Hemp Bedding for Rats and Mice
In the 17th century, the term “fancy rat” was used to refer to domesticated rats to distinguish them from the types that live in the gutter. The pet rats are unlike the untamed rats because they are fluffy, friendly, and disease-free animals.
Do you know what type of bedding is best for rats and mice? There are a lot of people that don't know about hemp bedding so the answer isn't just as simple as it might seem.
But from our perspective, hemp bedding for your rats and mice is a perfect choice because:
- Hemp is hypo-allergenic
- Hemp is highly absorbent
- Hemp is highly degradable
- Hemp absorbs odors
- Hemp has antibacterial properties
- Hemp bedding is comfortable
If you're already convinced, then hop over and try some of our hemp pet bedding with your little guys!
If you're not convinced, please keep reading. In this informative article, we will talk about why hemp bedding is the best for rats and mice. We'll cover how to choose the right type of bedding for your rat or mouse needs!
Factors to Consider When Choosing Bedding Materials for Rats and Mice
Before you start shopping for bedding to use in pet rats or mice nests, it's essential to consider some of these factors.
- Environmental factors
- Ease of use
- Comfort
- Health factors
Environmental factors
Rats and mice like the nest-building instinct. Choosing appropriate bedding can help to satisfy that nesting instinct by providing a surface for them to burrow, tunnel in, and build their nests on. On top of this, rats are intelligent animals with high curiosity levels! The bedding you choose should therefore give a near-natural environment to your pets.
A clean and healthy environment is essential for rats and mice. Choosing bedding that is dust-free, antimicrobial, antiviral, non-toxic, or allergenic will help to provide this environment.
Ease of use
The bedding you choose should be easy to maintain - both in terms of cleaning it out and it should not cause any major problems when you want to replace the bedding.
Comfort
The best way to ensure your pets are comfortable is by providing them with a suitable surface for sleep, playtime, or nesting! Choosing natural materials such as hemp will give an appropriate base for their needs.
Health Factors
Health is a huge consideration when picking small animal bedding. For example, mice and rats' lungs are highly sensitive.
The most common illnesses that attack rats and mice are respiratory infections, skin problems, and gut issues. The most common symptom of a respiratory infection is a white discharge from the nose or mouth. Choosing bedding materials that are dust-free will help reduce these symptoms as well as any other bacteria or viruses in your home.
Another common mouse and rat respiratory system condition to consider is labored breathing - this can be caused by asthma which may be caused by dust particles in the air. Hemp bedding is a good option for those with asthma or allergies because it doesn't produce any dust that can cause respiratory problems.
Criteria to Use When Picking Small Animal Bedding
Now that you've already narrowed down your choices of bedding, make sure that your ideal choice ticks all or almost all of these criteria.
- Smell absorption Properties
- Moisture Absorbency
- Antibacterial Properties
- Labor Involved
- Storage of Bedding
- Safety for Handlers
- Cleanliness
- Convenience
Smell absorption Properties
Hemp beddings have natural properties that absorb odor especially ammonia smells. This is crucial because ammonia can increase respiratory complications in rats and mice. The smell is also uncomfortable for the caregivers.
Moisture Absorbency
Hemp bedding absorbs more than any other type of animal bedding so it's less likely to get moldy or smell bad after a while, making it the safest choice for rats and mice.
Antibacterial Properties
Hemp is naturally antibacterial and can reduce the chance of illness for your pets. With hemp, you need not worry about different types of illnesses that attack a rat or a mouse.
Labor Involved
Hemp is a good bedding because it is easy to maintain, making it a low-effort choice. You only need to change out their bedding every couple of months or when they start getting at it again.
Storage of Bedding
Because hemp is lightweight and loosely packed, it's easier to store than other types of bedding. You can therefore buy the bales in bulk to enjoy the economies of scale.
Safety for Handlers
Hemp is a safe bedding because it's organic and hypoallergenic, you don't have to worry about inhaling or coming in contact with any harmful chemicals while handling the bedding. Hemp also has a low risk of fire so there are no worries when it comes to safety.
