3 Bedding
1. Wood Products
Aspen shavings: more expensive than pine shavings, possibly more difficult to find.
Primal decision factor: Aspen shavings are without volatile OILS.
Pine shavings: economical bedding material.
Primal decision factor: Pine shavings contain volatile oils, for which some owners believe that may harm the guinea pig's liver or respiratory system when using for a prolonged period of time.
It is recommended to open the shavings' bag and disperse the shavings in some open container - after several days volatile oils should dissipate. If the pine smell is strong, then there is a considerable amount of volatile oils still present.
Wood pellets: economical bedding material, but more difficult to obtain.
The good: odor preventing and easiness of use.
The bad: it is possible that pellets are hard to walk on for a guinea pig. It is recommended to use another bedding material in complement to make walking more comfortable.
2. Hay
Economical natural product. Not recommended to use as the only bedding material (not absorbent and requires everyday removal/replacement).3. Cotton cloth, cotton fleece, towels
Absorbent, soft, reusable. May require daily cleaning or replacement.4. Polyester fleece
Soft, allows fluids to drain through, reusable. Not absorbent. May require daily cleaning or replacement.5. Paper
Economical, available, absorbent and provides warm flooring background for other complement bedding materials (like shavings). It makes cleaning easier (owner can just roll up the bedding and throw it away). Owner could be concerned about printed ink toxicity.! Our recommendation: Material Combining
1st layer: Paper for warmer flooring and easier cleaning2nd layer: Shavings for absorption and softness
3rd layer: Hay for burrowing, sleeping arrangements, eating and to prevent shavings from flying around