Best rabbit bedding In 2022 with a full guide and reviews

If you’re in a hurry, you can see below the products I chose as the best rabbit beddings. I chose each one based on certain considerations. You can read more about these aspects below.

• Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting “Perfect Blend” Timothy Hay Pet Food
• Oxbow Eco-Straw Pelleted Wheat Straw Litter for Small Animals
• Kaytee All Natural Aspen Bedding
• Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding for Small Animals
• Purina Yesterday’s News Unscented Paper Cat Litter
• RentACoop Hemp Bedding
• GuineaDad Fleece Liner 2.0

Although I don’t have rabbits right now, I really like them. When I was a kid, we almost always had rabbits, my dad took care of them. Although he made some mistakes with the bedding. I now know more about the topic and would like to share these things with you.

You need to know that there is no certain best kind. I will go through the best varieties recommended and I have selected the most likable product from each one. Considering the various aspects listed, you will surely be able to choose the most suitable one.

How to choose the best rabbit bedding

To decide which rabbit bedding will be most appropriate, we must first clarify what aspects and features we need to consider. 

Comfort

At first thought, you may not consider this the most important thing, but think about it, your rabbit will live in it. You definitely need to choose a comfortable solution. Your rabbit will feel safe and convenient if you make the right choice.

Temperature

If you are going to keep your rabbits in an outdoor cage, choose bedding that will keep the heat properly.

Odor Control

It seems self-evident, but it’s still worth mentioning. If you have your little pets inside, bedding should be able to eliminate odors on some level. 

Free of harmful substances

The bunnies will spend most or all of the time in the bedding of your choice. Not to mention that they love to gnaw, and surely they will also chew on bedding. For these reasons, safety is one of the most important things when you want to choose the best bedding. You should choose one that does not contain any toxic substances, such as ink on newsprint, or fragrances and phenols. Some added aroma can smell nice, but it’s really toxic for your little pet. 

Absorbent

A good bedding should be properly absorbent. This can be good for everyone. For you, because you have to change less often and less mess has fewer problems. It is good for rabbits because the more moisture it absorbs, the drier and cleaner it stays. He or she will be able to relax in it more comfortably.

Dust-free

A lot of dust comes with a lot of dirt. It will be much harder to clean. And it’s not the healthiest if your bunny is constantly inhaling dust. The beddings discussed in this article are 99% dust-free. 

Eco-friendly

Choose bedding that is made from eco-friendly materials. Be it recycled, reusable, degradable, or compostable. By doing this, you are doing a little bit not only for the bunny but also for the planet.

Indoor or outdoor

You have to choose another type of bedding if you have rabbits outside and another if you have rabbits inside. You need something outside that keeps them warm (hay). And at the bottom, you can put something that absorbs moisture well (paper pulp or aspen)

For indoor rabbits you only need some paper material bedding on the bottom, and some softer material on the top. 

What types of rabbit bedding you should avoid

You can find plenty of variations in stores and online. When it comes to the little rabbit, you shouldn’t listen to your wallet and buy one made from the cheapest ingredients. The rabbits chew constantly, they will also gnaw the bedding. You can’t want something to get into their stomach that doesn’t do them any good. Be sure to avoid the following variations.

Newspaper

At first, it may seem like a good idea to put some newsprint under normal bedding. This obviously helps with moisture absorption. However, the ink used in the newspaper can be dangerous for rabbits. There is no guarantee that the inserted newsprint will not be chewed.

Sawdust

Sawdust is easy to inhale, which can be detrimental to the respiratory system.

Non-pelleted straw

Straw is not suitable for keeping rabbits. Yes, your rabbits will gnaw it, but it is not delicious or nutritious to them. The ends of the straw can easily injure the eyes, nose, or ears of rabbits. And its odor control and absorbency are almost zero. Your pets will live in their own toilet.

Cornhusk

This material is mainly used on farms because there is a lot of it. However, this is not a very wise choice. It can grow moldy very easily and hard cores are very dangerous to swallow.

