Can Hamsters Use Hay as Bedding?

Acquiring a hamster as a pet is an exciting adventure, and it’s natural to have questions about taking care of it. After all, there’s a lot to learn about hamsters: what they eat, where they sleep, and what sorts of materials they will need, including bedding.

Hamsters can use hay as bedding if other types of bedding are not readily available. Typically, hamsters use wood shavings, shredded paper, or toilet paper as bedding in their cage, with Timothy hay as a last resort.

While there’s nothing wrong with using hay as bedding, hamsters also use it as a snack, so you may have to replace it often. The remainder of this article will discuss why hamsters need bedding and what materials can be used for hamster bedding. 

Why Do Hamsters Need Bedding?

Hamsters need bedding to feel safe and comfortable. Without it, your furry friend would have to sleep on the hard surface of its cage. Bedding allows your hamster to stay warm and sleep in a comfortable environment.

Secondly, bedding allows your hamster to burrow. Burrowing is a typical and natural hamster behavior. In fact, hamsters in the wild usually burrow into the ground to make a network of tunnels in which they live! Since they can’t make such intricate tunnels in a cage, bedding allows them to make little caves to dwell in, which makes them feel safe, warm, and happy.

Finally, bedding helps to keep a hamster’s cage clean. Hamsters urinate and release excrement multiple times a day, and without an absorbent material lining the cage, there would be a lot of extra cleaning to do. Wood shavings and shredded papers tend to have highly absorbent properties, making them an excellent choice for keeping your furry friend’s cage clean.

Types of Bedding for Hamsters

Bedding is essential for hamsters because it provides them comfort and something to burrow and nest in, which is common hamster behavior. Let’s explore the types of bedding mentioned above. 

Wood Shavings

Wood shavings are relatively soft and are excellent for burrowing, which is a behavior hamsters love to engage in any chance they get. Therefore, when purchasing wood shavings as bedding, it’s vital to ensure you’re choosing suitable wood. 

Any wood shavings that have a scent or odor should not be used in your hamster’s cage because it will irritate them. Additionally, pine wood shavings are not absorbent and are generally considered unsafe for hamster bedding. Instead, go for aspen wood shavings (Amazon Link).

Aspen wood shavings are absorbent, odorless, and the safest option for hamsters to have in their dwellings. Other types of wood tend to splinter; these splinters can get stuck in your hamster’s tiny paws and hurt them.

Shredded Paper or Shredded Toilet Paper

Unscented shredded paper or shredded toilet paper are also possible choices for hamster bedding. These are also inexpensive as they can be made right at home! These, too, are soft and great for burrowing or building a cozy nest.

With shredded paper, nest-building can be difficult, depending on the type of paper your hamster has to use. Very soft papers don’t have much structural integrity. You can remedy this by including plastic tunnels and caves in your hamster’s cage for them to hide away in.

Additionally, the paper used for bedding shouldn’t be colored. Sometimes you may find pink or other light-colored paper, but these contain inks that can be harmful to your furry friend. 

Another paper option that you can find at home is shredding paper towels. Again, this is an inexpensive option that can serve multiple purposes! 

Hemp Bedding

Hemp bedding is a hypoallergenic option that you can use for both pets and their owners who struggle with allergies. It is also quite absorbent, environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and organic. As with any type of bedding, hemp bedding should be odorless and free of inks which can be damaging to your hamster’s health.

Commercial Paper Bedding

If you’re looking for a convenient solution to your hamster’s bedding needs, you can’t go wrong with commercial paper bedding. These products contain absorbent materials which help keep odor levels down, ensuring your hamster has a clean, comfortable environment.

I recommend the Kaytee Clean & Cozy White Bedding on Amazon.com. It’s highly absorbent, dust-free, and made with safe materials for your pet. It’s also soft and much more absorbent than wood shavings.

Timothy Hay

Timothy hay does the trick as well. It’s less absorbent than wood shavings and shredded paper, and you may find yourself adding to it more regularly since your hamster may snack on it. It’s generally a last resort regarding bedding, but certainly not off the table. Timothy hay can be a great option if you’re buying in bulk.

Final Thoughts

Hamsters can use hay as bedding, but they are better off using odorless wood shavings or shredded paper. Hemp bedding, shredded toilet paper, or shredded paper towel are also options. These will help your hamster feel safe and at home in his new cage. Enjoy!