7 Best Beddings and Substrate For Ferrets

Ferrets are animals that spend most of their days cuddled up in bed and sleeping.

They love to take a nap in cozy places, and you can find your ferret mostly huddled up in your sock drawer, your blanket or your pillows.

In this article I have added 7 of the best ferret bedding available today.

7 Best Ferret Bedding – My Top 7 Picks

1. Carefresh Small Animal Bedding, Natural

This amazing bedding by Carefresh is literally a Godsend. I mean, I cannot stop raving about it.

The product is paper-based, which is actually the safest kind of bedding for your ferret. It is completely dust-free, so you do not need to worry about your ferret getting sick.

The Carefresh Complete Pet Bedding has great absorbing properties and is great at controlling the odor.

The best thing:

This product is ridiculously soft and really comfortable for your little fuzzy ferret buddy. It is super easy to clean, and you do not have to clean your ferret cage every day.

This product is available in different sizes, and you can buy 10 liters, 14 liters, 23 liters, 30 liters, 50 liters, or 60 liters. Depends on how many ferrets you have.

Buy this amazing ferret bedding now, and you will definitely become a fan. I know, I am.

Pros

• Highly Absorbent
• Low dust
• Easy to Clean
• Great Odor Control Properties

Cons

• May Have a Slight Smell

2. Kaytee Clean & Cozy Small Animal Bedding

Kaytee Pet Products are known for their high quality and well this animal bedding is no different.

The Clean and Cozy Bedding has great odor control properties and has a negligible amount of dust. It is really absorbent and can absorb two times more liquids than normal wood shavings.

The best thing about this product is that it is made up of soft granules that will make your ferret very comfortable in its cage. This product is available is for different sizes, 12.3 liters, 24.6 liters, 49.2 liters, and 85 liters.

This amazing bedding by Kaytee is definitely one of the best ferret beddings in the market today. You can also use this bedding for other small animals such as guinea pigs, rats, and hamsters.

The product is safe for all small animals. All you need to do is fluff the product with your hands, and it turns into a cloud. The white color of the bedding makes it easy to spot the more soiled areas.

Pros

• Safe for small animals
• Soft texture
• Highly absrobent
• White color

Cons

• New formula is getting mixed reviews.

3. Vitakraft Fresh World Ultra Strength Small Animal Bedding

This is another amazing product that is made up of 100 percent recycled paper.

So this fantastic bedding is not just safe for your ferret but also eco-friendly. This product from Vitakraft has everything that you need in a good ferret bedding. It has a negligible amount of dust, non-toxic, is super easy to clean, and is unbleached.

This ferret bedding contains an odor blocking formula that ensures that your ferret’s cage smells fresh up to two weeks.

The granules in this ferret bedding are extremely soft and absorb about three times their weight in liquid.

The product is available in two different sizes, you can buy the 975 inches one or if you are looking for something larger than the 2130 cubic inch will suffice.

In a time where it is nearly impossible to find the bedding that won’t make your ferret sick, this product is defiantly a miracle worker.

Pros

• Highly absorbent
• Neglible dust
• Eco-friendly
• Easy to clean

Cons

• Slightly expensive

4. Kaytee Clean & Cozy Extreme Odor Control Small Animal Bedding

This is another incredible bedding by Kaytee.

The best thing about this bedding is that you can also use it for other animals excluding ferrets such as gerbils, Syrian hamsters, Guinea Pigs, Chinchillas, Rabbits, Rats, and Dwarf hamsters.

This product is about two times more absorbent than wood shavings and is ideal for ferrets. It has a negligible amount of dust, and its odor control properties are impressive. You do not have to change the bedding for up to two weeks.

The Kaytee Extreme Odor Control Bedding is available in two different sizes, 40 liters, and 65 liters.

This product is designed to neutralize the pungent ammonia orders, which will help keep your ferret’s cage smelling fresh.

No one likes to sleep in a stinky bed and nor does your ferret. The product is made up of small granules of wood.

