Washable Bedding options

[Qpigs]

I am wanting to use reusable bedding for my 2 pigs when they arrive, but I am getting overwhelmed with all the options! As a brand new owner, what might be best/easiest to start with? I want to buy something ready to go, rather than make anything. I'm not certain of the cage I'll be using yet, it'll probably be either a Midwest or a 3/4x2 C&C.

I'm aware there are 2 types of fleece liner, one waterproof the other not. The non waterproof one would need something underneath it? Is one easier to use than the other?

I've seen some people using bath mats, but these need additional pads etc under them?

I've seen people have used washable puppy pads, do these need something over/under them as well?

Anything else I have missed out that may be a good starting point?

Also, does the liner need to be the size of the cage, or is it the same/better to use more than one to fill the space?

I'm sure I can experiment once I am familiar, I just need a starting point and I'm beginning to go mad!

Thank you!

 

[Jenni85]

Hi, bet you're excited for your new additions.

I have a 5x2 C&C cage and I use one 3x2 fleece liner (custom made on Etsy) and 2 bobble bath mats with puppy pads underneath which I change every other day.

 

[Piggies&buns]

it’s not necessarily advisable to use the waterproof liners. People tend to find that they smell much more quickly.
A cage liner which is a layer of fleece on the bottom, an absorbent middle layer and then decorative fleece on top works well.
You may need puppy pads underneath it. You can get washable puppy/incontinence pads though.

It can be better to get two smaller liners to fit the cage - ie if you have a 4x2 c&c cage then get two 2x2 liners as it can be easier on the washing machine.

A Midwest cage just meets minimum size for two sows, considered too small for two boars so the cage you get will also depend on the sex of piggies.

 

[Qpigs]

it’s not necessarily advisable to use the waterproof liners. People tend to find that they smell much more quickly.
A cage liner which is a layer of fleece on the bottom, an absorbent middle layer and then decorative fleece on top works well.
You may need puppy pads underneath it. You can get washable puppy/incontinence pads though.

It can be better to get two smaller liners to fit the cage - ie if you have a 4x2 c&c cage then get two 2x2 liners as it can be easier on the washing machine.

A Midwest cage just meets minimum size for two sows, considered too small for two boars so the cage you get will also depend on the sex of piggies.

Thank you, I'm looking at C&Cguineapigcages which is my preference (much cheaper than Kavee) my only concern being the size of the holes. My girls will be approx 11 weeks old, so I don't know whether that will be safe. I know the Midwest is on the smaller side, I thought it might also be useful as a temporary home should any issues come up or if they need to be looked after by someone else for holidays etc. Any additional advice is welcome

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you, I'm looking at C&Cguineapigcages which is my preference (much cheaper than Kavee) my only concern being the size of the holes. My girls will be approx 11 weeks old, so I don't know whether that will be safe. I know the Midwest is on the smaller side, I thought it might also be useful as a temporary home should any issues come up or if they need to be looked after by someone else for holidays etc. Any additional advice is welcome

if you use candcguineapigcages, you can request the grids are changed to baby bars.
When my two youngsters were that age, they could get through the normal sized grids.

 

[Qpigs]

Hi, bet you're excited for your new additions.

I have a 5x2 C&C cage and I use one 3x2 fleece liner (custom made on Etsy) and 2 bobble bath mats with puppy pads underneath which I change every other day. View attachment 223392

I'm sure there is an obvious reason why you have both fleece and bath mats, if so please could you explain? My next questions would be about how to set the cage out! Your setup looks fab, I can't wait to get started!

 

[Jenni85]

I'm sure there is an obvious reason why you have both fleece and bath mats, if so please could you explain? My next questions would be about how to set the cage out! Your setup looks fab, I can't wait to get started!

There is indeed, I prefer the bobble mats for the hay areas as it comes off them much easier than it does the fleece but that's just personal preference.

Set it up however you want. Personally I like to keep their sleep/chill area one end, kitchen the other end and have the middle for their play area tunnels, grassy balls, Willow sticks etc. I do change it up quite often to give them variety as well.

 

[Cheekypigs]

You can just get cheap fleece (fleece blankets from discount stores are cheaper than buying fleece by the yard, don't ask me how that works) and then lay it over an absorbent layer and tuck it underneath. That's the budget option and that's what we used for years. Now we have home made mats made of a couple of layers of old towel and a layer of fleece on top, incompetently stitched together.

I don't think I would go for the ones with the waterproof backing, as I don't think it will last well in the washing machine. Pig bedding gets washed a LOT. Better just to put a waterproof layer underneath, like plastic sheeting, coroplast or vinyl flooring. That part can just be wiped down and the rest can go in the wash.

Basic fleece works better for pig bedding once it's been washed once or twice, brand new fleece tends to resist rather than wick, so you get drops of pee sitting on top, in my experience.

 

[poggle]

We have a 3x2 all in one kind of fleece described above and a 2x2 kitchen area made of paper bedding, and we find that works well. Whatever you go for I recommend putting pee pads under all the hides, wherever they are - makes cleaning up poops a lot easier and keeps the main bit of fleece a bit fresher when replacing the pee pads regularly.

 

[breakawayfromme]

Bath mats are super cheap option compared to hand made liners (no offence makers) but they work just as well

They dry really quick, I never need to use a dryer just hang inside or out depending on weather, make sure to use a quick wash though as a normal wash (40 mins) they absorb to much water and take longer to dry

I have never used anything underneath bath mats, there is no need, they are designed for a bathroom Afterall so water does not soak though (well you would have to leave them in the cage for a serious amount of time for that to happen)

I always buy the wilko ones as there quite thick, affordable and come in alot of colours

I also use microfiber mop pads as pee pads as again much cheaper, do the same job and match the bath mats

 

[Cheekypigs]

Do you ever have any problem with the bath mats staying damp underfoot? I'm interested in the bath mats but I know that the ones in our bathroom, while they absorb the water, don't seem to get rid of it, and if someone has stepped out of the bath onto it within the last few hours, the mat will still feel wet when you stand on it. I like the fleece/towel mats because they always feel dry, no matter how much pee they absorb. I'm unsure if bath mats can do that.