Guinea pig bedding: wood shavings or paper?
Choosing a guinea pig's bedding often comes down to a trade-off between price and absorbency, overlooking the animal's own preference. A direct behavioural study on the question offers useful guidance. Our habitat guides are gathered in the rodent bedding and habitat section.
What the research reveals about guinea pig preferences
A study by Kawakami and colleagues, published in 2003 in the journal Experimental Animals, directly compared wood shavings with a paper cutting sheet in guinea pigs of two different ages, finding a clear preference for wood shavings regardless of age, with markedly more resting time spent on that substrate during the light period (study on Google Scholar). This does not make paper bedding unsuitable, but it explains why some guinea pigs seem less at ease on that smoother substrate.
Wood shavings: comfort, with a few caveats
Untreated wood shavings, free of aromatic softwood, offer pleasant comfort but absorb strong odours somewhat less effectively than compressed paper bedding, which calls for slightly more frequent cleaning.
Paper: hygiene, at the cost of some comfort
Paper bedding absorbs moisture efficiently and controls odour for longer, an advantage for allergy-sensitive households, but it remains generally less favoured by the animal according to the available behavioural observations.
A middle ground: combining both
An absorbent paper base topped with a layer of shavings in resting areas combines both advantages without doubling the cost, an approach to adjust based on how much hay is already in the cage.
Frequently asked questions
Are some wood shavings best avoided?
Yes, untreated pine or cedar shavings release irritating aromatic compounds; only treated or non-aromatic hardwood shavings are suitable.
Is paper bedding suitable for older guinea pigs?
Yes, and it is often even preferable for individuals with sensitive joints, since its smoother texture reduces painful friction.
How much bedding is needed per week?
The amount mainly depends on cage size rather than the type chosen, a point covered in our guide to guinea pig cage size. Browse all our guides on the rodent hub.
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Rodents universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.