Pros

• Dust free
• Odor control properties
• Great for other small animals
• Safe for ferrets

Cons

• Strong scent

5. Small Pet Select Premium Paper Small Animal Bedding

Small pet select is a great company with amazing products, and this natural paper bedding is no different.

The best thing:

The bedding is not just good for ferrets, but it’s great for rabbits and guinea pigs as well.

The product is made up of all organic materials and does not include any kind of artificial additives or harmful chemicals.

The small granules of the natural paper bedding are very soft and comfortable for ferrets.

This product is made up of paper as the name suggests, which means that it’s completely safe to use and does not have any side effects. It is made from pure unbleached printed paper.

This ferret bedding absorbs three times more liquids as compared to its package size. This product is available in two different sizes 56 liters and 178 liters.

Pros

• Highly absorbent properties
• Very soft
• Safe for ferrets
• Made up of unbleached paper

Cons

• not too effective for odor control

6. Kaytee Aspen Small Animal Bedding

Seems like Kaytee makes the best bedding for ferrets.

My product list if full of Kaytee products, but you can’t really blame me, the quality of Kaytee beddings is just amazing. This product by Kaytee is all-natural and only contains organic materials. It has no artificial additives or fragrances added to it.

The product has no aromatic oils or inks. You can buy this hardwood bedding in 4 different sizes, four cu ft., 8 cu ft., 1200 cu in, and 3200 cu in.

You can also use this bedding to layer the bottom of the cages of other small animals such as rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits.

The aspen shavings in the product are specifically processed to remove excess dust and wood debris found in other kinds of bedding.

Aspen bedding is biodegradable and can be easily disposed of. The aspen bedding is much easier than paper bedding to spread as well as clean up.

Pros

• Bio-degradable
• All-natural
• Dust-free
• Debris free

Cons

• Difficult to store

7. Carefresh Shavings Plus Pet Bedding

Carefresh is known for its high-quality products and this pet bedding does not disappoint. This product contains all the qualities that you look for in ferret bedding.

It has amazing odor control properties and keeps your cage smelling fresh for about five days. The product is about 60 percent more absorbent than regular shavings alone.

The shavings included in this product are extremely soft and very comfortable for your little fuzzy friend.

This amazing bedding by Carefresh is available in a beautiful blue color that makes your ferret cage look funky and cute.

Unfortunately, the product does have a little amount of dust so it might not be ideal for all kinds of ferrets. You can also use this bedding for other small pets such as rats, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, and hamsters, etc.

The product is also great for people who are on a budget.

Pros

• Beautiful clue color
• Soft
• Safe for ferrets
• Odor control properties

Cons

• It is not dust-free

Buyer’s Guide

Ferrets have claws, and they do not shy away from using them. The bedding of ferrets should be durable so that it is not damaged when ferrets dig into it using their claws.

They do this in order to locate the perfect spot. The bedding of ferrets needs also to be soft because they love to snuggle up in soft material.

If they do not find the material soft enough, they will find another place to sleep which will probably be your sock drawer. The most popular and common type of bedding material for ferrets among ferret owners is fleece.

Fleece is not only very soft but also very affordable and cheap. It is also very durable, so it has all the characteristics of amazing bedding for ferrets. Most of the ferret bedding throughout the world is made up of fleece.

Choosing the material for bedding is important, but selecting the right kind of bedding is also very vital. If you keep your fuzzy friend in a cage, then a ferret hammock is your best bet.

Hammocks hang in the cage and then swing from side to side leaving space at the bottom of the cage for other things such as food dishes or lire boxes. The cage is also much easier to clean when there is a hammock hanging on top.

Hammocks are also amazing for ferrets as they offer the ferret the best sleeping position shaping their little bodies. If you do not have space in the cage to hand the hammock, you can always put the bedding on the floor of the cage but just make sure that it is away from the litter box. It might not be as great as a hanging, but some ferrets find it to be great.

There are many hammocks available in the market that are made to cater to the needs of ferrets specifically.