Cat litter

Cat litter has very good odor control abilities and absorbency. However, these materials were invented as pet toilets. Not a habitat. They are usually full of substances dangerous to rabbits. If your bunny might swallow this, it could be fatal for her.

What about pine and cedar shavings?

There is a lot of debate circulating on the internet about whether these are good for rabbits. Oils and phenols are may be harmful to the respiratory system. And pine and cedar shavings have no good effect on the liver. 

Kiln-dried versions seem safer from these types of bedding. This is because the drying process neutralizes harmful substances. However, I personally like to go for sure. For this reason, I will choose bedding for my bunny from the variations discussed below. Don’t want to shorten the life of your bunny because of a bad choice.

How to clean the bedding

Once you’ve selected the right bedding for your rabbit, set up him or her home comfortably. Pay attention to the special needs of your little friend. Of course, keeping clean is just as important as choosing the right material.

Keep things separately

Rabbits are clean animals and do not like to sleep in the same place where they urinate. Try to give them a place to rest or where they can do “their thing”.

This is a useful video:

Change bedding

Develop regular habits for this. Clean the cage at least weekly. And change the bedding even more often. I hope I don’t have to say you can’t reuse dirty bedding. Obviously, you can put the reusable varieties back in place after washing. 

This video may be helpful:

Types of beddings for rabbits

Previously, we examined what we should choose bedding based on. Now some concrete products will follow.

There are several types of rabbit bedding. Each has pros and cons that are worth considering. I chose the best I thought of each. Here are the 7 Types of the Best Bedding for Rabbits:

Hay

This is one of my personal favorites. It is very comfortable and your rabbit can eat it. (I have an article about the best rabbit foods. You can check it out here) It is very healthy to consume. It has a good heat retention ability, which makes it even more pleasant and comfortable.

Rabbits love its voice very much. I noticed several times in my own rabbits that they were playing hopping because of the hissing sound of hay. 

Be sure to change it daily as it will soon mold. This is especially true when exposed to moisture.

My pick from this type: 

Small Pet Select 2nd Cutting “Perfect Blend” Timothy Hay Pet Food

You can choose the product in several packages. This hay can be used for several types of animals. It arrives fresh in a very durable box that can be opened and closed well.

Texture and fiber are in between first cutting and third cutting. Because of this, there are very few hard stem parts in it. It also has a lot of flower heads in it, which many animals really like. 

>>Check the latest price on Amazon<<

Pelleted straw

Don’t confuse this with traditional straw, which falls into the non-recommended category. Pelleted straw is a great choice.

This is also an edible version so the bunny won’t be able to gnaw for boredom. It’s also great to keep the heat in the cage. This is an important consideration, however, when it comes to outdoor cages.

Pelleted straw and hay are dust-free, so your rabbit can eat them safely. 

My pick from this type: 

Oxbow Eco-Straw Pelleted Wheat Straw Litter for Small Animals

There are many bedding types where different materials are pelletized. Wheat is an excellent substance for this. It is much better absorbent than its paper-based competitors.

You can buy it in a 20 lbs bag so it will be enough for a long time. 

Experience has shown that it retains odors very well. However, the product itself does not smell very pleasant. 

>>Check the latest price on Amazon<<

Aspen

This type of bedding is the best choice among the wooden versions. It does not contain aromatic oils or phenols (pine or cedar does) that would be harmful to the rabbit. 

Choose a brand that removes the dust and wood debris. This will make it completely safe. Your rabbit can feel free to chew on this bedding.

My pick from this type: 

Kaytee All Natural Aspen Bedding

This product is made from natural Aspen shavings. It is worth buying this product in 8 cubic feet packs because it is very economical. 

It’s very soft and has great quality. Based on experience, it is most often properly selected. Although there are times when it arrives dusty.

Rabbits really like, comfortable, pleasant quality. It can be chewed safely. Therefore, for the price, this is one of the best choices. It will be enough for your rabbit for a long time.

>>Check the latest price on Amazon<<

Paper pulp

It’s also a great option for small pet bedding. Especially recommended for indoor rabbits. Its production is such that it is in principle dust-free. 

