Litter and Bedding You need to use some sort of litter for your rats' enclosure so that it can absorb your rats' urine and help control odor between cage cleanings. You also need to provide your rats with some kind of bedding material that your rats can build nests out of. Rats build nests to keep there sleeping area warm and comfy. It is very important to choose a good litter and bedding for your rats' enclosure, as these can have a large effect on your rats' health. First and foremost you want to stay away from anything that will be toxic to your rats' delicate lungs. Other things you will want to consider is how good is the litter's odor control, how comfortable is it for your rats to walk on (hard pellets are very uncomfortable to your rats' feet), and how much dust does it contain? Dust is very bad for your rats' respiratory systems. Even among the safe litters there can be too much dust. Some brands of aspen litter, for example, can contain a lot more dust than other brands of aspen litter, so be very choosey. And remember, you don't have to stick to the small animal department for all your litter choices. For example, Yesterday's News, which is a paper based product, is sold in both the small animal section and the cat section. It is the same litter sold in both sections, but if you buy it from the cat litter section you get a much larger amount of it for a much cheaper cost. Safe Litter Choices... Paper Based Products Plant Based Products Maple Aspen Short Fibered Cloth (such as fleece or felt) Safe Bedding Choices... Safe, Soft Litters Can Double as Bedding Timothy Hay Plain White, Chemical Free Kleenex Plain White, Chemical Free Paper Towels Short Fibered Cloth (such as fleece or felt) A nest built from Timothy hay by one of our rats. Never Use... Pine Products (contains phenols which are toxic) Cedar Products (contains phenols which are toxic) Clay/Sand Kitty Litters (toxic for your rats when they eat it, much too dusty) Long Fibered Cloth (as it unravels the strings can wrap around your rat causing damage or death) Commercial Nesting Materials for Hamsters and Small Animals (these products are not safe for rats) Corn Cob (molds easily)