You can easily purchase them at any pet store or even go ahead and buy them online. You need to be sure that there are no holes in the bedding as holes really attract ferrets. They can easily crawl into the holes and then end up hurting themselves.

You should check the bedding at least every week and the best time to carry out the inspection is when you are cleaning the cage. One day in the week just remove all the bedding from the cage and then clean the cage from top to bottom.

Why Do You Need Good Bedding for your Ferret?

It’s very important to provide your ferret with good bedding.

• They need a soft place to rest and sleep
• It will provide them with comfort and warmth
• It absorbs urine and helps keep the ferret cage clean for a longer period
• Wool blankets or polar fleece are recommended for the bedding, especially when it comes to kits (baby ferret)
• Ferrets need a place where they can remain free from diseases and feel secure and safe
• Investment in good ferret bedding will help you save money that you will need later if your ferret gets sick from poor cage conditions

Types of Ferret Cage Bedding

Wood Shavings Ferret Bedding

Wood shavings are actually the most common type of bedding material used by ferret owners over the years.

Today, the case if a little different.

Ferret owners nowadays are much more conscious about their little fuzzy friends and what is better for them.

Beware!

Not all kind of wood shavings is safe for your ferret. For example, wood shavings of Cedar contain oils that make your ferrets really sick. It may suit other small animals, but for ferrets, it’s a BIG NO!

Some ferret owners favor aspen as it is budget-friendly. It might become a problem if your ferret needs a trimming.

Wood particles can cause the hair of your ferret to get matted which can cause pain in the crotch area. So wood shavings are something you should definitely avoid.

Wood shavings do not absorb urine and water. It becomes really challenging to keep the ferret cage clean as you have to replace their bedding again and again. Ferrets are just like your children, and you don’t want your kid sleeping in a bed that smells like feces.

Pine Shaving and Cedar Chips as Ferret Bedding

Pine shavings and cedar are actually two of the most common ferret bedding materials out there.

Recently, there have been some concerns among ferret owners regarding the safety of these materials.

Are pine shavings and cedar really toxic for ferrets?

Concerns about Pine Shavings and Cedar Chips

The only reason that pine shavings and cedar ships are popular among ferret owners is that they have great odor absorbent properties.

They also possess insecticidal properties that help them repel insects and bugs and even lice. Softwood shavings include aromatic hydrocarbon phenols which make them smell good.

Unfortunately, these two materials have a rather drastic effect on the sensitive respiratory system of ferrets. They cause problems such as allergic response, inflammation as well as asthma, or even changes in the liver.

Effect of Pine Shavings and Cedar Chips on Ferrets

Many studies have been conducted by experts to test the effect of wood shavings on ferrets. Studies showed that ferrets that were housed on wood shaving showcased dramatic changes in their liver enzymes.

This effect was seen on lab animals, so the consequences of wood shavings on pets are not very evident. It’s best to avoid ferret bedding made up of cedar chips and pine shavings.

Pine shavings as discussed before release volatile compounds, so materials such as kiln-dried pine that do not release any such compounds are safe for ferret use.

Pine shavings and cedar chips have also been linked to skin irritation in ferrets. They cause allergies as well as itching.

Paper Ferret Bedding

When it comes to paper products, they are much more expensive compared to wood shavings.

You might need to spend some dough, to protect your ferret.

Paper-based ferret products are the best. But, you need to be careful while picking out a paper product as they all differ in quality.

Not all paper products are a great choice for your ferrets. Some of them have a rough texture that might do more harm than good.

And, some paper products are not that great at absorbing urine, and they smell extremely bad.

When picking out paper-based products make sure that the paper bedding is dust free and does not cause any allergic reactions.

It is too dusty, it will cause respiratory issues, and is awful for your poor little fuzzy ferret. Cleaning such bedding will also be very tricky. Still, paper bedding is actually the safest ferret bedding that you can bet on.

Paper-based products come in all different sizes and colors so do not let such differences confuse you, as they are more or less all the same.

