For every rat owner, choosing the perfect bedding for the rat is one of the most important decisions to makes. Rats need bedding for their natural behaviours, digging, foraging, seeping, and even nesting.
Your rat will spend almost their time closely contact with their bedding. The best bedding for rats will keep them warm, odor and dust free, safe, and preserve their health.
There are many different types of bedding for rat available out there; each of them has it own pros and cons. It is easy to understand if you get confused about these types of bedding. So this article will provide you with all the basic information about some rat bedding products that you would need for choosing the perfect one.
Top 14 Best Bedding For Rats 2021 [Review]
#1 Back 2 Nature Small Animal Bedding (Editor’s choice)
We are surely that this bedding of Back2Nature will satisfy even most difficult customers. And this is because it fits all of the criteria very well. Back2Natural bedding contains pellets that made from 99% recycled paper and biodegradable.
This product does not contain any additives or toxic chemicals and also guaranteed to have been produced by no chemical means that can harm your pets.
It’s 99.9% dust-free, does not create mess and you will not have to worry about the tiny dust particles irritate the respiratory tract and eyes. It is highly absorbent and keeps the cage dry for easier cleaning.
The recycled paper product has the ability of natural odour absorption, which make your cage can go for a week without smelling.
These things above make it one of the best and highest qualities bedding on the market for rats. However, due to the quality, this bedding is twice as expensive as other bedding products out there.
Pros:
- Biodegradable
- 9% dust-free.
- Non-toxic and free chemicals
- No smell and less mess
- Highly absorbent
Cons:
Twice more expensive than other brands.
#2 Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Small Animal Bedding (Most Comfortable)
This is one of the most suitable and quality bedding product that your can get for your rats. Kaytee Clean & Cozy bedding made from quality recycled paper that is not only super soft, fluffy, cozy and clean but also encourage burrowing or nesting so that eats can relax and play in.
The out standing point of this product is the odor control guaranteed. You will not have to worry when your rats urinate in their cage, create the toxic ammonia smells and, making them uncomfortable and pose risks to their health.
This is because Kaytee Clean & Cozy is capable of absorbing six times its weight in liquid and its ability of odor control will create the dry enclosure habitat for longer.
It is totally safe for rats since it have been treated to 99.9% free of dust and does not cause any respiratory problems for your pets
Pros:
- Entirely dust-free
- Absorbs 6x its weight
- Fluffy and super soft texture
Cons:
Light smell
#3 Carefresh Small Pet Bedding (Best selling)
Carefresh Bedding for rats is the perfect option for beginner since it included all the things you need to create a good environment for rats with the reasonable price.
This bedding material is completely recyclable or compostable making extremely soft and optimally comfortable bottom for your rats. It has the texture similar to fluff. Due to its entirely natural fiber material you can be assured that it non-toxic and safe to use.
Furthermore, It has the capacity of 10 days odor control, what make the paper always smells fresh. You do not need to clean the cage or change the bedding frequently. Not only that, this bedding is 2 times more absorbent than shavings.
Pros:
- Keep the fresh smell for 10 days
- 9% dust free
- Does not contain any chemical or dyes, making it totally safe for rats
- Highly absorbent
Cons:
Once it wet, it does not have great aesthetic appeal.
#4 Small Pet Select Unbleached White Paper Bedding (Easy-to-clean bedding)
This bedding product is manufactured to has no harmful chemicals added and has never been printed on since it is made of unbleached paper fiber. It is also devoid of any sludge.
One more favourite thing of Small Pet white paper bedding is it packed with 100% safe in a tightly compressed bag. Once this bag is opened, the bedding material will expands over three times its packed volume.
The bedding is designed specifically for small animals like rats, so it will provide the safe, comfortable environment and also allow them to burrow and dig in. Not only no additives, dyes, and fillers included, this is also 99% dust free.
