Your guide to the different bedding options available and how to choose the best bedding for your rabbit’s cage.
Choosing the right bedding is crucial to creating a comfortable, hygienic and safe environment for your bunny. But with so many options to choose from, finding the best rabbit bedding is a challenging task.
In this guide, we’ll look at popular bunny bedding options and how to find suitable bedding for your rabbit’s cage.
Our Top Picks
1. Kaytee Clean & Cozy Small Pet Bedding
If you’re searching for the best paper bedding for bunnies, Kaytee’s Clean & Cozy Small Pet Bedding is definitely worth a closer look.
Made from long recycled fiber strands designed to offer improved absorbency, Clean & Cozy is twice as absorbent as wood shavings. It’s 99.9% dust-free to help prevent your furry friend from developing any respiratory issues, and has a soft texture that encourages burrowing behavior.
It’s also made in the USA and comes with an odor control guarantee, which is good news for anyone tired of cleaning out stinky bunny cages. The bedding is also designed to absorb up to six times its weight in liquid.
Available in four bag sizes ranging from 250 cubic inches to 1,728 cubic inches, Clean & Cozy Small Pet Bedding also comes in a variety of colors and scents. Give it a try if you’re searching for absorbent paper bedding for your bunny.
- Odor control guarantee
- Soft and absorbent
- 99.9% dust-free
- Some customers complain about inconsistent quality between bags
2. Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding
Another paper bedding option well worth considering, Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding is a popular choice among bunny lovers.
Made from unbleached fibers rather than recycled printed paper, this bedding doesn’t contain any toxic residues that could potentially harm your bunny. It doesn’t feature any chemicals or additives, is 100% natural and is produced in the USA.
Designed to absorb waste and control odors, Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding is soft and comfortable to encourage burrowing. It’s also 99% dust-free and comes with a customer satisfaction guarantee for extra peace of mind. And with jumbo pack sizes also available, you can buy in bulk and save.
All things considered, it’s easy to see why this bedding would make a welcome addition to your rabbit’s habitat.
- 100% natural
- No chemicals or additives
- Available in bulk
- Not the cheapest option
3. Carefresh Small Pet Bedding
Next on our list of the best bedding for rabbits is this popular product from Carefresh. If you’ve owned any type of small animal before, there’s a good chance you will have come across this bedding at some stage.
Offering 10 days of odor control, Carefresh Small Pet Bedding is designed to keep your pet’s home dry and clean. Soft and fluffy, it’s made using raw, natural fiber so that you don’t have to worry about it causing any health issues for your furry friend.
Carefresh is also 99% dust-free, comes in a range of different colors, and is available in pack sizes ranging from 610 to 3,661 cubic inches. And while it may not be one of the cheapest bedding products on the market, it does boast plenty of satisfied customers.
- 10-day odor control
- 99% dust-free
- Choose the color and pack size that suits you
- Some customers complain about the smell
- Some customers report inconsistent quality between bags
4. Vitakraft Fresh World Bedding
If you’re trying to find the best rabbit bedding for odor control, Vitakraft Fresh World Bedding is one of the options you’ll definitely want to consider. With the ability to control odors for up to 14 days, this bedding has plenty to offer to rabbit owners who can’t stand the smell of pet waste.
Designed to quickly absorb and lock in moisture, Vitakraft Fresh World Bedding can absorb three times its weight in moisture. It’s unbleached, doesn’t contain any baking soda, and is made from recycled paper.
It’s also 99.5% dust-free, so you don’t have to worry about it causing any respiratory issues for your beautiful bunny, and is made in the USA. And because it’s biodegradable and compostable, it’s a good choice for eco-conscious buyers.
- 14-day odor control
- 99.5% dust-free
- Biodegradable and compostable
- Expensive
5. Kaytee Clean & Cozy Extreme Odor Control
Another option worth checking out if you’re keen to tackle unpleasant rabbit cage odors, this bedding from Kaytee has plenty of satisfied customers.
