Fitch bedding vs Kaytee C&C vs Carefresh white?

[babysecretyoyo]

Originally Posted by GhostsInSnow

I prefer Kaytee, it works out a little more expensive but I think it's softer and I've never found hard bits or had discoloured bales of Kaytee like I have with Fitch. My hammies seem to prefer it too

I actually found two to three blue bits like cut strips (saw a customer review on amazon showing the same thing found in her bag) in the Kaytee C&C, but for me it's fine since i will need to loosen up when i put them into the cage, so i basically check through the bedding before using it.

[babysecretyoyo]

Originally Posted by Fluffagrams

It's definitely Kaytee for us!

I usually use Megazorb but keep a supply of Kaytee for use in hospital and maternity cages. At one point I as using Fitch but after a disapponting few batches a couple of years ago, found Kaytee to be a much more suitable option for us.

Does megazorb have a texture of carefresh like rolled squeezed look? and Fitch is in between carefresh and kaytee texture or it is just similar to kaytee?

[babysecretyoyo]

Originally Posted by Kyrkogrimr

Have you tried fencing off a low substrate area around the wheel? You could use bendy bridges, or erinsanimals on YouTube made some mountain shaped walls out of card to go with a cage theme.

I might do some DIY hideout and fencing after this week (got deadlines and game match this week, busy busy busy). Maybe i can try to do fencing as you said! Just worry popsticles might stuck my robo's hands? Victoria Raechel once has her robo's arm stuck at some popsticles fence she made..

[Pebbles82]

I think Fitch and Kaytee are very similar. Although I find Fitch is more like toilet paper texture. You occasionally get the hard bit of paper or blue bit in Fitch but nothing serious and it doesn't matter. They did go through a phase of the paper being a different colour - more beige and not as soft. At the time I phoned them and they said it depends what they've been recycyling at the time. Maybe they had a few complaints as every bag I've had since has been white and soft!

I would try a bag of both to see the difference as it's hard to describe. I find the Kaytee sort of denser - maybe because it's been compressed in the back. You can loosen it up - but it sort of sticks together more (not bad just different). Whereas Fitch is quite "loose" but you can compress it down if you want.

I have a couple of bags of Kaytee CC as emergency supplies for when I run low on Fitch, which always seems to happen when I need to do a cage cleanout and a new bag takes a few days to arrive.

They are both fine. I don't think either is better than the other. Fitch is recylced food grade paper - so it is just paper. I am not sure of Kaytee CC is paper or cellulose. Carefresh is cellulose so it has been through a lot more processes.

[Pebbles82]

Fitch is hypoallergenic. I think Kaytee C&C is as well. Not sure about Carefresh as there has been the odd case of someone thinking a hamster was allergic to Carefresh.

I am still a Fitch fan Of the Kaytee C&C I prefer the white. The texture of the coloured ones is slightly different. The "natural" brown one is ok but a slightly different texture. The red coloured one I found had an ink smell but it wore off when aired out for a while.

You need to be careful though as some colours of Kaytee C&C are also scented so always avoided any scented bedding as that is bad for hamsters.

Kaytee C&C didn't used to be available in the Uk - that is quite recent. I think it changed as well because it used to be like strips and now it is more small pieces of paper a bit like Fitch.

Both are absolutely fine. But when filling a 100 cm cage from empty I can easily use a third of a 10kg bag of Fitch. So it works out a lot cheaper. And after that the rest of the bag lasts ages with spot cleaning mostly.

[babysecretyoyo]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Fitch is hypoallergenic. I think Kaytee C&C is as well. Not sure about Carefresh as there has been the odd case of someone thinking a hamster was allergic to Carefresh.

I am still a Fitch fan Of the Kaytee C&C I prefer the white. The texture of the coloured ones is slightly different. The "natural" brown one is ok but a slightly different texture. The red coloured one I found had an ink smell but it wore off when aired out for a while.

You need to be careful though as some colours of Kaytee C&C are also scented so always avoided any scented bedding as that is bad for hamsters.

Kaytee C&C didn't used to be available in the Uk - that is quite recent. I think it changed as well because it used to be like strips and now it is more small pieces of paper a bit like Fitch.

Both are absolutely fine. But when filling a 100 cm cage from empty I can easily use a third of a 10kg bag of Fitch. So it works out a lot cheaper. And after that the rest of the bag lasts ages with spot cleaning mostly.

thank you! noted! i might just try out fitch in my next batch!

[Otaku]

I realise that this thread is old however rather than begin a new one I feel this is a relevant thread and hope you can advise me.

After a good 5 years or so without a darling hermeseta (my nickname for hamsters) I am finally looking to adopt.

The last time I had hamsters I also had a rabbit and used Megazorb for everyone, but now I have absolutely no pets so am looking for a different substrate which will not come in such a large bag.
Having looked at this forum Kaytee Clean & Cozy is highly popular however the later reviews on Amazon are rather worrying (contains a chemical known to cause cancer ).

As a result I'm disinclined to choose it, but it is easily the winner of this poll.
So, Kaytee or Fitch, is the difference in quality worth the health risk for using the former?


babysecretyoyo, Megazorb is used for (horse) stables so the bag is BIG. If you have the storage space then it is soft and absorbent, it's a nice substrate but it gets dusty down at the bottom of the bag.

[Ithuviel]

so nice to have the possibility of choice. I'm lucky if i can get white paper bedding at all

[alpacassei]

Theres no real health risk with Kaytee, the UK packaging doesn't even have the warning. I definitely recommend it over other substrates though for the softness. Fitch is the second best choice tho

[Otaku]

I took the poll results and advice, finally ordering the Kaytee Clean & Cosy white bedding (85l) yesterday. It should arrive tomorrow or Friday. I'm keen to get set up in preparation. (^_^)