Wednesday 27 June 2012

Choosing a Rabbit Part 3: Compatibility with Your Home

Many rabbit owners like to keep their rabbit inside the home and even let it run around outside its hutch on a regular basis. This certainly allows the rabbit to get plenty of exercise and it also means more interaction with your rabbit, which children can especially enjoy. But sharing your home with a rabbit does require some thought. And if children and other pets are also present you need to consider the safety of the rabbit and children as well as other pets.

Hutch Location

You will need to think carefully about the best place to locate your rabbit’s hutch within the home. It needs to be in a place free from draughts, but which does not get overheated or suffer from big fluctuations in temperature. Wherever it is in the home you will want to pay close attention to hygiene and especially odour. A good layer of SmartBedz rabbit litter will absorb urine and suppress unpleasant odours. Spot cleaning solids daily will reduce odour from droppings, as well as being a good idea for your rabbit too (see Part 2 on Health Problems). A layer of SmartBedz also makes a good base layer for your rabbit bedding. The sleeping box especially needs plenty of rabbit litter and a good amount of soft rabbit bedding material on top - hay is ideal, but keep it well topped up as your rabbit will enjoy eating it.

Within a home, choice of rabbit bedding is important to the other human occupants as it is to the rabbit. Human owners, especially children, should avoid rabbit bedding which is dusty, as they are likely to be exposed to it during cleaning out. Both rabbit litter and bedding layer should be as dust free as possible.

Toilet Training

Rabbits of all breeds will show a preference for urinating, and to a lesser degree defecating, in a particular place and this can be further encouraged both within a hutch or outside it by noticing where it likes to go and providing rabbit litter in that area. If you want your rabbit to be able to run free you will need to provide a litter tray for it to use. As this litter tray will be permanently in your house, odour and liquid need to be well controlled, by using a highly absorbent rabbit litter such as SmartBedz. In adult rabbits, some urination will be territorial (known as spraying) so it is a good idea to have house rabbits spayed or neutered to minimise this type of urination.

Even if you don’t want your rabbit to run free, but are simply keeping your rabbit’s hutch indoors, you will want to minimise odour by using SmartBedz rabbit litter. As well as controlling odour, SmartBedz natural rabbit litter pellets will help keep your rabbit dry and comfortable when used as a base for rabbit bedding.

Rabbit Litter - visit our online shop

Temperament
If your rabbit is to be handled by people, especially children, you will want to choose a breed which is naturally even tempered and happy to be picked up and stroked. Regardless of breed, unsprayed or unneutered rabbits will be generally more aggressive and more likely to bite or attempt to “mate” with feet, shoes, toys or even other pets! Neutering is therefore recommended for rabbits intended for children to play with.

Neutering apart, some breeds are more docile than others. The Sussex is especially friendly, as are the Dwarf Lop, the New Zealand and the English Spot. Some breeds, such as the Polish, can be trained to be friendly provided they receive plenty of handling when young. Others, such as the Netherland Dwarf are known to be a bit of a handful and are not recommended for children.

Size
Bigger bunnies are more likely to cope with being around other pets such as cats and dogs - a small rabbit is likely to be in significant danger of being attacked by a cat. And larger rabbits are less likely to squeeze themselves into small spaces behind freezers etc - which they are likely to do if frightened or on a foraging mission. Bigger rabbits are easier to keep sight of and more able to withstand rougher handling by children. On the other hand, a bigger rabbit means more urine and droppings to deal with if they don’t make it to the litter tray - and it also means a bigger hutch - which could be a space issue depending on your home.

Rabbit Bedding - visit our online shop

Hair

All rabbits moult, sometimes more than once a year. A rabbit which is running free in the house will therefore deposit significant quantities of rabbit hair on carpets and sofas, which creates work for you. White haired rabbits such as the New Zealand will create the most noticeable amount of mess, which can be hard to keep under control.

Other Pets
We’ve already noted that larger rabbits will be better able to hold their own in the presence of other pets such as dogs and cats. You should bear in mind that rabbits are prey in the wild and are programmed to respond with fear and be on the alert for potential predators. So even if your cat or dog is not actually attacking your rabbit, you should be aware of placing it under undue stress by letting it out of its hutch. Watch carefully for signs of stress such as trying to hide under or behind furniture, "freezing" or thumping the ground with its hind legs (meaning "go away" and a warning to other rabbits). If your rabbit is ambling about happily, feeding and showing curiosity about other things, it is probably happy enough.

