Bedding

Good beddings are soft (so that the mouse can play in it) and as free from dust as possible. Do not use pine or cedar - these cause respiratory ailments! CareFresh and similar products are also safe, corn cob can get mouldy fast and dry the air so much that it isn't good for the mice. For nesting material you can give your mice high quality hay (green, not mouldy or dusty), straw or shredded tissue paper. Do not get "hamster cotton" or similar fiber products. This has caused blockages in intestines, deaths by strangulation and amputations of limbs.

What NOT to use

    Wood

• Cedar & Pine Beddings
  • These are called aromatic woods. Cedar chips and shavings contain plicatic acid, a respiratory and skin irritant. Plicatic acid exacerbates asthma, allergies and causes allergic reactions in rodents. Pine chips and shavings contain phenols, or abietic acid. This is also an irritant and causes severe allergic reactions both topically and through the respiratory tract. Both types of wood bedding cause liver disease, skin irritation, allergic reactions, and respiratory deterioration which can lead to Mycoplasma pulmonis (Mycoplasmosis), an incurable immune deficiency syndrome.

   

• Cat Litter
  • Cat litter is extremely dusty and can have the same effects on mice as can wood beddings. Even 98% dust- free cat litter is not acceptible, as the clay becomes broken down in the bag, thus creating fine powder. Clay CAN be used UNDER beddings to keep odor down, and act as a draining system. Clay is frequently used under pete beddings, but should never be used as a bedding by itself. The only type of clay that should be considered for use in a mouse cage is 100% natural clay, minus the chemicals, and colored bits with "odor control".

What can be used

    Cellulose (Paper)

• CareFresh, Yesterdays News, Cell-Srob, Breeders Choice.
  • These are paper-based beddings that are generally environmentally friendly. All are made from recycled paper products, and are not associated with any health problems under normal circumstances. These beddings control odor well, and are very comfortable for the mice to play and sleep in. These types of beddings are the best on the market right now, but can be a little on the pricey side, not to mention being difficult to find. I recommend Breeders Choice for people in Australia, I have used this type with great success. This can be found in Coles, most pet stores and I believe Franklins.

   

• Alternative Paper Bedding
  • Unbleached, restaurant grade paper towels can also be used. These are basically carefresh in sheet form. Simply stack them in a 1-2" thick layer in the bottom and let the mice shred it themselves. Inexpensive, effective, and dust-free. Superior to many of the commercially available paper beddings in both cost and effectiveness.

In the event of an emergency, groccery store paper bags can be ripped up and used as bedding. Considering that most have large amounts of these bags, this method could drastically cut one's bedding costs

    Non-Aromatic Wood

• Sani-Chips, Gentile Touch, All God's Creatures Litter.
  • Although aspen is not an aromatic wood, studies show that wood beddings, period, are not as healthy as their paper- based counterparts. The above listed products are better than most other aspen products. These are not available in Australia, that I know of.

• Kiln Dried Pine.
  • The kiln drying removes the phenols from the shavings, making them safer to use. I have never seen kiln dried pine cause skin irritation. Many use this and have had no problems, but I would never use wood bedding in any mouse cage.

    Other Safe Beddings

• Corn Cob.
  • KayteeŽ Kay-Kob is a wonderful product. It is dust free, very clean, fresh, and is very easy to spot when it becomes soiled. I use this alone sometimes, or mix it with Carefresh to keep the Carefresh smelling better longer.

• Rabbit Pellets
  • These are great to keep around in case you ever have a crisis and run out of bedding. Some are rather dusty, but this can easily be avoided by tapping the bag on the ground before pouring and making sure to avoid the crumbs at the bottom.

• Crushed Walnut Shells
  • These are commonly used in bird cages. Crushed shell bedding can be a very good alternative litter that is safe for mice. It is generally inexpensive, and the mice certainly enjoy it. A small slotted scooper can be used to removes feces from the litters so that the environment stays cleaner longer.