Fleece Bedding for Guinea Pigs: Pros & Cons | How to Use Fleece

Fleece bedding for guinea pigs is well-liked amongst piggy dad and mom, whether or not they need a nice-looking cage or the comfiest residence for his or her fur infants.

Fleece bedding is available in many kinds, appears to be like nice, and is snug on guinea pigs’ toes. It’s additionally cheaper in the long term than disposable bedding, eco-friendly, and doesn’t include mud that may harm your guinea pigs’ respiratory methods. Nevertheless, fleece is pricier to start out out with and requires doing laundry repeatedly.

On this article, we’ll talk about the professionals and cons of fleece bedding for guinea pigs, the right way to use it, and extra!

Professionals of Fleece Bedding for Guinea Pigs

Aesthetics

One in every of my favourite components of fleece bedding (although not my pockets’s!) is that it is available in so many enjoyable patterns and colours. This lets you really customise your guinea pigs’ cage, whether or not you need a dreamy pink wonderland or a shiny, yellow sunflower theme.

Many individuals change their piggies’ bedding based mostly on the season or beautify for the vacations.

When procuring on-line or making your individual provides, it’s simple to get caught up in matching your guinea pigs’ fleece liner to their tunnels, hidey homes, and pee pads to create a theme.

Personally, I additionally just like the look of fleece higher than disposable bedding. Nevertheless, that does come down to non-public desire.

Most Snug

Guinea pigs dwell the vast majority of their lives of their cages, so we would like them to be as snug as attainable. Fleece bedding tends to be softer on their little toes than different bedding varieties.

Fleece objects additionally maintain heat greater than another supplies, and are nice for chilly seasons or in case you have a thin pig. These piggies’ lack of fur makes it tremendous necessary to maintain them on plush, heat surfaces.

Fleece can be nice for senior piggies or these with joint issues, because it cushions their toes and is simple to stroll on. 

Doesn’t Trigger Well being Issues

There are numerous unsafe bedding choices in the marketplace, from those who don’t take up urine properly to dusty disposable bedding that may hurt your guinea pigs’ lungs.

Fleece received’t do both of these issues. When it’s depraved and has an absorbent layer beneath it, fleece can keep dry for a whole day (or a number of, relying on how messy your guineas are).

This stops your piggies from sitting in their very own urine, which might trigger well being issues and in addition simply makes them messy.

It additionally doesn’t include any mud, so it received’t trigger upper respiratory infections (URIs). In case your guinea pig has a historical past of URIs, it is likely to be a good suggestion to modify to fleece or one other dust-free bedding sort.

Cheaper within the Lengthy-Time period

Fleece is dear to start out with, however for those who’re planning to get guinea pigs, you should utilize the chance to avoid wasting for fleece liners and pee pads earlier than adoption. Then, you forego the continuing price of shopping for baggage of bedding every week.

Since fleece liners might be reused all through your guinea pigs’ lives, they’re not going so as to add up in prices like disposable bedding does.

Whereas many individuals select to purchase extra fleece than they want, you possibly can simply get by with solely two liners. That manner, you’ll have one to make use of whereas the opposite is within the wash.

Could be Customized-Made

Should you’re anxious about getting a fleece liner to suit your do-it-yourself cage, don’t be! They are often custom-made, both by ordering from a store or making your individual.

It would sound intimidating, however making your individual fleece liners might be so simple as lining the cage with a layer of towels for absorbency, then including the beautiful fleece on prime.

We’ll discuss extra about the right way to use fleece under, so hold studying!

Eco-Pleasant

Lastly, fleece bedding is eco-friendly as a result of it creates the least quantity of waste attainable. You possibly can reuse fleece liners for years at a time, particularly if you take care of them properly.

Cons of Fleece Bedding for Guinea Pigs

Extra Costly to Begin

Fleece bedding is normally the most costly possibility to start out with. Despite the fact that it saves you money within the long-run, some individuals don’t wish to spend a lot on the offset—particularly in the event that they’re uncertain fleece will work for them.

That is utterly comprehensible, and one thing you need to take into account earlier than making a choice.

Requires Preparation

Fleece bedding can’t simply be tossed into the cage like your disposable choices. It must be depraved, which includes washing it in scorching water a number of instances. You’ll additionally want an absorbent layer for those who don’t purchase a liner that already comes with one inside.

Nevertheless, when you get your fleece ready, all you’ll must do between cage cleanings is wash it.

Frequent Spot Cleansing

Disposable bedding can usually conceal the various, many poops a guinea pig makes a day because it sinks beneath the floor. With fleece, the poops sit proper atop.

You’ll want to identify clear the cage extra usually to maintain it wanting good. You may additionally wish to purchase small items of fleece, referred to as “pee pads” to cowl areas your guinea pig likes to hang around. Pee pads assist by absorbing pee in these frequently-used locations, protecting the massive fleece liner cleaner longer.

With disposable bedding, you may simply toss out the bedding within the saturated space—but it surely will get a bit extra advanced when utilizing fleece.

