Can You Use Shredded Paper As Rabbit Bedding?

Last Updated on February 25, 2023 by Marjon Ramos

Yes, you can use shredded paper as bedding for rabbits. But if you want to reduce the smell as much as possible, stick to using wood pellets. Wood pellets absorb the smell, and it’s easier to clean.

Shredded paper, on the other hand, gets sticky when it gets wet and will often stick to the base of their cage, making it harder to clean.

Also, when using shredded paper, make sure that the ink used on that paper is not toxic to rabbits. Rabbits often eat and play with their bedding, especially young rabbits.

Find out if the ink used in the shredded paper is vegetable-based ink. Newspapers usually use vegetable-based ink, so stick with those.

Avoid shredded paper like magazines, pamphlets, or any other paper whose purpose is to be mass-produced. Those companies will often get the cheapest paper and ink they can without thinking about safety.

Would my rabbit eat the shredded paper?

Yes, your rabbit would chew and eat their bedding if it’s shredded paper. So you have to make sure that the ink used on that paper is not toxic to rabbits.

Generally, newspaper ink is fine to be used as bedding for rabbits. Most of them use ink that’s vegetable-based and is comprised of soybean oil.

Be careful with office paper and check if the ink used is vegetable-based.

And finally, make sure that your rabbit is eating enough hay when they are ingesting large amounts of shredded paper. Hay would reduce the chance of your rabbit developing digestive problems.

Is shredded paper toxic to rabbits when eaten?

The shredded paper in and of itself is not harmful to rabbits. Unless, of course, if your rabbit is ingesting large amounts of paper in lieu of hay. Doing so could lead to digestive problems like GI stasis, diarrhea, and intestinal blockage.

What’s potentially toxic to rabbits is the ink used in those papers.

Vegetable-based ink or ink that’s made from vegetable-based oil is safe to be ingested by rabbits. Vegetable-based ink is most commonly used in newspapers.

So if you’re using shredded paper from your office, check what ink you’re using before making using it as beddings for your rabbits.

Avoid using shredded magazines, pamphlets, or any other printed material that is mass produced. Those companies are more likely to pick the cheapest ink they can, regardless of safety.

Is shredded paper harder to clean up than wood-based bedding?

Yes, shredded paper is harder to clean because the paper would absorb the urine and make it sticky. Not to mention, when your rabbits play, it gets everywhere, so you would have to hunt those pieces out.

For easier cleanup, stick to wood pellets. Remember that your rabbit’s bedding should be safe to eat because rabbits, being grazers, will eat everything.

Pros and cons of using shredded paper as bedding for rabbits.

Pros:

• Cheap
• Dust-free
• Environmentally friendly
• It can be chewed on by rabbits.
• Absorbent

Cons:

• It is harder to clean than alternative bedding.
• It could contain toxic ink.
• It could cause intestinal blockage if your rabbit is not eating hay.
• It doesn’t reduce the smell compared to alternative bedding.

Alternatives to shredded paper as bedding for your rabbits

Alternatives to shredded paper as rabbit bedding:

• Hay: Hay is a great bedding for rabbits. It can be eaten, and it’s soft enough that your rabbit would be comfortable.
• Wood pellets: Wood pellets are great for being used as bedding for rabbits because they are highly absorbent, easier to clean, and cheap.
• Towels: Towels could also be used as temporary bedding for your rabbits. Just make sure that your rabbit doesn’t eat the towel and chokes on it.
• Cellulose: Another great option that is readily available because almost all small animals use this bedding. It’s low-cost, highly absorbent, dust-free, and can be chewed on by rabbits.
• Aspen: Aspen is also a great wood-based bedding. It’s dust-free, non-toxic, and scent-free.

Summary

Shredded paper can be used as bedding for rabbits. It’s dust-free, absorbent, cheap, environmentally friendly, and it can be chewed on by your rabbits.

The downside is that some shredded paper’s ink can be toxic to rabbits if it’s not vegetable-based ink. Avoid shredded paper made with magazines, pamphlets, or mass-produced paper. Most companies that make those tend to cheap out on ink without thinking about safety.

It could also cause intestinal blockage if your rabbit is ingesting large amounts of paper without eating enough hay.

Also, shredded paper is harder to clean than alternative bedding because once it gets wet, it sticks to the cage, making it harder to clean. It also doesn’t reduce the smell as much as wood pellet bedding.

Alternatives to shredded paper as bedding include aspen, hay, wood pellets, and cellulose.

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