Bedding & Cage Liners
At Neville’s Nest we use VetBed, along with fleece pouches and tunnels. We find it easier, cheaper, and less messy than disposable bedding.
✅ Daily: sweep/hoover up poo
✅ Weekly: wash VetBed + pouches/tunnels
✅ Weekly: change the puppy pads underneath
A nice bonus: there’s no bedding to keep buying or disposing of, and the piggies look ridiculously cosy on it.
You can buy VetBed cut to the size you need, and fleece cosies in our shop. VetBed is also included in our Starter Pack.
What VetBed we use (and why)
We sell green-backed VetBed, as this works better than “non-slip” VetBed due to the plastic on the reverse.
VetBed and cosies can be tumble dried, although there may be a small amount of shrinkage.
Washable bedding: how it works
Washable bedding (VetBed or fleece) works best in layers:
1) Absorbent base layer (underneath)
This can be:
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puppy pads
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newspaper
-
towels
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washable bed pads
2) Dry top layer (what the piggies sit on)
This can be:
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VetBed (recommended)
-
fleece liners
This system works because the top layer wicks moisture through to the layer underneath, while the surface stays dry and comfy for your guinea pig.
There is an initial outlay for this system, but then you are set up for a very long time!
Cage liners: what to buy (and what to avoid)
There are lots of “guinea pig cage liners” online, but they’re not all the same. Some work brilliantly, and some look fine… until you realise they keep the surface damp.
✅ Liners we recommend (TO GET)
These options help keep guinea pigs dry, cosy, and comfortable:
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VetBed (our top recommendation)
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Thick fleece liners made by small businesses (including Kavee-style liners)
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A grey base liner only if you add VetBed or fleece on top
❌ Liners to avoid (NOT TO GET)
Some liners don’t work well because they stay damp, don’t wick properly, or aren’t comfortable long-term.
We don’t recommend:
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Thin ‘single layer’ liners that don’t wick moisture away
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Slippy thin fleece blankets used on their own (they move around and don’t stay clean as long)
Quick rule of thumb
If it’s thin or doesn’t wick, it’ll usually end up damp on top. We want the piggies’ surface to stay dry and comfy (especially for little feet and sensitive skin!).
Disposable bedding options (if you prefer)
The majority of our adopters use VetBed, but some disposable beddings are suitable, should you prefer. These include:
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Aubiose
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paper bedding
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hemp
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Megazorb
These are dust-free and highly absorbent.
🚫 Woodshavings are no longer recommended as they are not safe for piggies’ lungs, and there is also a possibility of causing some liver problems. We don’t home to woodshavings due to this.
Washing VetBed and fleece
A normal detergent can be used, but no fabric conditioner as this prevents it working correctly.
We usually wash at 40°C, but if a piggie has ringworm it can be washed at 60°C.
Use a wash bag (highly recommended)
We recommend a wash bag as this stops hay clogging up your washing machine.
Wash your VetBed inside the bag, then after washing take it out and give it a good shake — the hay will be in the bag instead of your washing machine.
VetBed dries quickly on a radiator or in the sun.
✅ We recommend having two pieces, one to wash and one to use.