I want my hamster to be as comfortable as possible. Is fabric safe for hamsters? Can they nestle up with soft fleece or cotton to enjoy more rest and relaxation?
What material is safe for hamsters? Can I put a blanket in my hamster’s cage? Is fleece ok or is cotton better?
In this article, we will look into the comfort and contrast that with the risks associated with different hamster bedding to find out, is fabric safe for hamsters?
Is Fabric Safe for Hamsters?
Fabric is tricky for hamsters. Yes. You can give fabric to a hamster, but make sure it’s unscented and 100%:
- Cotton
- Wool
- Rayon
Do not give your hamster the following materials:
- Polyester
- Nylon
- Synthetic fabrics
Hamsters getting tangled in loose threads can create injury, panic, intestinal blockage and sudden death. Some threads are too strong and a hamster could not break free from them.
Imagine this happening when you’re away for a long period of time. This could be a disaster and all you wished for was for your hamster to be more comfortable.
Is Fleece Safe For Hamsters?
I would not recommended fleece for your pet hamster. This is a popular question because fleece and soft and acceptable for many other pets, but not hamsters.
Opt for cotton, wool or rayon instead. They are 100% natural fibers that do not get tangled up to the point where your hamster cannot escape or break free.
Fleece poses a risk for your hamster to get tangled around the limbs and cause internal blockage as well.
What Material Is Safe for Hamsters?
Hamsters require some material for nesting. They are depending on you to provide it as they cannot venture out into the wild to find something suitable. Look to give them them the following:
- 100% natural moss
- toilet paper
- dried leaves
- un-scented paper products
- shredded paper
- 100% cotton
- 100% rayon
- 100% wool
Any synthetic fibers and fabrics pose a risk of the thread getting tangled up in the sensitive feet or bodies of hamsters who are bound to chew on them. Avoid them at all costs.
Can You Use Fabric for Hamster Bedding?
Fabric scraps or pieces of natural and unscented fabric that are derived from a single source is acceptable for hamster bedding. The problem lies with synthetic fabrics with scents or strong threads.
They are usually made from a combination of ingredients to compose a thread that is durable for humans, but this poses risks for hamsters and their delicate limbs or digestive systems.
Ingesting a bit of cotton may pass through their digestive systems, but a strong thread of fabric like polyester or fleece would likely end up causing internal blockages.
We still believe that shredded paper is your best pet for hamster bedding over any fabric.
Can I Put a Blanket in My Hamster’s Cage?
Putting a warm blanket in your hamster’s cage sounds like a great idea, but there are factors to consider.
- Will you be washing this blanket multiple times per week?
- What if your hamster ingests thread from this blanket when it gnaws on the material?
- What is this blanket’s fabric material?
All of the questions are factors to consider. If you choose to use blankets, go for 100% cotton, wool or rayon and leave out the synthetic fibers.
A blanket is a good idea to place over the hamster’s cage to reduce external stimuli that could be disturbing, stressing or keeping your hamster alert or awake too long. It’s a great way to say goodnight with a blanket cover ending to the day.
Recommended Reading : Do you have a guinea pig and are wondering if you can keep them in the same cage as your hamster? Take a look at this article I wrote to find out the answer.
Can Hamsters Play With Cotton?
Yes. Hamsters like to play with toys and cotton could be the material it is made from. Durable and tougher cotton is still a risk, but the threads are lighter and easier to pass through their sensitive digestive systems if accidentally ingested.
Cotton is used by rodents to build nests and generally acceptable as such. Expect the cotton to be torn and bitten by your hamster. You will need to clean it once there are stains of urine, feces or food on it to prevent contamination.
What is the Best Bedding for Hamsters?
Using pine or shaving of cedar are harder and can cause splinters on your hamster’s delicate limbs. Your hamster’s lungs can also be irritated by these incorrect options for bedding.
The best hamster bedding options include:
- Aspen shavings
- Paper based bedding
- Timothy hay
- Toilet paper
- Coconut fiber
The best bedding for us is anything made of paper. We have a paper shredder handy to make limitless supplies of bedding that gets soiled and easily tossed away. We save time and money this way.
Can I Put a Sock in My Hamster Cage?
A sock made of 100% cotton is deemed safe by most owners of hamsters who have tried it. Your hamster could consider it a toy or tunnel to burrow into. It could be a sleeping bag and a warm material to snuggle inside.
Hamsters will definitely chew on the cotton and use it inevitably as nest lining if they can drag it over to their rest area.
Cotton made from synthetic fibers or dyed in various colors should be avoided for health reasons. Stick to a white sock that is clean and made of only cotton or wool.
What NOT to Use for Hamster Bedding
There are many items that we have considered for a hamster’s bedding. We have relied on the help of community members who have advised through experience.
We can agree that the following materials pose too much risk to be used safely as hamster bedding:
- Cat litter
- Softwood shaving like cedar and pine
- Corn cob
- Synthetic fibers like polyester or fleece
Be careful when using cotton or wool fabrics as well. Although we believe they are safest fabrics to consider in a hamster’s cage, they can still be torn off into tiny threads that could cause intestinal blockages in your delicate hamster’s digestive system.
Thank you for visiting PocketPetCentral.com for the best information to help you enjoy the life of your pocket pet companion in a fun, safe & healthy way.