Cage Liners .... fleece vs sawdust

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Rachel2709

Rachel2709

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So I have 2 piggies who share a cage.
I usually line their cage with newspaper then a generous amount of saw dust topped off with a nice helping of hay.
But I have been thinking about using fleece liners but have no experience so what are the benefits?
How often do you need to change the fleece? Doesn't it smell more because of holding all that wee? How do you wash them? by hand or machine?

Any advise is a help :o)
 
With fleece you need an absorbent layer underneath because fleece is meant to wick away the moisture. You have to spot clean it everyday using a dust pan or vacuum, etc. It starts to get smelly after about 3-4 days but some people can make it last about up to a week. That's when you have to wash it in the washing machine without any fabric softener (because this builds up the absorbency again). They do tend to get a little smelly but the good thing is that it's nice and soft and healthy for the piggies and very cute with all the patterns you can buy. It's also cheap in the long-run because you don't have to buy lots of bags of bedding to fill of the huge cages. Hope I helped you :)

Oh, and it works nicely with the soft fleece beds, cuddle cups, etc. made for guinea pigs. Sometimes bedding tends to stick to these type of fabric accessories.
 
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GuineaPiggea said:
With fleece you need an absorbent layer underneath because fleece is meant to wick away the moisture. You have to spot clean it everyday using a dust pan or vacuum, etc. It starts to get smelly after about 3-4 days but some people can make it last about up to a week. That's when you have to wash it in the washing machine without any fabric softener (because this builds up the absorbency again). They do tend to get a little smelly but the good thing is that it's nice and soft and healthy for the piggies and very cute with all the patterns you can buy. It's also cheap in the long-run because you don't have to buy lots of bags of bedding to fill of the huge cages. Hope I helped you :)
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Basically what GuineaPiggea says, however my fleece lasts up to a week without smelling because I have a small cat litter tray inside the cage they pee in. Works a treat as it means you don't have the hay on the fleece which is a pain.

I made a 'cage liner' out of two small fleece blanket sewn together with two sides added on to allow it to go over the correx board. Works a treat!

My fleece is never wet as they pee inside of the hay litter box which I clean out 1-2 times a day (Quick job).

I have a towel and newspaper under the fleece incase they stop using the tray. xx
 
GuineaPiggea said:
Oh, and it works nicely with the soft fleece beds, cuddle cups, etc. made for guinea pigs. Sometimes bedding tends to stick to these type of fabric accessories.
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Yes this exactly. My piggies love their cuddle blanket but can only use it outside the cage.

What would you recommend to put under the fleece? A towel?
 
Rachel2709 said:
Yes this exactly. My piggies love their cuddle blanket but can only use it outside the cage.

What would you recommend to put under the fleece? A towel?
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A thick towel and newspapers. If you have a look at my thread I found a way to keep urinating to a minimal on the fleece and into a litter tray. It's in Guinea Pig Chat category.
xx
 
first_time_piggie_mum said:
I use fleece most times, occasionally I swap for newspaper and hay (on hot days as I feel it keeps the piggies cooler)

Under mine I use the puppy training pads that you can buy on line, or bed liners for incontinence like these -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-x-Pampe...yBedding_RL&hash=item19d3029bf7#ht_500wt_1202

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A47-30-x-...plies_Dogs&hash=item231f93e9c1#ht_1357wt_1185

Work a treat!
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Puppy training pads are a FAB idea xoxo
I think I'm going to have a nosy for some nice funky fleece material x>>
 
I am going to use fleece liners for the first time when i get my rescue piggies :) looking forward to having a smart, dry house for them to live in :)
 
I have just swapped from sawdust and hay to fleece and I think it is wonderful!:)) Peegs love it, so much quicker and easier to clean aswell! I had a spare matress protector in my airing cupboard which I have cut up to use under the fleece and it has done the job brilliantly! I use two layers of this and then put some newspaper under it too just for good measure! I have also found that popping some kitchen towel under the fleece, on top of the padding helps as you can easily change this twice a day and holds a lot of the wee! Places like poundstretcher are great for buying cheap fleeces which you can then cut to fit your cage and make accessories like snuggle sacks, hammocks etc.
Changed from 'conventional' bedding to fleece on Mon and put clean in today. Would **** have lasted another day or so but will be busy then @) so got it done today! :(|)
 
I know poundland do fleecy baby blankets because my daughter has 1 for her dolls so I will go pick up a few tomorrow and give it a try because they need cleaning out tomorrow any way

Does any-one know if poundland do puppy training pads?
 
Rachel2709 said:
I know poundland do fleecy baby blankets because my daughter has 1 for her dolls so I will go pick up a few tomorrow and give it a try because they need cleaning out tomorrow any way

Does any-one know if poundland do puppy training pads?
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They def had them in my local one so give it a try! Poundstretcher had them too if you have one of those near! x
 
So I have an old towel, puppy training pads & lovely soft fleece blankets ..... tomorrow will be experiment day :o)
 
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