Bedding
There are three main types of bedding you can use for your guinea pigs: fleece, paper, or wood shavings. There is not a perfect bedding, as every type has pros and cons.
FLEECE
Pros/Cons
Soft & comfortable Higher upfront cost
Odor control
No extra messes Requires weekly laundering
Good for temperature regulation Needs daily spot cleaning and more frequent changing (depending on cage size and quality of fleece)
Most economical long term
Best for skinny pigs
No dust
Best for guinea pigs prone to bumblefoot
Here are some pre-made liners we recommend:
https://petrevolution.us/products/2x5-c-and-c-absorbent-cage-liners
https://www.etsy.com/market/2x5_fleece_cage_liner
https://www.guineapigmarket.com/fleececageliner-2x5
https://pebblesfleecegoodies.com/products/custom-2x5-28x70-c-c-nic-fleece-cage-liners-many-absorbency-options-1?variant=28160767164488
https://guineadad.com/
Here is a guide on how to use and clean fleece liners:
https://thetinyherd.com/how-to-use-fleece-as-bedding-for-guinea-pigs/
WOOD SHAVINGS
Pros/Cons
Odor control Messy & harder to clean the whole cage
Inexpensive and available in bulk May contain dust
Easy to clean out dirty spots Can irritate the skin of skinny pigs
Creates lots of heavy trash after a cage cleaning
Note: Cedar bedding is NOT safe and is toxic to guinea pigs. Pine is safe as long as the package says kiln dried. Aspen is the healthiest option when it comes to wood shavings.
PAPER BEDDING
Pros/Cons
Soft Needs frequent changing
Odor control
Creates lots of trash to dispose of
Absorbent More expensive than wood shavings
BEDDING TO AVOID
Newspaper/shredded paper
Wood shavings that are not kiln-dried
Cedar shavings
Puppy pads with nothing on top (toxic if chewed/ingested)