Pros:
- It is quite soft and comfortable
- Easy to clean and easy to see the dirty part due to its white color
- Compact with big volume
- 100% natural material
Cons:
It is a bit expensive
#5 Kaytee All Natural Aspen Bedding (Best value)
Rats are the little active animals. They require the safe environment, where they can do their natural behaviours, dig and burrow and tunnel. And you can create this enclosure habitat for your rats by using Kaytee All Natural Aspen Bedding.
With the extra soft, fluffy texture, no aromatic oils or inks included, rats can totally comfortable and safety to explore and play in this bedding.
These aspen fibers also keep the cage stay dry over time since they are able to absorb 3 times its weight in moisture. Each bag is packed with 12,5l but once it is opened, it can expand to 30l.
Pros:
- Odor control
- Absorbs three times its weight
- 99% dust-free
- 2,5 times expand when opened
Cons:
May have odors that you dislike.
#6 Kaytee Extreme Odor Control Pet Bedding (Neutralizes odor)
If you are looking for a solution that helps to reduce the bed odour and keep your rat’s cage dry for longer, then this product is what you should get.
You can be assured that it would not let you down. As the name suggested, it has an extremely ability of odor control that is guaranteed to keep the fresh smell for up to 14 days.
One more feature you could like about this product is its capable of absorbs 6 times more than its weight in liquid. It is twice as absorbent as wood shavings. It is also 99.9% dust-free for a cleaner cage.
This bedding will ensure the comfort of your pets due to its soft and fluffy texture, which encourage healthy burrowing or nesting behaviors.
Pros:
- 14 days odor control
- Impressive absorption ability
- Dust-free
- Quite easy to clean
Cons:
Once it gets wet, it dose not have aesthetic appeal.
#7 Vitakraft Fresh World Strength for Small Animals (Crumble Bedding)
Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding will be perfect choice for you if you are get tired about cleaning your rat’s cage daily. This bedding comprises of baking sold, which make it impressive absorption.
It can absorb up to three times its weight in liquid. Not only that, it is also locks the liquid. Thus, you will need to replace the bedding so often.
There are not many bedding product out there can control bad odor better than Vitacraft. The bedding can keep in the odor for around 24 days. It is 99.5% dust-free. It made from 100% recycled paper that eco-friendly, biodegradable and compostable.
Pros:
- Made from 100% non-toxic recycled paper
- Super Absorbent & Odor control
- Baking soda included, which makes it absorbs moisture quickly.
Cons:
Its light crumble texture that is not good for burrowing.
#8 Sunseed Small Animal Bedding (100 % recycled paper)
Just like other recycled paper-based bedding product, this bedding also has soft and cozy texture, which make your rats comfortable in their home and good for the sensitive feet of your pets. It is guarantees 99% dust-free fiber that does not harm your rat’s respiratory tract.
It can be able to absorb 3 times its weight in moisture. This bedding has a special formula that includes basking soda, which acts as an additive to keep the fresh smells. It will help you to control odor for up to 7 days before you need to replace the bedding.
Those tiny paper crumbles are quite weights a lot weighs than you could imagine. So it will absorbs more moisture and also dose not cause mess up.
Pros:
- Good texture
- Made from100 % recycled paper
- Dust-free
- Highly absorbed
Cons:
- It is a bit expensive
- Not as good as odor control like description
#9 Dr. Hemp All Natural Pet Bedding Bag (High Absorbency)
The next choice on this list is the natural bedding product by Dr.Hemp. This bedding is high quality product that made of hemp.
It is very high absorbency and can be able to absorb four times its own weight. This will make your cage stay dry longer than the other traditional bedding. It can last for 6-8 weeks before need to be replaced.
It is processed to be low dust that will limit respiratory problem in your pets. The industrial hemp is grown with limit pesticides or herbicides to ensure the minimum amount of chemical residues being transferred to your rats.
Dr. Hemp provides environmentally friendly products. The bedding is all-natural material, recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable, which is totally safe for your pet.
Pro:
- High Absorbency
- Natural and high quality material
- Chemical free
- Last for 6-8 weeks
Cons:
Small amount sold with high price
#10 Purina Yesterday’s News Unscented Paper Cat Litter (Effective odor control)
Yesterday’s News Cat Litter Bedding is a paper based product that 99.7% dust free. Actually, this cat litter bedding is specifically made for cats, but it can also be a good product for rats.
