If you’ve carried out any research on guinea pig bedding, you’re likely to have run into fleece liners. While other bedding options like wood shavings or pellets might be cheaper at the start, the convenience and reusability of fleece win over the hearts of most piggy parents.
But even if they share some common features, not every fleece liner is the same. Let’s have a look at what sets them apart and what things you should consider when choosing your guinea pig fleece cage liner!
Fleece liners have a multi-layer design
Usually, fleece liners are designed with at least three layers: a soft top layer to keep your piggies’ feet comfy, an absorbent middle layer, and a soft layer at the bottom to protect your cage’s base. The first layer lets moisture soak through the fabric, trapping it in the absorbent layer.
You might also find some liners with an extra waterproof layer at the bottom - this provides more absorption but can make liners smell quicker, and is often heavier for your washing machine. Kavee fleece liners for guinea pigs opt for thickness over a big number of layers, combining the two super soft top layers with an absorbent middle layer.
Fleece liners are easy to clean
Fleece liners make guinea pig cage cleaning easier by being reusable, meaning that you can just add them to your laundry load to get them as good as new. But the way you care for them affects their functionality and longevity!
To get the most out of your bedding, it’s important to learn about ‘wicking’. Wicking a fleece liner refers to the process of making the liner absorbent by washing it before using it. Without it, all moisture will remain at the top layer and fail to soak through into the absorbent layer, leaving your piggies with soggy bottoms. To avoid this, simply wash your guinea pig bedding 2-3 times before adding it to your cage.
But of course, moisture isn’t the only thing to worry about with guinea pig fleece cage liners, as poops are equally present and ever-increasing (after all, guinea pigs poop over 100 times a day!). Thankfully, fleece is designed to make quick spot cleans as simple as possible, as the smooth surface lets any brush or vacuum easily remove poop and hay from their cage.
Velvet Fleece VS Polar Fleece
Not all fleece is the same. When you’re shopping for liners, take into consideration what you want your piggies’ fleece to feel like. At Kavee, we offer a velvet-feel premium fleece which makes cleaning after your piggies even easier, as the poop and hay come off the fabric with just one brush. And as the name suggests, it will also feel as soft as velvet.
If you don’t have the budget for this more luxurious version, don’t worry, polar fleece liners will still get the job done and feel soft to your piggies’ feet. In fact, they have better wicking properties and tend to stay cleaner for longer before needing a wash. But if you want to treat your floofs to a premium cage experience, velvet-feel fleece is the way to do it!
Fleece liners help decorate guinea pig cages
The beauty of using fleece liners as bedding for guinea pigs is that not only are they functional, they also beautifully decorate your piggies’ cage. If you’ve ever dreamed of personalizing their home and playing around with different design ideas, there’s no better product for it than a liner.
There are plenty of different designs to try, ranging from neutral tones to colorful patterns. At Kavee, many of our liners are reversible, giving you two designs instead of one! Spruce things up in their cage by simply flipping your liner over - perfect if you want a fresh new look or wish to replace a seasonal print. This also helps delay your next wash and immediately gives you a clean top layer!
Fleece liners are safe for guinea pigs (and humans)
Guinea pigs are quite sensitive to respiratory issues and have really delicate skin. As such, the type of bedding you choose for their cage can significantly impact their health. Wood and paper shavings are popular options due to their affordability, but if they’ve not been properly dust-extracted, they can cause allergic reactions (to both piggies and hoomans!).
Since fleece liners create no dust in the air, they’re completely safe to use. Even sensitive piggies with allergies can enjoy them as they’re made from non-toxic materials.
This bedding also removes any danger of suffocation in case your piggies try to bury under the liner, as it won’t create an enclosure where they can get trapped. Kavee liners have been designed and tested by small pet experts to guarantee the safety of all piggies and their parents. That’s why we designed the top layer of our liners to stay as dry as possible for longer, ensuring that your piggies don’t end up sitting on their own pee, lowering the danger of bumblefoot.
What are the differences between fleece liners, pee pads, and lap pads?
Liners, pee pads, and lap pads are all different types of absorbent accessories for guinea pigs. The main thing that sets them apart is their size, which also influences the way they’re used. Fleece liners are the biggest of the three as they’re specifically designed to cover the base of a cage. As such, they’re available in a variety of sizes, and can be combined together to make great bedding for guinea pigs. But you can also repurpose them to protect any surface of your house whenever you need to get your piggies out of the cage!
Pee pads are designed similarly to fleece liners, as they also have a soft layer at the top, an absorbent layer in the middle, and another fleece layer at the bottom. However, they’re much smaller. This makes them the perfect ally for lap time, but can also work as extra absorbent bedding to protect your cage’s base and delay your next wash. Since they’re so small, they can easily be slotted under hidey houses and into the corners of your guinea pig cage, soaking up pee in any high-traffic areas. Plus, they’re a lot quicker to clean & replace than the entire cage bedding!
Lap pads, instead, are a good in-between size. They can be used in place of pee pads, but aren’t really suited to replace liners! They’re designed to provide an absorbent protective cover to enjoy a furry cuddle without any little accidents. Kavee offers a huge variety of matching pee pads, lap pads, and liners to keep your piggies comfortable wherever they go.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why guinea pig parents prefer fleece liners over other guinea pig bedding options. These are not only safe for piggies, they’re also easy to care for, and great for decorating your indoor guinea pig cage.
Now that you know what makes them special, check out our big selection of fleece liners - we have something for every furry personality, season, and taste. It’s easy to make their home look furbulous!