Hello guys, i'm a recent hamster owner and i do not have places near me from which to get aspen or carefresh, but i've watched online that i could use some big chunks of cotton fabric as bedding.
is that safe? should i use that mixed with some toilet paper?
this is the url to the video i watched:
I personally wouldn't do it long term, but until you can find a store bought bedding that works. Make sure to check online for bedding! Just make sure the pieces are to big for them to pouch, dwarf hamsters will be fine with the size she has, but I would make them bigger for a Syrian.
I wouldn't recommend using anything that your pet can't really burrow in personally -
Pet wood chips
Dust extracted wood shavings
Wood based cat litter
if you can get them all works great for substrate!
If you're really struggling however, unscented toilet roll/tissue paper ripped up into a bunch of really small pieces works really well too!
Another option is making "Homemade carefresh" - You'll need several rolls of toilet roll and a really big bowl, but here's a tutorial! - https://youtu.be/kNz6fwEvrjs
I agree with the others that this really wouldn't be suitable or safe to use, it could get chewed & eaten & might cause blockages in your hams intestines or pouches.
If you don't have anything available locally can you buy your substrate online?
If you really are stuck as Chezzu said shredded plain white toilet tissue (lots of it!) is your best option.
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I think it is too risky, not to mention time-intensive. Even large pieces of fleece can be chewed as owners with fleece hammocks have sometimes found and had to remove them. Any cotton is too risk - the fibres do fray, especially if chewed and can wrap themselves round limbs. Fabric could also get compacted in their pouches. Although this owner finds it has worked for her - that is just until now and all hamsters are different.
There are good, cheap paper substrates available online by mail order. Fitch is great bedding (recycled paper) and is sold in bulk and works out very cheap. I bought the smallest 10kg bag at £16.99 and it's big but not too big to stick in a corner of our bedroom. So far it has lasted me about six months and I still haven't run out. The smaller 10kg bale costs £16.99. You can get double that amount for £20.99 although that size is out of stock at the moment. It is completely safe and hamsters seem to love out - ours takes it to line his nest with and digs in it. It is dust-free and hypoallergenic (it's just recycled food grade paper). It is like Carefresh but without the dust.
thank you all, i've been looking again all over and i managed to find some wood based cat litter and some dust extracted wood shavings, but the package doesn't specify which wood types it contains... should i avoid it?
If you state where you are in Portugal, we may be able to help. Pet Planet in the UK ship to Portugal, but I would imagine unless you are on the edge of the world, you should have a pet shop or pet supply/farm shop near enough? Try googling `pet shops in Portugal`. I found a few when I used google. One in Lagos.
Wood shavings are widely used but you should remove them from their packaging and break them up into an open bin to air them out a few weeks before use. Zooplus are a European company (German) and would possibly ship to your country?
On your original subject though, it`s not wise to use cotton materials in a hamster `s cage as they could be pouched, chewed or even ingested. You need to find a recycled paper or wood based substrate and use plain white toilet tissue for nesting.
Wood shavings are widely used but you should remove them from their packaging and break them up into an open bin to air them out a few weeks before use.
i found some "Versele-Laga - Natural Wood" but i can't find the wood types anywhere.. is that safe or should i try something else?
Washable bedding
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