Hedgehog needs litter in their cages as that provides them the feeling of staying in a natural habitat. They used to stay on leaves and dry hay or sand when they were in the wilderness. Thus you should arrange for some litter to fill the cage floor so the pet gets a known environment in their habitat.
Contents
Best Hedgehog Litters
Now we would like to suggest a few materials that would be good for your hedgehog’s litter tray.
1. Small pet select small animal pine pellet bedding
This small pet-select all-natural pellet bedding is sourced from all-natural products and this will be ideal for pets like hedgehogs. The pellets would help you to maintain hygiene in and around the pet’s habitat. The all-natural pine pellets would absorb the odor and thus the odor controlling of the cage will be done while you use this product. The brand ensures that it would not let the pet suffer from respiratory or other issues.
The pellet pack does not comprise any dye, chemical, or additives and thus it ensures that your pet does not consume any such harmful toxic thing. These pellets are made from wood shavings and there has been no harm caused to the environment, the already fallen trees are used to get these wood shavings. You can directly put the wood shavings on the litter tray. Spot cleaning is easy when you have this pellet as your pet’s litter. However, the damp and soiled spots should be removed along with the litter or pellets of that part. This bedding material is always worth buying as one packet of this product will last long.
Pros:
- Good absorption power
- Odor control
- Easy to spot clean
Cons:
- Too hard for the feet of the pets
2. Hamiledyi hamster potty litter
This small pet litter comes from a renowned pet product company and thus it will be ideal for the hedgehog litter tray. These little pellets would be ideal for the odor absorption of the cage of the pet. Along with that, it will also make sure that the pet does not suffer from wetness. The odor-locking system of the pellet is great and this is a boon for hedgehog owners. This bedding, though comes from paper, is yet free from dust. This will not cause any respiratory problems for the hedgehogs which is pretty common among these creatures.
The material is so soft that the paws get good padding or cushioning and the pets feel relaxed when standing on this bedding material. The temperature control process of this litter is amazing. Even in cold weather, the pet will feel warm when you allow the hedgehog to stay in this litter. The litter can stay intact for one month at a go and then you may need to replace the whole litter, though you have to do spot cleaning for poops.
Pros:
- Heat relieves
- Odor locking system
- Soft for paws
Cons:
- Some users received broken bags
3. Sunseed natural corn cob bedding and litter
This one is a rather unique item for litter. Hedgehogs would find it interesting and it will be adequately providing the support for the pet to use it in the litter box. It would just be spread properly in the litter box and the smooth feeling that it would provide to the pets would remind them of their natural household. The material is ultra-absorbent and thus it will not make the pet feel wet in its cage.
The material is biodegradable and thus it will be an eco-friendly option for hedgehog owners. The environment would not suffer even if the pets were kept in the best condition. The absorbent power of the corncob is also great and thus this is an ideal option for the hedgehog litter. This is an all-natural source of litter and thus it is liked by most small pet owners.
Pros:
- Ultra moisture absorbent
- Eco friendly
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- Large pieces so can choke hedgehogs
4. Fresh news recycled paper small animal litter bedding
The name says it all, and the brand is determined to get the pet ultimate comfort in their litter tray. Thus this paper-sourced litter will be absorbent of all the moisture that can irritate the pet hedgehogs. The paper litter does not contain abalone which is an allergen that causes many health issues to the pets. This is recycled paper litter and that ensures that you are helping Mother Nature to stay in the best condition. Recycling is a necessary part of environmental management nowadays.
This paper litter is great in terms of odor control and it will completely keep your house free from the bad smell that usually occurs when the pets are there in the room. The strong smell of the pets would be rather absorbed by the litter. The litter is completely recycled from post-consumer paper and is safe for pets. This is 99% dust-free and does not contain allergen which means your hedgehog will not suffer from any kind of health issue.
Pros:
- Odor control
- Wetness absorbed
- Allergen free
Cons:
- High priced for the amount
5. Vitakraft fresh word small animal bedding
This bedding material is described as ultra-strength by the manufacturer, which ensures that it has been useful in maintaining a healthy environment in the hedgehog cages. The pets would not suffer from respiratory problems or other issues as it is free from any kind of allergen. This is unscented paper litter so it will not cause any kind of tension or stress for the hedgehogs as the smell will not be uncomfortable for them. A pack of such litter contains 6.3 pounds of litter, which will last long. Thus it is a pocket-friendly deal for the hedgehog owners.
