Best Bedding for Rabbits

Your pet rabbit's bedding matters. In the same way you likely picked out great sheets for your own bed, you want to give that same kind of attention to your pet rabbit's bedding. After all, it makes up a big part of your bun's home! Keep reading to learn what to look for, the different options available, and what to avoid when looking for the best bedding for your pet rabbit.

What to Look for in Rabbit Bedding

The good news is you have plenty of bedding options to pick from. But how do you narrow all these choices down to the one you want?

First of all, you want to find a bedding made with a material safe for your rabbit. A safe bedding is made with non-toxic materials, pet-safe dyes (when used), and free from harmful chemicals. Rabbits love to chew and will likely gnaw on anything within their reach. Chances are, they may occasionally ingest some of their bedding. It's important you choose a safe bedding if your rabbit unintentionally eats some of it.

You also want to look for a bedding that's dust-free. Dust can hurt a rabbit's lungs and cause other respiratory issues for your pet. Soft and fluffy bedding is important to consider as it encourages your bun to express his natural nesting instincts. A bedding that controls odor is important to help keep ammonia at bay. And finally, look for bedding that excels at absorbing liquid. Urine that doesn't get absorbed into bedding can result in a damp environment, which leads to skin issues. It also breeds more bacteria in the enclosure, leading to other health obstacles.

The Best Bedding Options for Pet Rabbits

Paper bedding

High-quality paper bedding is an excellent choice for your rabbit's habitat. Look for paper bedding made from the remnants of the premium paper product process. Higher-quality paper bedding is more absorbent, sturdier, and not as dusty. Many other brands use a paper by-product ("sludge") made from short fibers that are too small to make paper in the first place. If this sludge isn't high-quality enough for your use, why let your rabbit live in it?

The Kaytee Clean & Cozy line of paper bedding ticks all these boxes. All Clean & Cozy bedding is 99.9% dust-free for a clean and healthy habitat. Plus, they include an odor-control guarantee or your money back (Extreme Odor Control varieties include a 14-day guarantee). It's very absorbent and easy to remove. Consider trying one of the following:

*Based on Nielsen data 9/7/2024.

Non-aromatic aspen or kiln-dried pine shavings

Non-aromatic aspen or kiln-dried pine shavings are the only appropriate options for rabbit bedding when it comes to wood shavings. The natural oils contained in other wood beddings can be harmful to your rabbit's respiratory system. Keep in mind that aspen and pine don't absorb as well as paper and may not be as good at odor control. So, you may find yourself cleaning the habitat more frequently if you choose one of these two safe wood bedding options.

Kaytee products to try:

  • Kaytee Aspen Bedding: It's formulated without oils and inks and is dust-free. It's also biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

  • Kaytee Pine Bedding: Kiln-dried and specially processed to eliminate dust and wood debris. Natural and biodegradable.

Bedding Types to Avoid

With all the great choices for your rabbit's bedding, there are a few you should avoid.

  • Sawdust: Dusty and can irritate a rabbit's lungs and skin. Also, not very absorbent or good at odor control.

  • Cat litter: Very dusty and can cause respiratory or digestive issues if ingested.

  • Straw and hay: Not good at absorbing liquids, so mold can grow easily. Its hard, sharp texture can injure your pet.

  • Cedar or pine shavings: Avoid cedar or pine shavings that are not kiln-dried. These wood beddings contain natural oils that can irritate your pet's respiratory system.

  • Newspaper: Newspaper is not very absorbent, and the inks used may not be safe for your pet rabbit.

Choose Your Pet's Bedding with Care

Choosing the best bedding for your pet rabbit isn't hard if you know what to look for. Pick one that uses high-quality materials, is dust-free, and super absorbent. The right bedding helps create a cozy and healthy home for your pet, making you and your rabbit happier.

Regardless of the type of bedding you choose, be sure to keep your rabbit's habitat clean. Changing the bedding regularly keeps ammonia from building up and causing health concerns for your pet (not to mention preventing a stinky environment). Spot-clean the habitat daily with a thorough clean once a week.

For the weekly deep clean, remove all the bedding and litter and wipe down everything in the habitat. To remove unwanted smells, wash any soiled items in a vinegar solution (50% vinegar and 50% water) and thoroughly dry items before returning them to the habitat (to keep moisture levels down). With a clean habitat and new bedding, your bun should be good to go for another week.

You can create a cozy, perfect home for your rabbit with a few simple things to look for and the love and care only you can provide. And your pet will thank you for his cozy home through wonderful moments together.

Ready to litter train your pet rabbit? Check out How to Litter Train Your Rabbit for the tips, tools, and perfect litter choice for your pet rabbit.