Taking care to think about how your choice of rabbit will fit in to your home will help both you and your rabbit enjoy being in your home together.

Tuesday 26 June 2012

Choosing a Rabbit Part 2: Health and Longevity

If you are looking for a pet as a companion it is a good idea to choose a breed which has generally good health and which has a long life span. Health problems will be as stressful for you as they are to the rabbit, and it is easier to form a strong emotional bond with your pet if you can expect it to live a good length of time. And if your rabbit is a pet for a child, then you will want to minimise the distress caused by a pet dying from either natural or unnatural causes. Here we look at the types of health problems that can affect rabbits, and differences in life span.

Rabbit Bedding - visit our online shop

Hygiene Related Problems
Many rabbit ailments stem from poor hygiene or inappropriate or insufficient rabbit bedding. You will avoid the vast majority of these illnesses by maintaining a clean, dry hutch. This means choosing a highly absorbent rabbit litter such as SmartBedz, and spot cleaning on a regular basis to remove solids and any wet patches.

For example, Sore Hocks is produced in rabbits which have insufficient rabbit bedding, resulting in too much contact with a hard hutch floor. A generous layer of SmartBedz rabbit litter, topped off with a soft layer of rabbit bedding such as fresh hay, is all that is required to prevent this painful condition.

For an indoor rabbit, infestation by lice, mites, ticks and fleas is almost always introduced into the hutch by inappropriate rabbit bedding, especially untreated straw and hay, although they can also be passed around between rabbits sharing a hutch, or from other household pets. Outdoor rabbits, especially those permitted to run outside, can obviously pick up these infestations from external sources, and makes managing and eliminating them more difficult. But using a sterile rabbit litter, such as SmartBedz which has been heat treated, will ensure that you are not inadvertently introducing mites or other creatures into your rabbit’s hutch, and will help prevent the proliferation of any that are introduced from outside.

Rabbits are somewhat susceptible to eye infections if there is dust present. Avoid using untreated straw and hay, and of course sawdust, as a rabbit litter or rabbit bedding, as these will usually contain dust. As rabbits like to burrow into a mound of hay or straw, any dust present will very easily get into the eyes. SmartBedz has dust extracted during manufacture and makes an excellent dust free bedding base for your rabbit. Any hay used as a bedding should also have been specially prepared to remove dust and be free of mites, lice etc.

Rabbit Litter - visit our online shop

Dental Problems
Rabbits’ teeth grow continuously throughout their lifetime and are kept to a manageable length by regular chewing of fibrous foods such as grass and hay. Without a suitably fibrous diet rabbit teeth can get too long and require burring down by a vet. A gnawing block is also advisable so that rabbits can keep their own teeth in trim.

But some breeds have additional dental problems brought about by the selections made by breeders. Any breed which has been selected for a shorter head, such as the Dwarf and Lop varieties, are prone to problems such as jaw misalignment. Misaligned incisors can cause a range of problems which cause pain to the rabbit and can even prevent it eating properly. Often teeth have to be removed - which then requires the rabbit to need assistance feeding. In Lop varieties upper teeth roots can grow up into the eye cavity causing visual problems initially, and significant pain later.

Life Span
Longevity is, of course, related to health - and all the problems noted already will tend to shorten a rabbit’s life. However, health issues aside, some rabbit varieties will tend to live longer than others even if well cared for.

The longest lived rabbits - such as the Himalayan, Polish and European rabbits, tend to live around 8-10 years on average, but have been known to live even longer.
The Netherland Dwarf and Dwarf Lop can both live to around 8 years, provided the dental problems mentioned above do not prematurely shorten their lives. The Sussex has a life expectancy of 6-8 years while the New Zealand can expect just 5-7 years and the English Spot lives around 5 years or so.

Giant breeds tend to have much curtailed life spans due to the significant strain that being large places on various part of the rabbit’s body. A giant breed will have no larger a heart than a medium sized rabbit, which means the heart and circulation are under constant strain. Rabbit skeletons are also light and fragile, making a giant body hard to support. Giant breeds often suffer from joint problems and lameness.

As a rough guide, the less "artificial" the variety the fewer health problems and better longevity you can expect. Most breeds are based, however distantly, on the common European rabbit - the type you will see in the wild in field and hedgerows. These are medium sized rabbits with ears that stick up (as opposed to the floppy ears of the Lop varieties), short to medium length coats and long snouts giving plenty of room for jaws and teeth. The closer your rabbit is to this general form, the fewer health problems it is likely to have.

