Bedding
Kaytee Clean & Cozy Natural Small Animal Bedding
The next item on our list has also been brought to us courtesy of another highly popular pet product manufacturer. Kaycee has every faith that their product is pretty attention-worthy. The proof lies in their bold claim of their Clean & Cozy Natural Small Animal Bedding being 20% more absorbent than other leading brands could that possibly include the amazing Oxbow bedding reviewed above?
The bedding also happens to be 99% dust-free eliminating the risk of any respiratory illness to your favorite rodent ensuring you don’t have to worry about possibly compromising your pet’s health in an attempt to provide them with an extra touch of much-deserved comfort.
Pros:
- More absorbent than wood chips
- Excellent odor control
- Perfectly safe for delicate respiratory systems
- Virtually dust-free
- Excellent absorption capacities
Cons:
- Insufficient thickness
- Difficult to clean when dispersed all over the room
The Best Odor Control Chinchilla Bedding
Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding for Small Animals
One of the drawbacks of subpar bedding is finding yourself obliged to spend more time scrubbing your pet’s cage rather than getting to feed them their favorite tasty treats and have them curl up on your shoulder after a frantic dash around your room.
Thankfully, with this product, you’ll be able to create more memorable moments with your beloved chin rather than having to battle endlessly against soggy bedding, unpleasant odors and the lingering pong of ammonia.
The Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding comes with its very own special formula for keeping any telltale odors from your chin’s cage at bay. It’s also amazingly soft and comfy and capable of absorbing three times its weight in liquid. In addition to being free from any pesky toxins, it’s also 99.5% dust-free meaning it comes without the risk of any respiratory issues. And you don’t have to worry about your home being taken over by tiny crumbly bits of bedding since it’s really easy to clean.
This highly effective odor control bedding is also environmentally friendly since it’s manufactured from recycled paper enabling you to play a role in reducing environmental waste too.
With so many amazing qualities and more, there’s no doubt that you’ll be able to keep your chin’s cage fragrant and pristine with a fraction of the effort required with less absorbent varieties of bedding.
Pros:
- Special long-lasting odor control formula
- Capable of absorbing three times its weight in liquid
- Especially soft and comfy
- 99.5% dust free
The Best Multipurpose Chinchilla Bedding
Carefresh Small Animal Bedding
The fourth item on our list is manufactured by another much-loved pet brand which has been known to place smiles on the faces of pet owners the world over: Carefresh. Made from comfyfluff a biodegradable fiber made from recycled paper, it’s also ideal for your composting needs making it the perfect multipurpose product for keeping your chin comfy and making your garden bloom.
In addition to its environmentally friendly credentials, it’s twice as absorbent compared to bedding made from wood shavings. Its also practically dust-free and hence won’t cause any irritation to your chin’s delicate lungs.
Carefresh Small Animal Bedding also comes with a highly efficient odor control formula which is capable of keeping the pong of ammonia at bay for ten days.
This item is certainly one which delivers on its promises as seen from its nearly perfect rating on top retail websites.
Delighted customers have praised its fluffy texture which enhances its ability to absorb liquid as well as its cozy feel which their pets love. Best of all, it’s pretty reasonably priced ensuring you’ll be able to keep your chin’s cage spotless at a low cost.
Pros:
- Twice as absorbent as wood shavings
- Odor control formula lasts for ten days
- Biodegradable and perfect for composting
- Virtually dust-free
Cons:
- Complaints about crumbly texture were noted
The Best Hypoallergenic Chinchilla Bedding
FiberCore Eco-Bedding Odor Control
Hypoallergenic bedding is best for chins which have allergies, however, it does seem as though there aren’t that many products which come with that reassurance for concerned pet owners. And that’s where this last product on our list stands out from among the rest. Its manufacturers are also proud of the fact that it’s also eco-friendly and has been made from 100% recycled paper.
Thoroughly satisfied customers have commented on its suitability for delicate respiratory systems as well as the fact that it’s scent-free. It’s highly efficient ammonia blocking capabilities also received a special mention as well as the fact that it’s pretty absorbent — it’s capable of taking in thrice its liquid weight.
There’s also the fact that this product which is created using a patented style of shaping minute bits of paper won’t stick to your pet and is also perfect for burrowing in. And it’s not too pricey compared to other products making it an item worth considering if your chin happens to suffer from any allergies.
Pros:
- Unique patented style of shaping paper
- Does not present a choking hazard to pets
- 100% recyclable and biodegradable
- Dust-free
- Capable of absorbing three times its liquid weight
- Hypoallergenic
Cons:
- Not particularly soft
- May make surroundings untidy
Concluding Thoughts
While chinchillas are pretty concerned about their personal cleanliness, they can be a tad untidy — not that any of it matters to those of us who love them dearly.
And as can be seen above, there’s a plethora of options for keeping their surroundings clean and tidy to ensure they remain robust and in excellent health.
The products mentioned above are all dust-free, super absorbent and cozy and come with excellent odor control. Best of all, they’re perfectly natural and free from any chemicals or toxins which may harm your pet.
And the rave reviews they’ve garnered are proof of the fact that they have what it takes to transform your pet’s immediate surroundings to the perfect hygienic, comfy haven every chinchilla deserves.