The packaging of paper bedding is rather tight, so even though it might seem like a small package, trust me it’s good enough, as it will most probably expand when you will take it out and place in it the cage of your ferret.

Paper bedding absorbs all sorts of water contents such as urine plus it is also very easy to clean. It all really depends on the quality of your paper-based ferret bedding. Ferret paper beddings are also much more safe and comfortable as compared to wood shavings. While buying your ferret’s bedding, you should defiantly go for the paper-based one.

How to Convert Recycled Newspaper into Ferret Bedding?

Things Needed

• Shredded Newspaper
• Pair of scissors
• Large resealable container

What to do?

1. Lay down your old newspaper on a flat horizontal surface.
2. Open the pages of the Newspaper and then stack them on top of each other.
3. Get some sharp scissors and begin to cut.
4. Cut the newspaper stack in half and then rotate all the sections.
5. Each strip should be about half an inch long.
6. Keep on cutting several stacks of paper to create a large amount of bedding for your ferret.
7. Pick up the newspaper cutting and place them inside the cage of your ferret.
8. Store the leftover newspaper cuttings in a container.
9. Monitor your ferret’s behavior for the first few days, to see whether it ingests the cuttings or not.

Why Use Newspaper Cuttings for Ferrets?

Newspaper bedding is safe for ferrets. It does not produce any dust that could otherwise affect the respiratory system of the ferrets.

It is Eco-friendly as you are recycling it multiple times and this type of bedding is also readily available. Newspapers, on the other hand, are printed using ink that might be toxic for ferrets.

The ink loses its threat once it has dried. To be on the safe side, I would advise you to look for newspapers that are printed with soybean-based ink. Just look for the soy ink symbol outside as well as inside the newspaper.

Fleece Ferret Bedding

Fleece is another great option for ferret bedding.

It is not the most popular material out there, but the ferret owners that do use it, cannot stop raving about it.

Fleece is a very soft and comfortable material that your ferret will love sleeping in as much as you love yours. If this kind of bedding has a thick under-layer and is properly treated, it works as a fantastic absorbent.

You can reuse fleece, and it is much cheaper as compared to sawdust. Fleece is a great option for the long run. You can put two layers of towels as well as two layers of fleece underneath your ferret.

Sawdust Ferret Bedding

Sawdust is very cheap and a rather popular choice among ferret owners.

Unfortunately, it is ridiculously messy once it gets went and then you have to go ahead and change it.

And ferrets are really active animals, and they run around the house. When you have sawdust in your ferret’s cage, it does not stay there.

The ferrets will carry it everywhere, and you will find the sawdust in every corner of your house. This might be the cheapest option but the messiest one.

Cage Liners Ferret Bedding

Cage liners are basically fleece, but they are actually sewed between two layers.

The best thing:

You will not need anything else with it.

It is reusable, and you could just throw it into the washing machine every time it gets dirty.

The only concerning thing about cage liners is that they are a bit on the pricier side, much more expensive than fleece.

But the good thing is that they are really easy to handle and are long-lasting.

Another problem with cage liners is that everything just sticks to them.

Cloth Ferret Bedding

Similar to the fleece and paper bedding, the cloth can also serve as a budget-friendly, practical as well as the affordable type of homemade ferret bedding.You can use fleece/cotton, cotton cloth or towels available in your house.

Cotton is very absorbent, and ferrets love it as it is very comfortable.

This type of bedding is very cheap and is already available in your home.

The only problem with using cotton is cleaning.

You need to remove the solid waste by hand, and daily maintenance is required.

Plus:

It does not have any odor control properties.

Related Questions

Do ferrets need shots? 

Ferrets need shots for rabies and distemper. The first round of shots or vaccinations should be given to the ferret between the age of six and eight weeks old. And the follow-up vaccination is at 11 to 15 weeks of age. And then after that annually.

Do ferrets stink?

Ferrets have a musky scent that does become stronger if certain things are not taken care of. Ferrets have glands near their anus that release the odor into their feces to help them in marking their territory. An unneutered ferret stinks more than a neutered one.