Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
What is the best bedding for degus?
A soft, absorbent, dust-free paper bedding on the cage floor, with hay and shredded paper on top. That is PDSA's advice, and it covers the three things degus need from bedding: it soaks up urine, it doesn't fill the air with dust, and it is loose and deep enough for digging. PetMD also names paper-based bedding as the type to use.
Degus are burrowers. In the wild they live in tunnel systems, and pet degus still dig, push bedding around and stash food. The RSPCA asks for a deep layer of bedding so they can dig, burrow and hide food, and a solid cage bottom to hold it. A thin scattering of anything on a wire floor won't do.
Safe degu bedding compared
Here is how the common types stack up, using what Degutopia, the RSPCA and PetMD say about each. Absorbency figures are Degutopia's.
| Bedding | Safe? | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recycled paper or card bedding | Yes | Main floor layer; low dust, holds tunnels | Costs more than shavings |
| Plain shredded paper | Yes | Top layer and nests; good for breathing problems | Use plain paper with no ink |
| Processed wood pulp | Yes | Main floor layer, very absorbent | Choose a dust-extracted brand |
| Kiln-dried pine shavings | Yes, with care | Cheap, absorbent (about 400% of its weight), compostable | Can be dusty and gets kicked out |
| Chopped straw | Yes | Low dust; good for breathing problems | Absorbs about half as much as shavings |
| Hay | Yes | Top layer, nests and food all in one | Poor at soaking up urine on its own |
Is wood shavings bedding safe for degus?
Good sources disagree here. Degutopia rates kiln-dried pine shavings as a good, cheap, absorbent choice, and the RSPCA lists non-toxic wood shavings as suitable. PetMD says to avoid wood shavings because they can cause breathing problems.
The difference is in the type. Kiln drying drives off most of the aromatic oils in pine, and dust-extracted brands remove the fine particles. Untreated softwood shavings and anything sold as sawdust keep both. We'd use paper bedding as the main layer, and only use shavings if they are clearly labelled kiln-dried and dust-extracted. If a degu sneezes, has a wet nose or breathes noisily, switch to paper straight away and see a vet.
What bedding should you avoid for degus?
Most bedding problems come from dust, oils or pellets. Steer clear of these:
- Cedar shavings. Degutopia calls them highly toxic if eaten, and their aromatic oils irritate the airways.
- Sawdust. The fine airborne particles cause breathing problems, according to Degutopia.
- Cat litter of any kind. Wood or paper pellets can cause sore feet (bumblefoot) and, if swallowed, a fatal stomach rupture. We'd keep dusty clay litter out too.
- Newspaper and inked paper. Degutopia warns that the ink is toxic to chew.
- Corn cob. We'd avoid it: degus must have very little sugar or starch, and they nibble everything in the cage.
- Scented bedding. Added perfume is another airway irritant with no benefit to the degu.
How deep should degu bedding be?
No charity gives an exact depth; they all say "deep". Degus dig tunnels, so the layer needs to be deep enough to hold one. From that, we'd aim for 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) across the floor, and deeper in one corner if the cage base allows. A cage with a tall base tray makes this much easier, which is one reason our degu cage size guide puts a deep metal base on its checklist.
For even more digging, PDSA suggests a separate deep box of potting soil, and Degutopia uses a mix of organic soil and sand in a high-sided box in the play area. Burgess suggests mixing peat, dust-extracted bedding and bark chippings on the floor. Use soil with no added fertiliser, and keep it in a box rather than spread through the cage, so it doesn't turn wet and sour. Our degu enrichment guide covers dig boxes in more detail.
Nesting material for degu nest boxes
The RSPCA asks for hay-filled nest boxes that the degus can reach at all times. Burgess suggests shredded paper, and Degutopia uses soft, long strips of shredded paper, kitchen roll or torn cleaning cloths. Put some in and let the degus build: they will drag in hay themselves, as PDSA notes.
We'd avoid fluffy cotton "nesting wool" and anything stringy, because long fibres can wrap round toes and legs, and degus chew it. Plain paper is safer and costs almost nothing. For houses to fill, see our pick of degu hides and houses.
How to lay degu bedding
- Start clean and dry. Wash the base tray with hot water and a mild washing-up liquid, rinse, and let it dry fully so the bedding doesn't go damp.
- Lay the absorbent layer. Pour in dust-free paper bedding or wood pulp to about 10 cm (4 in), deeper in the corner you'd like them to dig.
- Add hay and paper. Spread a thick layer of hay and a few handfuls of plain shredded paper on top.
- Fill the nest boxes. Put hay and soft paper strips inside, then let the degus finish the job.
- Return old scent. Mix in a handful of clean, used bedding from before. The RSPCA and PDSA both advise this so the cage still smells like home.
How often should you change degu bedding?
Spot clean every day and do a full change every one to two weeks. The RSPCA asks for toilet and feeding areas to be cleaned daily and the rest at least weekly; PDSA gives a deep clean every fortnight. Degus often pick one toilet corner, so most of the work is there. Our degu cage cleaning routine walks through it.
A sand bath is not bedding: chinchilla sand should go in a separate bowl for short sessions, as our degu dust bath guide explains. For the full care picture, read our degu care guide, and for breathing signs to watch, see degu health.
Degu bedding questions
Is pine bedding safe for degus?
Kiln-dried, dust-extracted pine shavings are considered safe by Degutopia and the RSPCA lists non-toxic wood shavings as suitable. Untreated, dusty pine and any cedar are not. PetMD advises against wood shavings altogether, so if your degu has any breathing trouble, or you're unsure of the brand, use paper bedding instead.
Can degus have hay as bedding?
Yes, and they should. PDSA recommends a deep layer of hay with shredded paper on top of an absorbent, dust-free bedding, and the RSPCA wants nest boxes filled with hay. Hay doesn't soak up urine well, so use it on top of an absorbent paper layer rather than on its own, and use good, dust-free feeding hay.
Can I use cat litter for degus?
No. Degutopia warns that wood or paper pellet cat litter can cause sore feet (bumblefoot) and, if swallowed, a fatal stomach rupture. We'd keep dusty clay litter out too, since degus chew everything. Use loose paper bedding or kiln-dried shavings in the main cage and keep pellets of any kind out of reach.
Is fleece good bedding for degus?
Fleece isn't a good main bedding for degus because they can't dig in it, and digging is one of their strongest needs. Small pieces of fleece or fabric can work in a hammock if they are secured and checked for chewing, as Degutopia suggests, but the cage floor needs a deep, loose layer they can tunnel through.
How often should degu bedding be changed?
Remove wet and dirty bedding every day from the toilet corner and around the food. The RSPCA asks for the rest of the enclosure to be cleaned at least once a week; PDSA gives a full deep clean every two weeks. Put a handful of clean, used bedding back each time so the cage still smells familiar.
What bedding is best for a degu with a cold or breathing problem?
Degutopia recommends shredded paper or finely chopped straw for degus with breathing complaints, because both are low in dust. Avoid wood shavings and sawdust until your vet says otherwise. Any degu with noisy breathing, discharge from the nose or eyes, or laboured breathing should see a vet, not just a bedding change.
