Bedding: shredded paper

[hweisert]

We are new to owning piggies and have one male. I have a lot of shredded paper from my job that I get in bags and I have been using that as bedding instead of buying carefresh or the recyled compressed paper. Is that ok? We love our new piggie and I want to make sure we're taking good care of him. I'm very inspired by the cages I see on this site! Thanks for any help you can provide.

[akstrohm]

It isn't dangerous, but it is likely to get wet and heavy and smell very quickly, so it is not an ideal bedding. You will probably have to change it every day to keep the cage clean.

[Ly&Pigs]

It can be dangerous depending on if it's plain or with ink on it. If it's plain paper then you are ok but if it had any type of printing on it and it's not soy based ink, I wouldn't use it.

[akstrohm]

True--I was assuming it would be plain paper.

Either way, I would use a different bedding. If you haven't heard of fleece being used before, I recommend looking into that.

[hweisert]

So it could be bad for him? I didn't think the ink would matter. It's various kinds/colors paper - just whatever's shred at the office. I'll have to look at the idea of using felt. I don't really understand - I mean, that sounds like it would be hard, having to wash it so much and all. He poops so much I can't imagine having a cloth in there like that. I'll read up on it. Thanks for your help!