Monday 25 June 2012

Choosing a Rabbit Part 1: Low and High Maintenance Bunnies

Welcome to our short series of articles devoted to the subject of choosing a rabbit. Choosing a rabbit is one of the most important stages of owning a pet rabbit and will have implications for your experience as an owner. In this first article we consider the very practical question of how much work you need to put into looking after your rabbit. Different species have different care needs which will affect how much work you need to put in as an owner - so it’s useful to know which types of rabbit require more or less maintenance before you make your choice.

Rabbit Litter - visit our online shop

Cleaning Out
The main work required of a rabbit owner is cleaning out soiled rabbit litter and making sure there is plenty of rabbit bedding in your rabbit’s hutch.

The bigger your rabbit, the bigger hutch it will need - and this multiplies if you have more than one rabbit. The bigger the hutch, the more rabbit litter and bedding will be required to keep  the hutch hygienic and dry - and the more rabbit litter and rabbit bedding you will need to buy and dispose of. And of a course a larger rabbit means larger quantities of droppings and urine to deal with.

The largest breeds are the New Zealand and Sussex, closely followed by the Dwarf Lop. The New Zealand is the classic "white bunny" as they most commonly have white fur with pink eyes, and can be up to 12lbs in size. They also have a propensity to grow fat if diet is not controlled properly. A Sussex will weigh in at around 8.5lbs, and a Dwarf Lop at around 6lbs.

By contrast, smaller breeds such as the Netherland Dwarf or the Polish will typically weigh around 2lbs each and will obviously require much less space. This means less rabbit litter and rabbit bedding required, and cleaning out will be that much quicker.

However, if you simply love larger size rabbits for other reasons (many of them have the best temperaments and are safer to have around children, for instance) then SmartBedz rabbit litter can significantly help to keep the cleaning out issue manageable. Because SmartBedz pellets swell up on contact with moisture, it makes it easy to spot clean wet areas rather than cleaning out the whole hutch - simply top up the rabbit litter layer with new pellets. A complete clean out will be needed from time to time of course - but much less frequently than otherwise.

Rabbit Bedding - visit our online shop

Grooming
The length of your rabbit’s fur will determine how much grooming is needed to keep it in good condition and stop it getting matted. As well as looking unattractive, matted fur can contribute to a variety of health problems so it in important to take care of your rabbit’s coat. Both length and thickness of fur will increase the amount of grooming required.

Shorter hair breeds such as the Netherland Dwarf, Polish or Himalayan need almost no grooming except occasionally during moulting to help remove the hair that is shedding naturally. A breed with a medium length but thick coat such as the New Zealand or Sussex will require a weekly groom, rising to daily during moulting, while A Dwarf Lop needs grooming at least twice a week and daily while moulting. A long haired breed such as the Angora or Cashmere Lop will require almost daily grooming.

Grooming not only takes time, it takes care to avoid hurting the rabbit or even damaging its delicate skin, so can’t easily be left to young children. So if you’re looking for a low maintenance pet for your children to take responsibility for, a short coat breed will be the best option.

If you are keen on a longer haired rabbit, it’s especially important to ensure the rabbit isn’t sitting around in wet or damp hutches, as this encourages matting on the underside of the rabbit, or on the main coat if the rabbit spends time lying down. Using SmartBedz rabbit litter will greatly help to hold moisture away from the rabbit’s fur and skin until such time as you can remove the wet pellets.

Health Problems
Health problems in rabbits means discomfort for your rabbit and time and effort for you - either in visiting vets, applying treatments or remembering to check your rabbit for particular problems. We look at health problems in more detail in Part 2, but in general, you are more likely to reduce your workload by choosing a breed which is not known to be susceptible to particular health problems.

Attention and Stimulation

Hopefully, if you’re considering buying a rabbit it is because you are looking forward to interacting with it on a regular basis. Rabbits in general like human contact and stimulation, and require some level of stimulation to keep them happy - but some breeds are more demanding than others. Some breeds, such as the Polish, require lots of handling while young in order to get them used to human handling, so you will need to make time for this while they are still kittens. Other breeds such as the Sussex and New Zealand are more docile and will be happy to be handled or left alone, within reason.

