Paper Bedding vs Wood Shavings: Which Is Best for Your Small Pet?

## The Great Bedding Debate Walk into any pet shop and you'll find two dominant bedding options for small pets: paper-based bedding (like Carefresh) and wood shavings (like Chipsi). Both have passionate advocates, and both have genuine strengths. But which is actually better for your rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, or gerbil? We conducted a four-week side-by-side comparison test using identical enclosures with matched pairs of guinea pigs. We measured absorbency, odour development, dust levels, and overall cleanliness at regular intervals to bring you data-driven answers rather than opinions. ## Absorbency Test Results Paper bedding won the absorbency test convincingly. Carefresh Natural absorbed approximately three times its weight in liquid, compared to approximately 1.5 times for Chipsi Classic wood shavings. This translated to noticeably drier cage floors and cleaner animals when using paper bedding, particularly in high-traffic areas around water bottles and food dishes. However, wood shavings performed better in the "spot-cleaning" test. Wet wood shavings are easy to identify and scoop out, while wet paper bedding tends to clump and stick to the cage floor, making spot cleaning slightly more time-consuming. ## Odour Control Comparison Odour control showed more nuanced results. Wood shavings provided better initial odour masking thanks to their natural pine or spruce scent. For the first two days after a full cage clean, shavings kept the enclosure smelling fresher. However, paper bedding maintained acceptable odour levels for significantly longer, likely due to its superior absorbency preventing urine pooling. By day five, the wood shavings enclosure was noticeably more pungent than the paper bedding enclosure. If you prefer longer intervals between full cage cleans, paper bedding has the advantage. ## Safety Considerations This is where the comparison becomes most important. Certain wood shavings, particularly those from cedar and untreated pine, release phenols (aromatic hydrocarbons) that can cause respiratory irritation and liver damage in small animals, especially rats and mice. Heat-treated kiln-dried shavings, like Chipsi Classic, have significantly reduced phenol content and are generally considered safe for most species. Paper bedding is universally considered safe for all small pet species. It produces virtually no dust (Carefresh claims 99% dust-free), making it the clear choice for animals with respiratory sensitivities or for owners who experience allergies. ## Cost Analysis Wood shavings win on cost by a significant margin. Per litre, wood shavings typically cost 50-70% less than paper bedding. For owners with large enclosures or multiple small pets, this cost difference adds up over time. However, if paper bedding's superior absorbency means you can go longer between full changes, the actual cost difference narrows.