The pallets texture is very soft. It is not contain scented and also no harmful chemicals. Its capable to absorbs 3 times the moisture by mass than traditional clay based litter. Due to that, it is also can keep the fresh smell after a long time.
Pros:
- Good quality with the reasonable price
- Great absorbency
- No added chemicals.
Cons:
Dose not have aesthetic appeal.
#11 Oxbow pet Bedding (99.9% Dust Free)
Oxbow pet bedding is made of 100% pure, never-printed paper. If you are finding the bedding that creates the healthy and comfortable environment for your pets, Oxbow’s Pure Comfort Natural is a clean, safe, and ultra-soft bedding material.
It has been known as the ability of absorbency up to 800 percent of its weight in moisture. It provides superb odor control. These things allow users to infrequent bedding changes.
One more plus of this product is that it comes in a very compact bag but can expand more than 250% itself once opened. It is processed with specially formulated to be 99.9% dust free, with minimal small particles.
Pros:
- 100% pure paper bedding
- 99,9% dust free
- 800% moisture absorption
- Expand more than 250% in volume
Cons:
It tends to clumps and sticks that difficult to clean.
#12 Healthy Pet HPCC Natural Bedding (Long lasting odor control)
Not similar to wood chip beddings, wood pulp brings a lot of benefits. This product from Healthy pet is one of the most common bedding options. It contains the soft pieces that will absorbs 2 times more than shavings and keep the dry, cozy home for rats.
The most impressive point of this bedding is its capable to suppress the terrible smell and ammonia odor from rat’s waste. This feature make it can last longer and less requires to be cleaned than regular paper bedding products.
Healthy Pet HPCC Natural Bedding provides a comfortable warm nest that allows rats to do their instinctive behaviors such as nesting and burrowing. This product is compressed and packed in a 12,5L bag, and it can expands 2,5 times when opened.
Pros:
- 99% dust free
- Absorb 3 times it weight in liquid
- Long lasting and high quality
- Suppress the bed smell
- Affordable
- Made from recycle, biodegradable material
Cons:
- No chemical-free guarantee in the description of this bedding
- Some inconsistency have been occur
#13 Fresh News Paper Small Animal Bedding (Non Allergenic)
This is one of a few bedding products that can be able to quickly eliminate the odors thank to baking soda and Ammonia Locker Technology keeping the fresh habitat for longer.
You can completely rest your mind to use it since Fresh News Paper Bedding is made of non-toxic recycled paper that can be composted, biodegradable and incinerate after use.
Beside, it has the soft and fluffy texture, what make your rats comfortable to run around with their sensitive feet on it. Also, because of its high absorbency rate, you will not need to change it frequently. A bag of product can be last for quite long time, approximately 3 months.
Pros:
- Ammonia Locker Technology keeps down the urine smell
- Made from non-toxic recycled paper
- High absorbency
Cons:
- No dust-free guaranteed. Some user complain that it is quite dust and messy
- Pretty gross when they get soggy.
#14 Small Pet Select Natural Paper Bedding (No irritants)
This is absolutely one of the most popular products when it comes to safe and comfort able bedding for rats. It is guaranteed 100% sale that is manufactured by pure, unbleached, never been printed paper. It is made in USA with free of any chemicals and additives.
Not only that, it create the super soft surface in the cage that ensure the optimal comfort for your pets. It is also good at absorbency moisture as well and thus you would not have to worry about daily cleaning the cage.
It comes in a compact bag with high volume. With a 178L bag, this bedding can fill 12 large litter boxes, expands 3 times as its packed size.