Holds Onto Particles

Hay and fur are inclined to cling to fleece, making it a ache to wash when it’s stored in a guinea pig cage. Whereas this may be remedied by disregarding the particles from the material and utilizing mesh laundry baggage, this takes time. Some individuals would moderately not take care of the trouble.

With disposable bedding, it doesn’t matter if hay will get caught to the fabric, because it’s going within the trash anyway.

Should you’d wish to proceed utilizing reusable bedding, however having to wash up fleece is an excessive amount of work, take into account switching to tub mats. Bathtub mats additionally make an incredible guinea pig bedding and the hay doesn’t persist with them in order that they’re simpler to wash.

Further Laundry

The factor that appears to fret individuals most in relation to fleece bedding is the additional laundry. Some individuals really feel they’ve sufficient to fret about with human laundry, whereas others fear about potential harm to their washer.

There’s no getting round the truth that fleece will create extra laundry. Nevertheless, it doesn’t must wreck your washer.

One of the best ways to scrub fleece is to totally brush off hair and hay earlier than washing. Then, place the fleece into mesh baggage to maintain any leftover hay from winding up in your washer.

Use an unscented laundry detergent, as scented merchandise can hurt guinea pigs’ respiratory methods. White vinegar may assist to remove odor.

Laundry Prices

That stated, all the issues listed above—mesh laundry baggage, guinea pig-safe detergent, vinegar, and even your water invoice going up—price cash.

I personally discover it worthwhile for the cash saved by not shopping for disposable bedding every week, however your expertise is likely to be totally different!

Not Offered in Pet Shops

The final disadvantage is that you just’re most unlikely to search out fleece bedding on the pet retailer, which makes it much less accessible than different bedding varieties.

Fleece might be discovered at many shops for those who’d wish to DIY some liners. I’ve discovered fleece at craft shops, thrift shops, and even the greenback retailer (although it tends to be lesser high quality).

Should you don’t wish to make your individual fleece bedding, you’ll doubtless must get on-line and order from a small enterprise. However we may name supporting small companies a professional as properly!

Use Fleece Bedding

Fleece bedding requires preparation earlier than you can begin utilizing it. It must be depraved in order that pee soaks by means of and into the absorbent layer, as a substitute of leaving a puddle.

1. Wick Your Fleece

Wicking fleece is simple, however a bit tedious. Right here’s how:

• Wash your fleece on a scorching cycle with scent-free laundry detergent. You possibly can add vinegar for those who’d like to assist disinfect and take away odors. Don’t use cloth softeners on any guinea pig objects.
• Dry the fleece within the dryer or enable it to air dry. 
• Repeat the above steps 2-3 instances, or till the fleece wicks correctly.
• Check your fleece by pouring a small quantity of water on the floor. If the water soaks by means of rapidly with out leaving a puddle, your fleece is depraved! If not, run it by means of the washer once more.

2. Add an Absorbent Layer

Beneath your fleece cloth, you’ll want an absorbent layer. That is essential for those who’ve purchased solely a bit of fleece, or for those who’re stitching your individual liners.

Should you’ve purchased a fleece liner, it doubtless already has an absorbent layer sewn in.

Absorbent layers might be something that may absorb your guinea pigs’ pee after it soaks by means of the fleece. In style choices embrace:

• Outdated towels
• Pet pee pads (disposable or reusable)
• U-haul blankets
• Mattress protectors

Some individuals use newspaper, however I don’t suggest this because it’s much less absorbent than the opposite choices.

3. Use Pee Pads for Straightforward Clear-Up

Pee pads aren’t essential, however they’ll cease you from washing your cage liner as usually. They make spot cleansing tremendous easy and also you received’t be doing practically as a lot laundry—who doesn’t just like the sound of that?

Pee pads are principally fleece liners, solely smaller. They’re manufactured from fleece with an absorbent layer sewn inside.

Place pee pads the place your guinea pigs spend probably the most time, resembling of their hides or close to their hay pile. Test them day by day and alter them out after they’re dirty.

Sorts of Fleece Bedding

There are a number of sorts of fleece bedding, from ready-made liners to plain fleece you purchase at your native craft retailer. Everybody does issues a bit in another way relying on what aligns with their funds, free time, and preferences.

Listed here are some fleece choices to contemplate:

• Prepared-made liners from companies like GuineaDad — These are the simplest to make use of, however sometimes the priciest, as you’re paying for labor and delivery in addition to supplies.
• Handmade liners — Making liners your self might be way more cost-effective, if you understand how to stitch or wish to be taught.
• Fleece layered and unsewn – Some individuals select to purchase fleece and lay towels or different absorbent supplies beneath, which is an easy solution to line the cage with out stitching something collectively.

I hope this text has helped making a decision in relation to utilizing fleece bedding. The first issues to recollect are: wick your fleece, use an absorbent layer, and add in some pee pads if you end up doing an excessive amount of laundry.

Whereas fleece does include its drawbacks, it’s well-liked for a cause! It’s simple to make use of, washable, and offers your guinea pigs an opulent, stunning cage.