It is an environmentally friendly solution because the paper is recycled. The paper is unbleached and free of additives. So feel free to chew on your rabbits.

It can absorb three times as much moisture at its own weight. So it will keep the bunny’s cage dry.

My pick from this type:

Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding for Small Animals

You can buy this product in two packages. The 2130 cu in is worth it better. 

The bedding is made from 100 percent recycled paper, which is biodegradable. The manufacturer promises to be almost completely dust-free and baking soda free. 

The odor control of this paper-based bedding is also excellent. It retains unpleasant odors for up to 2 weeks. Although it does not eliminate all problems. If you have many rabbits in a cage, it probably won’t last that long.

>>Check the latest price on Amazon<<

Paper pellets

This is one of my favorite types. It has better odor control and absorbent abilities than the other paper type. Externally similar to other pellets. 

It definitely does not contain harmful substances or scents. It is made from recycled paper, so it is also environmentally friendly.

It is much lighter than wood pellets, which are used more in cats. However, it carries the wood pellets’ benefits. 

My pick from this type:

Purina Yesterday’s News Unscented Paper Cat Litter

The largest pack of this bedding is 30 lbs. Although there is a photo of a cat on the product’s packaging, it’s perfect for smaller animals as well. 

It absorbs three times more moisture than clay-based litter. This makes it one of the best absorbent bedding I’ve ever come across. 

Unfortunately, odor control with this product is not perfect, but it is not bad either. 

Good quality, soft material. So, if your pet’s soles are sensitive for some reason, this is a good choice. If you can change it often and are interested in soft quality, then this is the right product.

>>Check the latest price on Amazon<<

Hemp 

Hemp is also a natural, environmentally friendly option for creating a rabbit habitat. It is completely safe, your rabbit can eat and chew it with confidence. It can be used for compost too. 

It absorbs moisture well and the smell is pleasant and not very strong. 

My pick from this type:

RentACoop Hemp Bedding

The product comes in a 300-liter bag. But don’t be fooled because it weighs just 31 pounds. This bedding performs well for what is typical of its type. It absorbs a great amount of moisture and smells better than pine shavings. 

It was made from hemp that was not grown using insecticides and other pesticides.

Price is not the lowest but if you don’t need to change it often, it’s worth it.

>>Check the latest price on Amazon<<

Fleece bedding

This type of bedding is very comfortable and soft. Your rabbit will definitely love it. One of the biggest advantages is that because it is washable, it can be reused many times. This makes it extremely cost-effective. And that’s why it leaves little mess behind, as you just have to throw the dirty bedding in the washing machine.

Although there are those for whom a lot of washing is a disadvantage. If you’re not like that, then this kind of bedding is for you. I mean, more for your bunny.

You need to know that it matters what kind of fleece bedding you choose. Some of them need to be covered with an underlayer that catches the urine. The product I choose doesn’t need that because it has a waterproof backing.

My pick from this type:

GuineaDad Fleece Liner 2.0

There is a fleece layer on the outside and bamboo fibers on the inside. Bamboo proves to be extremely good absorbent. Not to mention that the bottom of the product is made of a waterproof layer. It will definitely not pass urine.

It is safe to use, does not cause sensitivity, irritation, and in addition the lining is antibacterial. 

Although perfect for moisture treatment, it is not as good at odor control. 

The poop stays on top and is clearly visible. This can be annoying to many, but it’s clearly inherent in the type. I prefer this because it is very easy to clean. You just sweep the thing in the trash.

This is a good choice if you want to surprise your little bunny with really comfortable bedding.

>>Check the latest price on Amazon<<

Given the above tips, I really hope you can make a decision about choosing a bedding for your bunny. I think safety comes first for your pet. Comfort, while not a negligible consideration, should still be secondary. All of the products listed above have advantages and disadvantages. My personal favorite is GuineaDad Fleece Liner 2.0. You will have more laundry, but this bedding seems so comfortable to me. However, this article may have helped you make a wise decision. 

Click here to get one for your bunny.