The Best Hamster Bedding

Hamsters don't ask for much. They're low-maintenance pets that are cute, cuddly, and entertaining. Since your hamster spends most of its time in a cage, it's important to make sure they're comfortable. Hamster bedding gives your furry friend a place to burrow, dig, and bury things just like they would in their natural habitat. With so many types of hamster bedding to choose from, finding the right one may seem like an impossible ask. To help you with your search, we've rounded up some of the best hamster bedding the internet has to offer.

What to Look For 

We recommend keeping the following things in mind when shopping for hamster bedding: What type of material would best suit your pet? How well does the bedding control odor? Does the bedding contain any ingredients that could harm your hamster? Our favorite was the hamster bedding from Kaytee Clean, which is 99.9% dust-free and has a fluffy texture ideal for burrowing. We also really liked the hamster bedding from Carefresh, which is designed to be gentle on sensitive feet and doesn’t contain harmful chemicals or dyes. Keep reading to learn more about our favorites and discover the best one for your pet.

Kaytee Clean Cozy White Hamster Bedding

Cuddly comfort

With this cozy bedding, your hamster will always have a comfortable spot to lay its head.
Best Overall

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This dust-free, super comfortable bedding from Kaytee Clean is made from plant-based fibers and mimics the materials that hamsters would burrow into in the wild. The bright white bedding makes it easy to spot soiled areas, allowing you to clean them up quickly and keep your pet’s cage clean. You won’t have to do much to combat dust when using it, because it’s 99% dust free. It’s also highly absorbent, which helps control and ensure your pet’s living space is dry.

Pros:

  • Free of harsh chemicals, bleaches, and dyes
  • Twice as absorbent as wooden shavings
  • Light and fluffy
  • Excellent value

Cons:

  • The bag is not resealable

Carefresh Dust-Free Hamster Bedding

Burrow down

Your hamster is likely to love hiding treats in this dust-free, natural paper fiber bedding.
Runner Up

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Do your part to protect the environment while ensuring your furry friend has a safe and cozy place to call home with this hamster bedding from Carefresh. The bedding is made from reclaimed fiber and gives your pet a dry, warm place to spend their days. It controls odor for up to ten days, lasting about twice as long as bedding made from other materials. Plus, its small pieces make it ideal for playing, moving around, and burrowing in comfort.

Pros:

  • 99% dust-free
  • Effectively controls odors
  • Doesn’t clump
  • Easy to maintain

Cons:

  • Bedding pieces vary in size

Oxbow Pure Comfort Hamster Bedding

Clean as a whistle

Help keep your hamsters home spic and span with this super-absorbant bedding.
Best Odor Control

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If you’re having a hard time controlling odors in your hamster’s cage, this hamster bedding from Oxbow is ready to help. The bedding is designed to absorb odor and moisture, helping to minimize unpleasant odors and keep your furry friend’s cage smelling fresh. It’s made using 100% pure paper, so it’s free of substances that could harm your hamster. Plus, the bedding’s soft texture is gentle on paws, providing hamsters with an optimal environment for tunneling, digging, and nesting. 

Pros:

  • Absorbs six to eight times its weight 
  • Natural paper bedding
  • No strong scents
  • Makes clean-up easy

Cons:

  • Bedding doesn’t expand very much

Small Pet Select Natural Aspen Hamster Bedding

Cozy and happy

This hamster bedding helps create a comfortable environment for your furry friend to relax.
Best Wood-Based

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Small Pet Select’s wood shavings are an excellent option if you’re searching for an all-natural, comfortable bedding for your hamster. Its only ingredient is heat-dried Aspen shavings that won’t irritate your pet’s skin or respiratory system. That’s not all; it’s incredibly soft and fluffy, making it an ideal burrowing and nesting solution.

Pros:

  • Produces very little dust
  • Long-lasting
  • No harmful chemicals, dyes, or additives 
  • Won’t splinter or hurt your pet

Cons:

  • Shavings may stick to your hamster’s fur

Vitakraft Fresh Ultra Strength Hamster Bedding

Scamper around

Your pet will love spending their days playing in this soft hamster bedding.
Most Absorbant

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Reach for this hamster bedding from Vitakraft when you want to keep odors under control and minimize messes. This bedding is designed to keep your hamster’s cage fresh for up to 14 days, with its 100% recycled paper effectively locking in moisture and odors. Environmentally conscious pet parents will be happy to know that this bedding is biodegradable and compostable.

Pros:

  • Expands to three times its size
  • Soft and cozy
  • Highly absorbent

Cons:

  • It’s a bit dusty

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of bedding are harmful to hamsters?

Hamster bedding varies greatly, so it’s important to know what to avoid when shopping for the ideal bedding for your pet. You should avoid purchasing scented bedding because it contains chemicals that could harm your pet’s respiratory system. Pine and cedar shavings are also a no-go because they are hard and splinter into sharp pieces, which could hurt your hamster. 

Are wood shavings safe for hamsters?

It depends on what type of wood you’re talking about. As mentioned above, you should always avoid pine and cedar shaving because these could harm your pet. However, Aspen shavings are an excellent choice for hamsters and the safest and most recommended for hamsters. 

About the Author

Lynnae grew up with pets all her life, so she has firsthand experience on how to best take care of your favorite companions. This teacher by day and writer by night has a mission to make sure all pets have what they need to live long and healthy lives.

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Since 2008, CatTime has provided millions of cat owners with all the information they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our experts know exactly what it takes to raise our furry friends and our goal is to help all owners, new or experienced, care for their cats with all the right food, toys, equipment, and accessories.