Mommybop~this is from
www.cavymadness.com hope this helps!
bedding
Never, ever use those typical pet-shop beddings, such as cedar, the green stuff, and fragranced wood shavings; they are treated with or contain fragrant oils and are toxic to guinea pigs. Kitty litter is unsuitable for guinea pigs, since it is clay-based, dusty and treated with fragrance.
wood shavings
Don't even consider cedar. The fragrant oils (phenols) are toxic and can cause respiratory damage to your piggy. Aspen and pine wood shavings are a very popular choice, since they are inexpensive and control odor fairly well. And both are safe for guinea pigs, as long as they are prepared correctly. Pine, especially, is often debated because it contains fragrant oils in its natural state, but oven/kiln-dried pine is available.
If you want to use pine, look specifically for kiln-dried pine shavings at farm/feed stores and sawmills; this type of pine is unbelievably cheap, and has been oven-dried to remove the oils. The shavings should be coarse, about the size of breakfast cereal flakes, with no dust. And they should not smell pungent. Some manufacturers don't remove all the oil, or use turpentine in their drying process — both dangerous to guinea pigs. You'll have to do a bit of searching to find the safe kiln-dried pine. Look for three things to ensure that your pine shavings are safe for guinea pigs:
1.
Kiln-dried and sifted to remove small bits;
2.
No strong smell (pine oils, turpentine, other chemicals)
3.
Large flakes, not sawdust
The final test: open up the pine and grab a large handful. Smell it. Then open your palm and let the shavings drop into the bag. If a bunch of bits are stuck to your hand, then it's too dusty.
I use kiln-dried white pine shavings from a sawmill; it costs $3.50 for a 40-lb. bale, which lasts me about a month. You can check with sawmills and farm/feed stores in your area to find excellent pine: remember, it must be white pine, kiln-dried, and screened to remove dust and debris.
carefresh
Recycled wood pulp bedding, such as Care-Fresh, is immensely popular but costly. It is soft and dust-free, but it can mold quickly when it becomes wet. Carefresh is made of wood pulp by-products from the pulp and paper industry used in the manufacture of paper and cardboard. They don't use dye nor chemicals, and it's virtually dust-free.
However, this environmentally aware bedding comes with a high price tag. Search online for the best prices; many guinea pig people buy in bulk and form a co-op with others in their town. Visit Carefresh's site for more information, pricing and ordering.
straw and hay
Both are popular as burrowing material, but remember that they can mold rather quickly. A soft pile of hay makes a great burrowing spot for your cavy. But beware of sharp ends that can poke your cavy in the eye. If you want to use straw and hay, use it as a top layer with some newspaper or other bedding below it. Make sure that it's not moldy to begin with, and break up long, hard bits of straw that can be sharp.
kitty litter and other bedding
Any type of traditional clay-based kitty litters are not suitable for small animals. A few types of environmentally friendly cat litter, such as Feline Pine and wood-based litters, can pass for a suitable bedding for your guinea pig. However, be aware of dust, strong fragrances, and hardness. Dust and fragrance are pretty obvious - both are harmful for your guinea pig's respiratory system. But hardness? Hey, if you've ever slept on a lumpy futon or a hard mattress, you'll understand. All of the beddings above are fairly soft and provide some degree of "nesting" for your guinea pig. But hard pellets (in my opinion, Feline Pine is a bit hard) must be uncomfortable to lay on, don't you think? Corncob-based beddings can seem like a good choice; they are absorbent and control odors, and they don't have much dust. However, if guinea pigs eat the bedding, there is a high risk of death, since they can choke on the particles.
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