This is an extra absorbent paper litter which ensures that it will absorb liquid or moisture three times more than its volume. It will be expanded with moisture absorption and this will keep the pet free from wetness. It can be considered completely dust free and after you use you can compost this paper litter. This is a biodegradable product and thus will not destroy nature when used and thrown.
Pros:
- Biodegradable
- No artificial smell
- Can be used for two weeks at a go
Cons:
- Not always available online
The big brand of pet products is offering this litter so we can expect this to be a useful product for the pets. The pack comes with 8 pounds of product which means a lot of products at one buy. You will enjoy the budget-friendly option for your pets if you choose this item for litter. This one is allergen allergen-free litter item to ensure that your hedgehog does not suffer from any kind of sickness. This one is mentioned to absorb 10 times more liquid than its volume, which is an amazing feature. You can keep this litter on the litter tray for a longer period if it can absorb so much liquid, as that will not disturb the pets with wetness or excess moisture.
The cage cleaning will be an easy task for the pet owners as this litter is a mess and you can simply spot-clean the cage for a long time, before thoroughly cleaning the litter tray and refill with fresh litter. No odor will come from the pet waste as this clay-sourced litter will control the odor completely.
Pros:
- Controls excessive amounts of moisture
- No allergen
- Easy to spot clean
Cons:
- Should not be consumed
7. BNOSDM small animal potty training litter
This litter comes in different smells like tea, apple, lavender, and lemon. However, for the hedgehogs, it would be suitable to get the tea-smelling litter as that one is much more natural for them. This litter is sourced from bentonite which is a safe item for pets. Hedgehogs will feel super comfortable using this litter in their litter tray. You can start training the pet for the litter tray by using this litter, particularly on their tray. This one comes with great absorption power. When this material comes in close contact with moisture it gets grouped and it starts getting thicker and sticks to the bottom of the tray.
The air will remain fresh and your pet along with you will not be bothered by any kind of smell when using this litter. This litter will not cause any kind of respiratory issue to the hedgehog as it does not contain any flying dust particles. Also, it does not contain any itching element in it.
Pros:
- Keeps the surroundings clean and cool
- No flying dust
- Great for toilet training
Cons:
- Contains baking soda which is dangerous for hedgehogs
FAQs
Do hedgehogs need litter?
Yes, hedgehogs should be put on their litter tray when they are returned to their cage after a long time running and walking outside. The tray should be filled with litter material as well as some pieces of stool found in their cage. They should be placed on the litter tray when they are handled for a long time and that will make them feel at home and comfortable. The keeping of stool inside their litter tray will allow it to understand that it is the designated place for their defecating.
What litter should be used for hedgehogs?
It has been observed that wood pellets are the best litter for the hedgehogs. They like to lie on it and use it for their defecating purpose. Wood has odor-controlling efficiency and thus keeping the tray filled with wood pellets ensures that you do not have to change the litter frequently. Also, wood pellets are not as messy as paper towels or paper strips, though the moisture absorption and odor control efficiency is almost equal for these two litter materials.
Does hedgehog eat litter?
Some owners declare that their pets consume some amount of litter material. The reason behind this is sheer curiosity. They try to know more about the litter by chewing and sometimes actually eating the litter. Especially young hedgehogs often try to eat the litter material if they are given any new brand of litter. The smell and taste are the two important aspects of any new thing for the hedgehogs.
How do you clean the hedgehog litter?
Cleaning the hedgehog litter includes some obvious steps. You have to follow these meticulously to keep the hedgehog healthy and the cage interior clean.
The bedding or litter material gets wet due to the urination which needs to be changed at first. Then the feces should also be removed from there. Not the total litter may need to be changed so you can keep the dry parts in their place or cover it with fresh litter. This will also keep the smell of the hedgehog intact and it would feel at home even after changing the litter into fresh.
The old food that is left should also be removed and you have to provide the fresh food. The food leftover often causes the pest and mites to reach to the cage of the hedgehog, which in turn, causes infestation and illnesses among the pets.
The water bottle should be refilled with fresh cool water. Giving mineral water is not a good option for the hedgehogs. You can offer them fresh tap water.
Hedgehogs get potty trained much more easily, so you should train it as early as it comes to your house. The litter tray should be cleaned after the hedgehog gets properly potty trained once in every three days.
Conclusion:
Just like us humans, hedgehogs also like clean surroundings. The house of the pet should be a clean and cozy place. Apart from just cleanliness purpose, they have health issues like respiratory problems and if their litter is not cleaned properly, or not provided with fresh litter after a certain interval, they would be suffering from serious respiratory issues. The litter material for the hedgehog should be chosen wisely as it can cause bacterial infestation and that will also be a serious issue for your prickly pet.
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