Substrate and Nesting Material

The material you put at the bottom of your hamster's cage to soak up wee and mess is called substrate, while bedding/nesting material is what you give them to make a nest with. You should clean out your hamsters cage once every two weeks to a month... not every week as is often reccomended as this causes high levels of stress to your hamster.

Substrate and Bedding

Substrates

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Woodshavings

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Finacard

Woodshavings are the substrate most people first think of when they think of hamster cages, but it often isn't the best as it has lots of associated problems.

Pros: Cheap, reasonably absorbent and easy to acquire, somewhat allows your hamster to make tunnels/burrows.

Cons: Can cause respiratory problems and allergies in both hamsters and humans

Finacard is a surprisingly popular carboard bedding that can be bought in big bales. It's what I use for my hamster, and it can be bought cheaply and delivered for free from

Pros: Cheap, very absorbent, comes in big bales, allows your hamster to make tunnels/burrows.

Cons: Can get some quite large bits of cardboard in there.

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I'Carefreshm another title

IBack 2 Nature'm another title

Back 2 nature is a recycled paper bedding that looks like grey pellets. It doesn't allow your hamster to burrow at all and gets used up very quickly.

Pros: Absorbent, eco friendly, not too dusty.

Cons: Expensive, doesn't go far, doesn't allow your hamster to burrow.

Carefresh is a popular alternative to shavings which can be brought in both bright colours and more natural looking ones. It's a bit expensive and varies in quality from batch to batch.

Pros: Comes in lots of different colours, soft, reasonably absorbent, comes in different sized packs.

Cons: Quite expensive, varying quality, can be quite dusty.

Bedding

IToilet Paperm another title

This is quite literally ripped up toilet paper/loo roll. Hamsters love it and it's really soft and warm, making a lovely cosy nest for your little one! You can even give a few whole sheets for them and let them tear it up themselves. (Don't use scented toilet paper)

Pros: Free (practically), soft, warm, cosy.

Cons: Nothing really.

Fluffy Beddinganother title

This stuff may look soft and cosy, but it's a massive killer of hamsters and other small pets, despite how 'safe' it says it is on the packet. If it looks like cotton wool, run a mile because if your hamster ingests even a little bit, it can get stuck in its guts and kill it, or, fibres can get wrapped round little toes/legs and lead to serious injury. Don't take the risk.

Pros: Nothing really.

Cons: Can cause serious illness or injury.