Cleanliness
Hemp bedding is the best bedding because it isn't a dust magnet, so you don't have to worry about the rat or mouse inhaling any harmful particles that are inside of it. The loose packing means there is little potential for buildup too and spillage can be avoided more easily than with other types of bedding.
Convenience
You want to make sure that your choice of bedding and nesting material for rats and mice is also readily available in your nearby stores. Hemp bedding is also considered inexpensive and you don't have to worry about a rodent chewing through it.
Benefits of Hemp Bedding for Rats and Mice
There are so many reasons why hemp is considered excellent bedding for rats, mice, and all other small animals. In this section, we will look at some of these benefits.
Hemp is hypo-allergenic
This means that any rat or mouse with allergies will not be affected by the bedding because it doesn't have anything inside of it to irritate their skin. Hemp also has natural oils which help keep them warm and makes sure they don't get too hot or cold during colder months.
Hemp is highly absorbent
This means that when the nesting material gets wet, it will not leave a smell or create mold. The hemp fibers are able to absorb any liquid and remove moisture from their cage without making them uncomfortable in any way. The super absorbent features of hemp reduce mold in the mice and rats' cages, thus keeping respiratory issues at bay.
Hemp is highly degradable
This means that when the bedding gets soiled, it will break down into soil within just a few months. The hemp fibers are not harmful to the environment and they do not cause any harm in landfills like regular disposable products would.
Hemp absorbs odors
Hemp bedding is super absorbent which means that if the bedding is soiled, it will not create any more bad smells. The hemp fibers do not release their own odors and they absorb all other scents.
Hemp has antibacterial properties
The hemp fibers have been shown to maintain a low level of bacteria. This is important because rats and mice can easily get sick if they are exposed to too many germs. Hemp gains antibacterial properties from the way the product is grown. When growing, hemp plants don't need any pesticides or herbicides because they naturally repel pests.
Hemp bedding is comfortable
Hemp pet bedding is soft, warm, and cozy while also being easy on the paws of your pets so it does not hurt them.
Hemp bedding is easy to clean. All you have to do is shake the hemp fiber in a bag with some water and then put it back into its original container or box. This makes it super quick and simple for anyone who does not want the hassle of changing out their rat's bedding every day, which can be tedious and time-consuming.
How Does Hemp Bedding Compare to Other Bedding
Hemp is not the only pet bedding material available in the market. Here is a comparison of different types of bedding and why hemp is the best.
Straw versus Hemp
Straw is a product of harvested grain and is often used by mice and rat owners as pet bedding. It can be very dusty and is not as easy to clean. Straw does not last as long and it can be uncomfortable for your pets. On the other hand, hemp is less dusty and also easy to clean because soiled hemp has a clumping effect so it's easy to murk out with a fork.
Shredded paper bedding versus Hemp bedding
Shredded paper is more expensive compared to using hemp. Shredded paper is not as easy to clean because it gets sticky when wet. Shredded paper also attracts mold growth due to dampness caused by urine and spillage. Hemp lasts longer, absorbs animal waste better than paper, has a pleasant smell when wet or dry, and does not have any harmful chemicals as some paper does.
Hemp versus Hay
Hemp is a great alternative pet bedding to hay because hemp does not contain any animal products and has no dust. Hay can be dusty, and it's hard to clean up after pets. Some rats and mice may also eat soiled hay which may lead to gastrointestinal problems. Hemp bedding in this case is a great choice because the pets cannot eat soiled hemp.
Old clothes versus Hemp
Old clothes are not as safe for rats and mice. Rats can nibble on the fabric, ingesting any chemicals used to clean them or other harmful substances that cause health problems. Hemp bedding is much safer because it does not contain these types of hazards which may be present in old clothing.
Wood shavings versus Hemp
Wood shavings such as aspen shavings and pine shavings are not ideal because they can be dusty and possibly contain harmful chemicals. Rats may also ingest the wood chips, which could lead to gastrointestinal problems as well. Hemp bedding is much better for rats and mice because it does not contain any of the hazards that come with wood shavings.
Where Can I Buy Hemp Animal Bedding near Me?
At Dominion Hemp, we stock quality hemp bales.
Our hemp is ideal for rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, and even large-sized livestock animals.