Here are reviews for litter/bedding I've used. Each product will recieve one of four awards: the golden rat (great), the silver rat (good), the bronze rat (average/unimpressive), and the wooden rat (bad). (Click here for other product reviews.)
    
 Pluses: Nice smell. Safe. Inexpensive and easy to find. No dust. Minuses: Shards stick to everything. It is really annoying in wire cages, because it is kicked out and tracked everywhere. A couple of my rats were allergic to it. Tips: Use aspen bedding in aquariums and/or mix with other bedding (like corn cob) to get the advantage of its odor control without so much kicked out. Where to get it: WalMart or other department/grocery stores. Many pet stores. Online at Pluses: I used this when I was a child because we didn't know any better. It smelled nice and we liked it better than cedar (the only beddings we knew of--and we knew cedar was bad). Minuses: Well, it killed several of my rats. I didn't know this then, but I know know. They were poisoned by pine bedding (breathing the dangerous aromatic oils) their whole lives, and died from seizures from liver failure when they were older. Also it can cause respiratory problems. Tips: DO NOT USE PINE LITTER, not alone or in combination with other litter. Kiln-dried pine is probably safer, but I wouldn't risk it. Where to get it: Any pet store, department store, feed store, and many grocery stores. Pluses: Very good at controlling moisture. Cheap and easy to find. Minuses: Easily kicked out of cages. Can encourage growth of mold if not changed often (or wood/bricks are in the cage). Can cause impaction if eaten by young rats. Tips: Mix with other bedding (like aspen) to get the advantage of its dryness and cheapness without it being kicked out so much. Do not use for baby rats, because they could choke on it or get impacted from eating it. Where to get it: WalMart or other department/grocery stores. Many pet stores. (Usually in the bird section). Online at Pluses: Soft and safe. Rats like sleeping on it. Minuses: I didn't like the smell at all, and it didn't control moisture very well. It caused some of my rats to develop sores. It was a bit dusty. Tips: Buy a small bag rather than a large bag of any new litter, so you can see if your rats are allergic to it and if you like the smell/texture. Where to get it: Many pet stores. Online at Pluses: Soft and safe. Rats like sleeping on it. Similar to CareFRESH but cheaper, much easier to find, a little firmer, and with less dust. Minuses: Similar to CareFRESH, less smell but I still didn't like it. A little dryer, byt my more sensitive rats developed sores from it. Tips: Buy a small bag rather than a large bag of any new litter, so you can see if your rats are allergic to it and if you like the smell/texture. Where to get it: WalMart and Target. Possibly other stores.
 Pluses: Very good at controlling moisture and odor. Lasts 2 to 3 weeks without needing changed. Not kicked out of cages easily and doesn't stick to things. Didn't bother me or my rats with allergies. Minuses: Very hard to find and often expensive. Some people don't like the smell (doesn't bother me). Tips: Remove rat droppings occasionally, stir litter, and change wet spots to get the maximum use from this litter. Where to get it: Some pet stores (sometimes sold as cat litter). Online at Leith Petwerks and The Ferret Store |
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