Can Rats Use Straw for Bedding?

Hay/Straw. Hay and straw were considered good substrate for small animals but in reality are generally quite dusty and poorly absorbent. Whist it might be nice to put a handful of hay in for your rats to bed down on or eat, a cage entirely filled with it could become smelly quite quickly.

What can I use for rat bedding?

The simplest rat bedding is just plain cardboard. Old cartons, egg boxes and the tubes from toilet paper are all perfect. Tear the cardboard into one or two-inch diameter pieces and store in a plastic bag until needed. One shopping bag full of cardboard pieces is sufficient for one rat cage.

What bedding can rats not use?

Avoid paper bedding that contains baking soda or fragrance and avoid bedding that contains words such as "odor stop" or "odor control". Instead, look for words such as "natural" or "100% paper". Paper bedding is usually dust free, making it the perfect choice for rats.