Featuring a claimed 14 days of odor control, Kaytee Clean & Cozy Extreme Odor Control is designed to keep your home smelling fresh. As well as neutralizing that ammonia smell, it also includes several key features to create a healthy and hygienic environment for your pet.
It’s 99.9% dust-free, so you don’t have to worry about it causing respiratory issues for your bunny, while it’s also capable of absorbing up to six times its weight in liquid. Clean & Cozy bedding is also soft to encourage borrowing, and color-fast so it won’t stain your pet’s cage.
Best of all, it’s made in the USA.
- 14-day odor control
- 99.9% dust-free
- Soft and absorbent
- Not the cheapest option
- Some users complain about the lack of promised odor control.
6. So Phresh Natural Aspen Small Animal Bedding
Wood bedding is still a preferred option for some rabbit owners around the country. And if you’re searching for quality wood bedding for your bunny, this natural aspen bedding from So Phresh might be just what the doctor ordered.
Featuring no aromatic oils, the product is scent-free and 99% dust-free to help protect your pet’s delicate respiratory system. It’s also absorbent and effective at controlling odors, helping your rabbit’s cage to stay fresh and hygienic.
The other main advantage of So Phresh Natural Aspen Small Animal Bedding is that it’s biodegradable. This means it can be recycled and used as compost, which is good news for eco-conscious buyers.
- 99% dust-free
- Scent-free
- Biodegradable
- Some customers complain about the smell of the bedding
7. Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding
Next on our list of the best bedding products for rabbits is this paper-based bedding from Oxbow.
Made from 100% pure paper that’s never been printed on, Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding is free of inks and glues. It’s also 99.9% dust-free to reduce mess and prevent respiratory issues, and soft enough to provide a comfortable environment for your pet.
According to the manufacturer, this bedding can absorb up to 800% of its weight in moisture, so it’s worth considering if you’re keen to minimize the time spent cleaning your pet’s cage. And because it’s free of any additives, you don’t have to worry about any toxic ingredients that may be harmful to your bunny.
- Made from unprinted paper
- Absorbs up to 800% of its weight in moisture
- 99.9% dust-free
- Some customers complain about the lack of absorbency.
8. FLAdorepet Small Animal Bed
If you’re searching for fleece bedding for bunnies, the FLAdorepet Small Animal Bed could be the perfect fit for your pet’s cage.
The biggest advantage of fleece bedding is that it’s reusable, and this bed is machine-washable for quick and easy cleaning. This makes it worth considering for bunny owners who are worried about the environmental impact of disposable bedding, or who are sick of constantly replacing the bedding in their rabbit’s cage.
The other main benefit of the FLAdorepet Small Animal Bed is that it’s soft, fluffy, and comfortable. This helps create a cozy environment for your furry friend, ensuring that he or she stays nice and warm during the colder months.
Available in three sizes — small (7.8 x 9.8 inches), medium (9.8 x 11.8 inches) and large (11.8 x 13.7 inches) this comfy bed can suit a wide range of small animals.
- Reusable
- Machine-washable
- Soft and cozy
- Some reviewers complain about the bed being damaged during washing
Types of Rabbit Bedding
If you’re wondering what type of bedding is best for rabbits, the truth is that there’s no easy answer to that question.
There are several different bedding materials that offer a safe and comfortable environment for bunnies. Each option has its own pros and cons, so be sure to compare them before deciding on the best bedding for your pet.
Safe rabbit bedding options include:
- Paper bedding. Paper-based bedding is a widely available and popular bedding option. Known for its absorbency and odor control powers, and is often made from 100% recycled material. However, it’s typically more expensive than some other options.
- Fleece bedding. Reusable and machine-washable, fleece beds and liners are worth considering if you’re sick of regularly changing your bunny’s traditional bedding material. They’re free of dust and can help you save money over time, but the hassle of doing extra laundry is a turn-off for some.
- Pelleted straw bedding. Pelleted straw is non-toxic and safe for bunnies to ingest, and it does a good job of controlling odors. However, it’s not as absorbent as some other options.
