Hemp matts

[cloudy]

Does anybody have a recommendation as to where to buy hemp matts from? I was also wondering how you remove them once they are wet? I imagine the burrows will be dislodged when removing the matt and I cannot think how to remove them.

[arnoldshirl]

Originally Posted by cloudy

Does anybody have a recommendation as to where to buy hemp matts from? I was also wondering how you remove them once they are wet? I imagine the burrows will be dislodged when removing the matt and I cannot think how to remove them.

I did see Hemp Matts on Amazon.com. I don't have any personal knowledge of using them though. Sorry I couldn't be of much help except to let you know I saw them on Amazon.

[Pebbles82]

Hello. I prefer the ones from Rodipet - they are not quite as thick to cut and good quality. Before that I used to get the Hugro ones from Zooplus. They're not all the same - some are terrible quality and shed like crazy or smell funny! I like the rodipet ones best - but it depends what you're using them for. Mine don't get wet. I used them on top of a shelf or a house roof (to cushion any falls so they don't land on something hard). Or for a bit of insulation on top of the house in winter. Or to keep the shelf clean and dry. I have never had a hamster pee on them. I did have a water bottle leak on one once, and then you can either dry it out or bin it if it's gone funny, and cut a new piece. They are quite big mats and you just cut what you want off them.

It sounds like you don't have a house and your hamster lives in a burrow so not sure how you're thinking of using them.

This is the rodipet one I get usually - easy to cut and not too thick

Rodipet® Hemp Mat 100 x 40 cm

This is the Hugro one - also good but thicker and harder to cut (but not impossible) - depends what you want really

Hemp Floor for Small Pets | zooplus.co.uk

[cloudy]

Originally Posted by arnoldshirl

I did see Hemp Matts on Amazon.com. I don't have any personal knowledge of using them though. Sorry I couldn't be of much help except to let you know I saw them on Amazon.

Thank you for your help.

[cloudy]

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

Hello. I prefer the ones from Rodipet - they are not quite as thick to cut and good quality. Before that I used to get the Hugro ones from Zooplus. They're not all the same - some are terrible quality and shed like crazy or smell funny! I like the rodipet ones best - but it depends what you're using them for. Mine don't get wet. I used them on top of a shelf or a house roof (to cushion any falls so they don't land on something hard). Or for a bit of insulation on top of the house in winter. Or to keep the shelf clean and dry. I have never had a hamster pee on them. I did have a water bottle leak on one once, and then you can either dry it out or bin it if it's gone funny, and cut a new piece. They are quite big mats and you just cut what you want off them.

It sounds like you don't have a house and your hamster lives in a burrow so not sure how you're thinking of using them.

This is the rodipet one I get usually - easy to cut and not too thick

Rodipet® Hemp Mat 100 x 40 cm

This is the Hugro one - also good but thicker and harder to cut (but not impossible) - depends what you want really

Hemp Floor for Small Pets | zooplus.co.uk

Thank you for all these tips. I was thinking of using a hemp matt to line a wooden cage. I thought of using sticky back plastic but read on here it is not suitable. I read some people line the bottom of the cage with hemp matts. Is there something else that would be better to line a cage with? I will be painting it with sealant before using it.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by cloudy

Thank you for all these tips. I was thinking of using a hemp matt to line a wooden cage. I thought of using sticky back plastic but read on here it is not suitable. I read some people line the bottom of the cage with hemp matts. Is there something else that would be better to line a cage with? I will be painting it with sealant before using it.

As long as you give it a couple of coats of plastikote (tubs not spray) you don't need to line it.
Some hamsters pee on the base, especially the burrowing dwarfs so lining it with a hemp mat wouldn't be a good idea in my opinion.
Sticky back plastic wouldn't be safe because a hamster may chew the mat and the tape.
Sand, food and allsorts drops to the base of a cage. A hemp mat would make it more difficult to scoop up during a spot clean.

If you really feel the need to line it then boredom breaker mats may be an option because they're safe for chewing and you can remove or replace one when spot cleaning without disturbing the whole set up.

If you have a hamster like our Gertie who will only pee in a hyacinth/seagrass type tunnel or Pringle tube (to my OH's delight) then a boredom breaker mat may be an invitation to be used as a pee spot.

[cloudy]

Originally Posted by Ria P

As long as you give it a couple of coats of plastikote (tubs not spray) you don't need to line it.
Some hamsters pee on the base, especially the burrowing dwarfs so lining it with a hemp mat wouldn't be a good idea in my opinion.
Sticky back plastic wouldn't be safe because a hamster may chew the mat and the tape.
Sand, food and allsorts drops to the base of a cage. A hemp mat would make it more difficult to scoop up during a spot clean.

If you really feel the need to line it then boredom breaker mats may be an option because they're safe for chewing and you can remove or replace one when spot cleaning without disturbing the whole set up.

If you have a hamster like our Gertie who will only pee in a hyacinth/seagrass type tunnel or Pringle tube (to my OH's delight) then a boredom breaker mat may be an invitation to be used as a pee spot.

Thank you for this. I did not realise a sealant would be enough to keep the wood safe from urine. That is a lot easier for me now. I am having an enclosure made from manor pet house. They said it takes 6 to 8 weeks to arrive.

Haha, that is funny about Gertie!

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by cloudy

Thank you for this. I did not realise a sealant would be enough to keep the wood safe from urine. That is a lot easier for me now. I am having an enclosure made from manor pet house. They said it takes 6 to 8 weeks to arrive.

Haha, that is funny about Gertie!

I just looked up this company. I like their designs with a front opening door which makes interacting with a hamster so much easier than a top opening door.

[cloudy]

Originally Posted by Ria P

I just looked up this company. I like their designs with a front opening door which makes interacting with a hamster so much easier than a top opening door.

I liked that too. The only thing is it would be hard to add a lot of bedding if using the front opening door.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by cloudy

I liked that too. The only thing is it would be hard to add a lot of bedding if using the front opening door.

You could add a piece of wood from the inside or ask them to customize it by placing a smaller, front opening door higher up.