Your Bag

Add subscription to use 30% discount for litter

close icon

Catalyst Pet

Back to blog
Revolutionary Stories

Which Type of Small Animal Bedding Is Best for Your Chinchilla?

Selecting the right bedding for your chinchilla, or "chins," as they’re affectionately called, is a vital part of ensuring their health and happiness. But, with so many bedding options available, finding the perfect match can seem daunting. Each type of bedding offers different advantages and disadvantages, and the ideal choice often hinges on your pet's unique needs and habits.

We've thoroughly researched the most popular bedding types with an emphasis on safety, comfort, and practicality. Our aim is to help you make an informed decision that keeps your chinchilla cozy and content. This guide will outline the key characteristics of various bedding options and highlight potential concerns, ensuring your furry friend enjoys the best environment possible.

Chinchillas need enough bedding to stay warm, and because they’re nibblers, they need a bedding they can safely chomp on. Luckily, there are some great options for these little, furry creatures.

 

Option

Pros

Cons

Wood* (including Aspen and

Douglas Fir)

· Safe

· Sustainable

· Low dust

· Absorbent

· Great odor control

· Some chinchillas find this bedding uncomfortable; you’ll know this is the case if your animal tries to burrow to the bottom of the cage

Paper

   ·Soft and comfortable

· Widely available

· Absorbent

· Sustainable

· Poor odor control

Pine Shavings

 ·If kiln-dried, these are absorptive and phenols are removed

· If not kiln-dried, pine shavings can irritate your chinchilla

Hemp

· Excellent for tunneling/burrowing

· Absorbent

· Sustainable

· Low dust

· Naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial

· Can be difficult to find in stores as it’s a seasonal crop

· Expensive

Hay

· Allows chewing if soft

· Chinchillas like sleep areas lined with soft hay

· Sharp hay can harm small animals

Bedding to Avoid

· Cedar, which has phenols and other toxins

· Scented wood shavings, which can stress a chinchilla's respiratory tract and ingestion can cause liver or kidney disease

· Anything bedding that is scented  or synthetic

·Corncob, which molds easily when wet and can cause intestinal blockages if ingested

· Cat-specific litter, particularly any with tiny pellets or heavy scents, which can irritate your small animal or could be eaten and cause blockages

 

*Ensure any wood bedding is phenol-free. If phenols are present, they can irritate the skin and respiratory system of your small pet and cause issues for humans, too. Wood that is kiln-dried should be phenol free.

Of course, just like humans, your small animals have innate preferences. Even if you’ve done your homework and chosen what you believe is the perfect bedding for your pet, they might have other ideas. Your furry friend will continue to show its personality, and you can keep trying until you find the best option for your little pal!

How much bedding do you need?

Below are Catalyst’s recommendations for the amount of bedding each type of small animal needs. Of course, use your own judgment as you get to know your pet’s preferences!

 

Small Animal

Gerbil or

Hamster

Chinchilla or

Ferrett

Guinea Pig

Rabbit

Rat or

Mouse

Habitat Size

23” x 19”

25” x 25”

48” x 24”

54” x 27”

20” x 14”

Bedding Depth

4” – 6”

2” – 3”

2” – 3”

2” – 3”

2” – 3”

Amount Needed

43L

35L

57L

72L

20L

The Best Posts
How to Successfully Make the Switch to Catalyst Pet Litter

Nathan the Cat Lady shows how easy it is to make the transition to Catalyst Pet natural softwood litter!

 

Introducing the Catalyst Litter Scoop

Expertly designed with efficiency and ease in mind, the Catalyst Cat Scoop – brought to you by the makers of Catalyst Pet – is a simple and hygienic way to clean up your furry feline’s litter box.

Why You Should Leave Clay Litter in the Dust

Most cat lovers are not aware that clay litters are made of sodium bentonite, a mineral that is strip-mined and not biodegradable, but that’s not where the problems end. Clay litter can also be unhealthy for your furry feline.

The Highest Performing Natural Cat Litter
on the Planet
For 30% off your first subscription order, use code CAT30 at checkout!
More on Blog
Revolutionary Stories
Get to Know Our Catalyst Team: Meet Joy and Her Cat, Georgia!
We’re excited to start a new series where you’ll meet the people behind Catalyst Pet and the cats who inspire their work every day!  First up: Joy, our customer support manager, and her adorable cat, Georgia. Joy has been with...
Revolutionary Stories
How to Tell if Your Small Pet Is Sick
You love watching your small pet zoom around its cage, play with its carefully curated selection of toys and nibble its food with those impossibly tiny paws. You know its daily habits and what to expect at certain times of...
Revolutionary Stories
Long Live Our Furry Friends!
But Some Live Longer Than Others…   Deciding to bring a small pet into your home is a big step. As you research food, living quarters, bedding, toys and cleaning routines, an important question arises: How long will this new...