Pine shavings: This is a classic small pet bedding but is not good for most small pets. The wood shavings aren't very absorbent and there is some discussion that the pine oils can cause health problems in your hedgehog and even cut up their tiny, delicate feet. It is best to just avoid this wood product altogether.
Wood shavings (pine or aspen ONLY) are inexpensive, readily available, and do a good job of keeping odors down. Shavings can produce excess dust, however, so we recommend rinsing the cage, lid, and accessories regularly to keep the level of dust to a minimum. Shavings also come with a risk of mites.
First NEVER use Cedar with hedgehogs. The oils in the wood are toxic to them.
Wood Shavings (4%)
It's not unusual to see hedgie parents using wood shavings as litter for their hedgehog. Pine and aspen are the two most common types of wood shavings used. It is easily found and cost effective. Pine has better odor control than aspen, but they're both about equally absorbent.
We like pine pellets (found at Tractor Supply), but recycled paper pellets work well too. Fleece liner or substrate for the cage. Since our hedgehogs are litter trained here, they all have fleece liners on the bottom of their cages.
Pine is a kind of softwood.
Using pine pellets for heating or cooking is much cheaper than oil, and cleaner than coals. Pine wood pellets has uniform sizes and high density, convenient for transportation, handling, and use.
Leave out foods like tinned dog or cat food and crushed cat or dog biscuits. Supply good quality, meaty hedgehog food from wildlife food suppliers. Never feed hedgehogs milk or bread - milk can cause diarrhoea and bread isn't very nutritious.
In a vet's opinion, yes-it is safer than the clay-based litters which are far more common. It is not unusual for cats to accidentally or intentionally eat litter. Clumping clay litter can build up blockages in a cat's digestive system. However, pine is far less likely to cause similar issues.
Wood pellet cat litter is a great choice. Some cats take a while to get used to it due to the large particle and pine-fresh smell. Environmentally-conscious cat owners love this type of cat litter as it is so natural, eco-friendly and cost-effective.
Cedar is the enemy
They have various toxins and acids in them that will cause serious issues for your hedgehog. The most common health complications cedar shavings can cause are respiratory in nature.
We recommend using untreated wood for hedgehog homes. Wood from certain softwood tree species grown in the UK, such as larch, Douglas-fir and red cedar have excellent durability as exterior timbers. Pre-treated wood can contain chromated copper arsenate (CCA) compounds that are hazardous to many species.
For a hedgehog house in your garden, choose natural nesting materials like leaves, hay or straw. If you are looking for bedding for an indoor hedgehog care box, hay and straw are still fine, but you could also use other small animal bedding, like wood shaving bedding of fleece.
Wood boxes or Huts
Hedgehogs will not chew on the wood but it is likely they will poop on it at some point. Wood products are not easy to clean and sanitize and should therefore be considered disposable. Contaminated wood can harbor bacteria that can make your hedgehog sick.
One of the wood types that can pose a problem for dogs is pine since it can contain both natural and artificial toxins, depending on its source. Additionally, there is always the risk of gastrointestinal injury if there are broken bits of wood that get ingested.
Pine is a low density wood, which means its porous nature readily absorbs moisture in the environment and retains it, leading to mould and bacteria growth.
Hedgehogs are commonly allergic to wood oils. Wood bedding should be avoided, specifically cedar. The oil found in cedar can cause severe upper respiratory problems. Aspen however is widely accepted as a safe substitute.
Pine litter is good if you want a more natural, environmentally friendly option than other litters, but the downside is that it requires frequent changing, often every one to two days. Like clay litter, pine litter should be changed out fully at least once a week.
With pine pellets, where the cat pees the pellets turn to sawdust instead of clumping. The sawdust, however, isn't dusty! Start at one end of the box and brush through the pellets to find the sawdust and sift it out into your trash and voila… you're done!
Woods like pine can absorb a cat's urine—as much as four to seven times their weight in liquid — as well as neutralize the odor. As it absorbs the cat pee, it naturally turns into sawdust, which settles at the bottom of the box, leaving fresh pellets on top.
Also, pine contains a chemical compound called phenol that is toxic to cats. Prior to going to market, this litter is heated and dried to eliminate most of the phenol, though small amounts remain. Ingestion of large amounts and/or chronic ingestion of phenol can lead to severe liver issues and even death.
May Attract Insects
Certain bugs will find themselves attracted to the wood pellets. Due to this, it's possible more insects could be in or around your cat's litter box than usual. But it's essential to note that a cat litter box filled with wood pellets will not cause a bug infestation within your home.
Insects and other invertebrates are the hedgehog's main natural food source. A typical diet includes: Beetles. Earwigs.
Hedgehogs are active during the night, so the best time to put out food is just after dusk, when they are starting to search for food. The Autumn and Winter months are the most important for them to find food to put on enough weight before hibernation, so always make sure you put out food at this time of year.
Apples, bananas, berries, and melons are popular choices among hedgehogs. Vegetables: Fresh tomatoes, fresh green beans, and cooked squash are some options that your hedgehog may enjoy. Starchy vegetables, such as corn, potatoes, and carrots should be avoided as well as dried vegetables.