Why buy fleece for your guinea pig's cage rather than traditional bedding products?

Picture Captions: 1) Full view of cage for my 2 guineas, Attila & Dauphine.  2) Dauphine modeling a fleece and sherpa cozy 3) View of the 2nd level of the cage.

1. Save money!

Fleece is reusable and washable, unlike shavings or paper products

For example, before I started using fleece cage linings and accessories for my two guineas, I used the Carefresh brand of recycled paper bedding.  The largest bag I could find at the local pet store was 60 liters and cost $21.99.  I would use around a third of the bag each time I cleaned my then 2X3 C&C cage, which generally occurred once a week.  The cost just kept adding up!  While shaving products are generally much cheaper than Carefresh and other brands, guineas are very sensitive to the aromatics in the shavings and can develop respiratory problems.  Clumps of wet shavings can also harbor an unsanitary living environment for your guineas.  Try to avoid using shavings as much as possible, for the sake of your guinea's health!

2. Save the environment!

Fleece can be used over and over again

Even though many bedding products today are made from recycled paper products (which is amazing!), they are ultimately thrown away each time the cage is cleaned.  The packaging that the bedding comes in (usually plastic) is also thrown away after use.

3. Save your guinea's sensitive feet!

Guinea pigs have very sensitive feet and can be injured easily

Cages with a wire grate bottom are NEVER recommended for use with guinea pigs!  Some traditional bedding products on the market are in the form of rough and hard pellets.  Although they are very absorbent, these can become uncomfortable after awhile for guineas that are very active.  Using fleece bedding and accessories throughout your guinea's cage will create a soft, comfortable surface for your guineas to live and play.  Just remember to consistently clip your guinea's nails, as no bedding surface will wear them down enough to keep their toes healthy.

Fleece is also a non-absorbent material, which means urine will not saturate the fleece.  It is important to have an absorbent material underneath your fleece bedding, such as towels or newspaper.  This will save your guineas from wet feet and allow them to have a dry and sanitary living environment! 

4. Save your own house!

Fleece comes in countless different colors and patterns...much more appealing than brown shavings or recycled paper products!  I recommend having two complete sets of fleece bedding and accessories to allow you to wash one set while you instantly replace the bedding in the cage with the other set.  You could even have two different colors/patterns on your fleece sets to allow you to change the look of your cage often. 

For example, I have one complete fleece bedding set that is giraffe printed fleece with black fleece accents.  I also have a second complete fleece bedding set that is zebra printed fleece with black fleece accents.  My C&C cage has black coroplast and black wire grids.  This color combination works well with the decor in my room and is perfect for my two sassy female guineas!

5. Save time!

Fleece is easier to maintain than traditional bedding products

Sweep or vacuum poops as needed on the surface of the fleece.  Guineas tend to fling shavings and other bedding products out of the cage as they play, leaving you to clean them up off the floor!  By using fleece, you virtually eliminate any mess on the outside of the cage. 

Cleaning the entire cage is also faster with fleece.  Simply shake off excess debris on the fleece outside (everything should be biodegradable), then stick in the washing machine and replace with your second set of fleece bedding.  If you only have one set, use the washing time to play with your guineas!  Cleaning a cage filled with other bedding products requires you to gather and dispose of all the wet bedding...which can often be a VERY messy process!  When I used Carefresh product before I switched to fleece, I usually had to recruit the help of my husband to clean our cage because it was really a two-person job.