Fleece blanket for hamsters? + pellet bedding

Esmy · 10-09-2014, 07:20 PM

I cut up a washcloth-sized piece of fleece for my mouse and he absolutely loves it! He used to sleep in his pod, but now covers himself up in his little blanket. It's so cute and funny because the fleece is black and so is he.

Anyway.. I wonder if hamsters would like fleece the same way my mouse does? Any thoughts?

Also, I am slowly switching my hamsters to pellet bedding because I've found some things I like about it. A few advantages are: it doesn't stick to their fur, the wheels don't slide around as much, it doesn't stick to Jerry mouse's fleece blanket like a magnet, it doesn't end up all over the carpet (from sticking to my shirt then falling off, or falling off the hamster when I pick him/her up). The disadvantages are the overall cost, and lack of digging ability. I figured I could make up for the digging issue (which they don't do anyway) in the playpens/roaming.

I use a crinkle paper bedding for Oliver's hideout, and that doesn't stick to him the way the Kaytee does, but if they like the fleece, that would be even better than the paper bedding. Would love to know your thoughts!

NiceCrocs · 10-09-2014, 07:32 PM

Fleece can be very dangerous; if they chew it and swallow even a little piece it could cause internal blockages, and the fibers can act the same way fluffy bedding does: wrapping around limbs and teeth.

As for pellets, my opinion is that it should only be used if you don't have any other safe substrates available to you, or if a medical condition prevents you from using other substrates. Hamsters are hard-wired to dig and burrow and I think the option should always be available to them.

Sorry, I can't get behind either of those ideas unfortunately

BrainGirl · 10-09-2014, 07:57 PM

I'd stay away from fleece as well, that fuzzy side can be "defuzzed" by a determined burrower and you'd have the same problem as with fluffy bedding.

As for pellets, I have used paper pellets as a bottom layer under other substrates but ultimately I've found myself switching back to more digging-friendly beddings like shavings or Boxo. I do like to cover those with a thick layer of Eco-Bedding crinkled paper because I find that it doesn't stick to even the longest-haired hams, it doesn't really stick to me, and it kind of tangles up with itself so it isn't readily kicked out

Oh, and it's super easy to burrow through

Bailey93 · 10-09-2014, 08:27 PM

I have 2 bins attached for my Syrian's cage. The smaller bin (which contains her wheel and a small platform) I've considered using the pellet substrate, but she would still have her regular paper bedding in the large bin so I wouldn't see a problem with that....but using only the pellets would take away their natural burrowing instincts.

Esmy · 10-09-2014, 08:34 PM

I was under the impression fleece was safe for hamsters. It's used for Guinea pigs, rats, and mice.

I wouldn't mix pellets with the Kaytee. It would defeat the purpose of the benefits. None of my hamsters burrow with lots of bedding, and it makes the wheels harder to turn. I wish there was a better solution. I really don't like any of the light paper beddings. If it didn't cause health issues, sand could be neat.

BrainGirl · 10-09-2014, 08:49 PM

Fleece can be safe for Chinchillas as well. The only thing they all have in common is that none of them pouch things, or not to the extent that hamsters do. Could that maybe be the difference?

Pellets are fine, it just depends on what your hamster likes. I use different substrates depending on my hamster's preferences. My current "herd" really likes burrowing (dwarfs and Syrians alike) and so I find that Eco-Bedding is a good top layer with just about anything under it as the absorbent layer. Shavings or pellets work well though I've found that they tend to get mixed with all the burrowing that goes on.

Esmy · 10-09-2014, 08:57 PM

That makes sense. I know people typically don't use fleece that way for hamsters but never thought about why, or why not.

I gave Penny a huge load of bedding recently (spread on both sides of the wheel) and she did dig for a day or two then stopped. I've tried it with the boys in the past, both Boxo and Kaytee. I've put dig boxes in the playpens and they ignore them, even if I put them in the dig boxes. Maybe just too many other things to do at that time.

By the way, I'm not making a case for these things and saying others should. I'm just trying to figure out what would work best for my situation. It's always a work in progress I guess.