Keep guinea pigs in fleece | How does guinea pig fleece work?

In recent years, there have been significant developments in guinea pig care, with a growing emphasis on understanding the needs of these animals. Their human companions are increasingly committed to creating environments where their furry friends can truly feel at home. One topic currently sparking lively discussion within the «guinea pig community» is the practice of keeping guinea pigs on fleece.

This conversation is particularly prevalent among enthusiasts who house their pets in spacious, animal-friendly indoor setups or allow them free-range living conditions. The concept of using fleece involves skipping traditional bedding materials and instead laying down absorbent fleece liners. Some guinea pig owners swear by this approach, claiming they would never return to conventional bedding, while others remain skeptical about its benefits. In this article, we aim to explore the pros and cons of using fleece as a housing option for guinea pigs, helping you make an informed choice for your little companions.

How does guinea pig fleece work?

When storing fleece, you partially or completely avoid conventional bedding, depending on your ideas about the guinea pig enclosure. Instead, fleece blankets are used, which are placed over an incontinence pad (Molton pad). The fleece as the top layer transmits urine to the next layer, which absorbs it. This keeps the floor dry and clean for the guinea pigs.

Benefits of maintaining guinea pig fleece

Storing fleece has numerous advantages: Since pads can be washed in the washing machine, less waste is produced. The formation of odors is also significantly reduced because, unlike bed linen, fleece pillows have no odor of their own. They also offer a better grip: guinea pigs find grip more easily, slip less and can therefore move more freely. Despite the higher purchase price, the long-term costs are lower than with conventional bed linen. Last but not least, fleece farming also offers allergy sufferers (humans and animals) a suitable alternative, as the waste often creates a lot of dust, which can irritate the respiratory tract. Furthermore, even the most thorough cleaning cannot prevent the spread of waste in the room. Furthermore, neither excrement nor food scraps can be buried in the litter box, which means an increase in hygiene.

Disadvantages of keeping guinea pigs in fleece

To help you decide for or against keeping fleece, the possible disadvantages should of course not be ignored: instead of throwing away the bed linen, you have to do the laundry, which obviously involves more work and can put a strain on the washing machine in the long run. Furthermore, some owners perceive this form of farming as not close to nature. Since guinea pigs do not initially have the ability to dig on different surfaces when kept in the fleece, they should be able to do this with special digging boxes. Of course it is possible to combine fleece and conventional litter in different parts of the enclosure to combine the advantages of both types of enclosure. This means that pigs can dig to their heart’s content in the litter section, while the fleece section is ideal for running and romping. However, this also increases the cleaning effort, as the bed linen sometimes sticks rather stubbornly to the fleece.

Practical advice: What should you pay attention to when keeping guinea pigs in the fleece?

In order for fleece management to work well, some points must be taken into account. First, you need to prepare to take advantage of the benefits of fleece conservation:

1) Protect the soil

The floor must be urine-proof to prevent it from being contaminated by urine leaks. Whether PVC, coated wood, pond liner or oilcloth, there are many options for protecting your floor

2) Absorbent pads – pee absorbents

As the first layer or bottom layer, pads that absorb urine are needed. Washable incontinence mats (Molton absorbents) have proven useful for this purpose. Disposable changing tables can also be used, but in the long run they pollute both the environment through waste and your wallet. Care must also be taken to ensure that guinea pigs cannot munch on them. There are big differences in quality when it comes to incontinence pads. It is not worth saving here, since high-quality pads absorb urine better and do not shrink and do not lose their shape so quickly during washing.

3) Fleece blankets

The top layer is made of fleece blankets, available in different shapes and sizes. At our adventure markets at Kölle Zoo we offer fleece linings that are ideal for storing fleece. These fleece blankets are placed as a top layer over the absorbent base. The corners can be turned up, especially at the beginning, to avoid gnawing. The fleece allows liquids such as urine to pass through to the next layer, but remains dry and clean.

4) Wash before use

To achieve this effect both incontinence mattresses and fleece blankets must be washed at least three times at 60 degrees before use. This allows on the one hand to remove harmful substances, but on the other hand the material contracts, which is important for functionality.

5) Additional tampons for pee

Since guinea pigs like to urinate in protected places, such as shelters, it is a good idea to attach additional small pads to them. These consist of incontinence mats and pieces of fleece sewn tightly together and can be changed daily to keep the enclosure clean.

6) Cleaning

The rest of the enclosure therefore only needs to be thoroughly cleaned about once a week. However, to remove excrement, food remains, etc., it is necessary to sweep the enclosure once a day, for example with a rubber broom. A handheld vacuum cleaner also came in handy.

Important: Washing materials before use is important to achieve the desired functionality. However, expect these to shrink by around 10cm and buy them a little larger accordingly.

7) Washing instructions

When washing fleece and incontinence pads, it is advisable to shake them well first to remove any residues of hay, hair, etc. A laundry net can offer additional protection to the washing machine, as experience shows that hay can never be completely removed. You should definitely avoid fabric softener, as it can limit urine permeability. Choose a detergent that is as fragrance-free as possible so as not to irritate your piggy’s sensitive respiratory tract. Both incontinence pads and fleece blankets should be cleaned to at least 60 degrees. An additional spin cycle is recommended for incontinence diapers because they naturally absorb a lot of liquid when washed.

Important: To be able to conserve the fleece in a practical way, all utensils are needed in duplicate, since washing and drying are necessary before they can be reused.

Conclusion

It is not for nothing that keeping guinea pigs in fleece is becoming more and more popular: less cleaning effort, effective odor control and waste reduction are arguments that make fleece particularly suitable compared to conventional litter. Many guinea pigs also enjoy better traction, which allows them to move more freely. On the other hand there is the relatively high purchase price, since all utensils are needed in duplicate, the effort of the washing machine and the less natural impression that is obtained by maintaining the fleece leaves. At our Kölle Zoo adventure markets we will be happy to advise you on a wide variety of breeding methods and bedding options as well as their advantages and disadvantages.