I tried several different beddings for my boys Cocoa and Ginger:
A couple of weeks ago, I finally settled on a routine that works for me and my budget.
I line their cage with four pages of newspaper. (We get a free newspaper in the neighborhood in bulk.) Then I place a handful of Carefresh in each corner, which is where they do their business the most. Finally, I shred a few pages of newspaper by hand for them to sleep and play in.
I also put a big handful of hay on the floor, but they end up eating it instead of sleeping on it. (They have a hay rack that is full at all times, as well.)
I roll everything up in the newspaper and throw it out every morning. This is easier for me than trying to do a spot cleaning. Moreover, I can't stand the idea of my guys running around in more than a day's accumulation of poop and pee.
Once a week, I take the cage apart and scrub the bottom section out in the bathtub.
The only part of this routine that I can foresee changing is possibly using paper pellets instead of Carefresh in the corners.
I know that my routine isn't unique. I have learned so much from this forum and continue to do so. I just wanted to share what is working for me in the hopes that maybe it will help someone who is struggling with their cage cleaning routine.
- Carefresh -- worked well, but extremely expensive
- Pelleted paper -- worked best and lasted the longest, but I didn't think that it was comfy for my piggies
- Fleece -- loved it, but we don't have a washing machine, so it's not a practical long-term solution, even with multiple sets of fleece
- Wood shavings -- messy. They ended up getting tracked all over my apartment.
- Newspaper only -- cheap and easy to clean, gets soggy really fast
A couple of weeks ago, I finally settled on a routine that works for me and my budget.
I line their cage with four pages of newspaper. (We get a free newspaper in the neighborhood in bulk.) Then I place a handful of Carefresh in each corner, which is where they do their business the most. Finally, I shred a few pages of newspaper by hand for them to sleep and play in.
I also put a big handful of hay on the floor, but they end up eating it instead of sleeping on it. (They have a hay rack that is full at all times, as well.)
I roll everything up in the newspaper and throw it out every morning. This is easier for me than trying to do a spot cleaning. Moreover, I can't stand the idea of my guys running around in more than a day's accumulation of poop and pee.
Once a week, I take the cage apart and scrub the bottom section out in the bathtub.
The only part of this routine that I can foresee changing is possibly using paper pellets instead of Carefresh in the corners.
I know that my routine isn't unique. I have learned so much from this forum and continue to do so. I just wanted to share what is working for me in the hopes that maybe it will help someone who is struggling with their cage cleaning routine.
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