- Hay bedding. Hay isn’t just an important part of your rabbit’s diet; it can also be an effective bedding material. Timothy hay provides a comfortable place for your rabbit to rest and enjoy nibbling on some food at the same time. The downside is that it’s not especially absorbent, so it needs to be changed fairly regularly.
- Aspen bedding. Aspen bedding for rabbits is generally considered to be the safest of the wood bedding options available as it doesn’t contain the toxic ingredients found in softwood shavings. Aspen is absorbent and good at controlling odors, but it’s not the cheapest bedding material available.
- Hemp bedding. A relatively new option, hemp is absorbent and affordable. However, it’s not as widely available as many of the other bedding materials on this list.
What to Look for When Choosing Rabbit Bedding
Make sure you consider the following factors when choosing bedding for your bunny.
- Safety. The number-one concern for all rabbit lovers will no doubt be the safety of your pet. Look for bedding that is non-toxic, that doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals or additives, and that is free of dust. You should also make sure that the bedding won’t be dangerous for your pet if ingested.
- Comfort. Next, we all want our beautiful bunnies to be as comfortable as possible. The bedding you choose should be soft and cozy, and encourage burrowing and nesting behavior.
- Odor control. Check how effective the bedding is at eliminating odors, and how long it can keep your bunny’s cage smelling fresh. Don’t just take the manufacturer’s word for this — check out some independent customer reviews as well.
- Absorbency. The best bedding for rabbits will also be ultra-absorbent to quickly soak up any liquid. A clean and dry cage is essential for hygiene and health reasons, and the more absorbent the bedding is, the longer you’ll be able to go between bedding changes.
- Environmentally friendly. Finally, if you’re an eco-conscious pet owner, you may want to look for ways to reduce your bunny’s carbon pawprint when choosing their bedding. For example, you may want to look for natural bedding made from recycled materials and that is also completely biodegradable.
Rabbit Bedding Alternatives to Avoid
Before you start shopping for bunny bedding, please be aware that some bedding materials should be avoided at all costs. These include:
- Straw. While pelleted straw is OK to use, plain straw bedding for rabbits is simply unsafe and unsuitable. Not only does it lack absorbency, which poses major hygiene problems, but it also has stiff ends that could potentially injure your bunny’s eyes, face and paws.
- Pine and cedar. The use of cedar and pine bedding for rabbits is not recommended because they can affect the proper functioning of your rabbit’s liver. If you’ve got your heart set on using wood bedding, consider aspen instead.
- Cat litter. While cat litter is effective at controlling odors, it contains chemicals that are unsafe for bunnies.
- Corn husks. Not only do corn husks present the risk of mold growth, they can also cause blockages if ingested. As a result, they’re not a recommended bedding option.
FAQs
What is the Best Bedding for Rabbits?
There’s not one specific type of bedding that’s universally acknowledged as the best type of rabbit bedding. All bedding types have their own pros and cons, so it’s up to you to research the options before you buy.
Can You Use Shredded Paper for Rabbit Bedding?
Shredded paper is sometimes used in conjunction with hay as a form of rabbit bedding. However, it’s not widely recommended due to the ink on the paper, which could potentially be harmful to your pet.
Can I Use Straw or Hay for Rabbit Bedding?
Straw is not recommended as rabbit bedding because it isn’t absorbent enough, and its stiff ends could cause injury to your pet. However, pelleted straw and hay are both safe bedding options.
How Often Should I Change My Rabbit’s Bedding?
It varies depending on the bedding material you choose and how many rabbits you keep in the cage. However, as a general rule, it’s a good idea to thoroughly clean your pet’s cage and replace their bedding at least once a week.
Conclusion
Our favorite bunny bedding option is Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding, which offers the ideal blend of safety and comfort for your pet. However, Vitakraft Fresh World Bedding is also worth a look if you want long-lasting odor control.
Of course, the best bedding for your rabbit depends on your own preferences, so make sure you compare a range of options before buying.