Pros:
- Encourage burrowing and nesting behaviors
- 100% natural and safe material
- Reasonable price
- Dust-free
Cons:
Super small packaging makes it difficult to take out
| Top Sales | Product Link Related to Article | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | Oxbow Animal Health Oxbow Hay Western Timothy Hay | from $19.12 |
 | Kaytee FortiDiet ProHealth Rat/Mouse Food, 5 lbs. | from $8.49 |
 | Niteangel Small Animal Activity Toy, Fun Pet Balls | from $8.99 |
 | Kaytee Clean & Cozy Natural Small Animal Bedding | from $14.99 |
 | Living World Nibblers Corn Husk Pet Chew, Carrot | from $5.60 |
What To Look For The Best Rat Bedding?
#1 Liquid Absorption
Your rats will pee and poop and spill water inside the cage and you will not want to clean the cage everyday. So getting something that is highly absorbency is absolutely necessary.
You will not have to change it frequently as bad odors and fluids are eliminated. Make sure that the bedding you choose can absorb at least 3 times strength its weight in liquid.
#2 Odor Control
The best bedding should have the odor control ability. Even you get the good absorbency bedding, you also could get the smelly situations.
Scented beddings, however, are usually contained chemicals. These chemicals can lead to the risk for respiratory system of your rat.
Getting the bedding products that are offer great odor control. Some bedding will provide odor control that eliminates odors for up to 14 days.
#3 Dust-free rat bedding
Your rats could easily get respiratory problems in the environment full of dust. Not only that, the dust bedding also cause mess and difficult to clean as well. Try to get bedding which is less dust as possible.
#4 Size
The size of bedding you need to use will depend on the size of your rat, the number of rats you are keeping and the size of your cage. It is obvious that the more number of rats you have, the large amount of bedding you need.
Rats are the active animals; they require enough room for moving around ad playing. They will feel most comfortable in the cage with the right size of bedding that allows them easy and free movements.
#5 Safety material
Your rats can be able to know if their bedding is toxic and harm them, so it is your responsibility to choose some thing that completely safe for them. All the bedding, which are organic, free from any artificial chemicals, do not contain scented or dyes are good for the health of rats.
It is always better to choose the eco-friendly rat bedding. Trying to go with something natural, recyclable, biodegradable and compostable environmentally friendly products.
#6 Comfort
Replicating the natural habitat is one of the best ways to get your rats comfortable and less scared in their new home. Thus, you should look for the bedding that helps them sleep and nest comfortably.
The soft, fluffy fibers also give rats a change of burrowing and digging to create their nests.
What Are The Popular Bedding Types For Rat?
#1 Sawdust
Sawdust is a specialized cage liner for hamsters, the price is not high and 1 bag can be used for a long time
The advantage of sawdust is good absorption, the aroma of the wood is pleasant. If the winter is cold you can put a little thick mulch to make the baby warmer. In the summer, you can spread a thin layer just enough to absorb.
The downside is that too long can make your baby yellow, foul-smelling and will cause your baby dangerous diseases such as mold.
#2 Sand
This is a cage liner for a hamster in the form of seeds, the same price as sawdust, but not much, faster and more expensive than sawdust. However it can last longer than sawdust.
The advantage of this liner is to cool the hamster, making it comfortable, and free of feathers. This seed absorbs extremely well, can last 1-2 weeks
The downside of the liner is that for a long time it will be thick or sticky and stick to the hair, when you play it, you can hear the noise coming around.
#3 Pellet
This is a common substrate for rabbits, porcupines and hamsters. It has a low cost and is quite popular.
The advantage of pellet is very good absorption, aroma and deodorization are quite good.
The downside of it is to be soft and stink for a long time, making your own rat sticky. It doesn’t look as aesthetically pleasing and hygienic as other types of sandblasting.
Final Verdict
We care deeply about your rat’s health and their comfort and this is why we list here all the bedding products that we assign the best on the markets. We focus on every detail, the pros and cons of each bedding in the hope that you can create a hygienic, dry and fresh environment for your adorable pet rats.
We have put together fourteen of the best options in this list in order to make things easier for you. A high quality bedding product will go a long way for to ensure the enclosure habitat in which your small rats can thrive. Do not tank a rick to choose any un-known bedding out there.