To summarise - a short haired, smaller rabbit with no congenital health problems will provide a lower maintenance pet. A large, long haired rabbit that is extra prone to various health issues will require a great deal of time and attention.

Friday 15 June 2012

Caring For Your Guinea Pig From the Ground Up - The Importance of Using the Right Guinea Pig Bedding

Guinea pigs are one of the easiest pets to look after, provided you get a few simple foundations in place: the right guinea pig bedding, a suitable cage and the right diet. Once these factors are in place you can look forward to enjoying these gentle and playful creatures for up to eight years. In this quick guide we provide an overview of how to go about choosing a suitable cage, food and bedding for your guinea pig.

Guinea Pig Bedding - click here to buy SmartBedz from our online shop

Why Does Guinea Pig Bedding Matter?
Guinea pig bedding may not seem like the most important thing to worry about compared to food, cage design and so on, but what you choose to put on the floor of your guinea pig’s cage can have a significant impact on your pet’s health and happiness. Guinea pig bedding/litter is generally used to cover the entire floor area of your guinea pig’s cage. This means that your guinea pig’s feet will be in constant contact with it.
In addition, your guinea pig, being the rodent it is, will naturally forage around for food almost constantly. This means digging around in whatever is on the ground, sniffing and nibbling just about anything it finds. So what does mean for your choice of guinea pig bedding?

Above all, it needs to be non-harmful when in prolonged contact with your pet’s feet and skin,
and it needs to cause no irritation to delicate eyes and noses as a result of dust. It should go without saying that your guinea pig bedding should not contain any toxic ingredients. With these requirements, most owners will automatically start to look for a natural bedding, but is this sufficient?

Will Any Natural Guinea Pig Bedding Do?
Unfortunately there are many bedding and litter products on the market which, despite being comprised of natural materials, can cause harm to your guinea pig.

For instance, some products based on wood containing natural oils such as cedar and pine may smell good to you, but they are toxic to small rodents and many other pets too.

Other "natural" products have sharp points and edges (such as is found in untreated straw bedding, wood shavings or even worse in hemp bedding) which can cause discomfort or even serious injury to feet, eyes and other delicate skin.

And some "natural" products (e.g. sawdust and untreated hay) contain high levels of dust which is unhealthy for ground dwelling rodents to be breathing in on a regular basis.

In short, your guinea pig bedding should be safe for your guinea pig: comfortable to walk on or lie down on, dust free and non-toxic. SmartBedz pellets are rounded in shape and made from pulverised straw, so there are no sharp points or edges. Dust is extracted as part of the manufacturing process, resulting in a virtually dust-free product. And there are no chemicals, perfumes or additives of any kind added to SmartBedz, so it is completely non-toxic and is even safe for your pet to eat.

Guinea Pig Litter

But your guinea pig bedding also needs to work well as a litter. It is essential to your guinea pig’s health that its cage should be kept as dry and clean as possible - but guinea pigs cannot be toilet trained. Although they may show a preference for toileting in a specific area of the cage, this cannot be guaranteed and they may decide to urinate anywhere.

This creates two problems - the first is dampness, the second is odour, especially if your guinea pigs are kept indoors. So whatever bedding/litter you choose also needs to be absorbent and naturally odour suppressing.
SmartBedz can absorb 400 percent its volume in liquid, quickly pulling liquid away from the surface and into the centre of the pellet. This action also drastically reduces the contact time with oxygen, which is involved in the formation of ammonia, the main cause of unpleasant smells. This results in naturally low levels of odour, which can be further minimised through daily spot cleaning. Simply take out the wet pellets (easily spotted since they swell up) and replace with a few fresh pellets as necessary. You should also remove solids daily to keep down odour and for hygiene purposes.

Because spot cleaning is so quick to do, there is minimal disruption to your pet, as well as less work for you. And because you are only replacing small amounts of litter, a bag of SmartBedz will last a good while. A thorough cleanout will be needed sometimes, of course, but far less often than with other less absorbent types of litter.

Disposing of SmartBedz is easy, since it is organic and fully biodegradable. This means it can be added to compost or can even be flushed down the toilet in small quantities.

Guinea Pig Bedding - click here to buy SmartBedz from our online shop

What Sort of Cage Does My Guinea Pig Need?
Guinea pigs like to move around a great deal, and they will be spending a great deal of time in their cage, so it is important to choose one which will give them plenty of space. Guinea pigs like company, so it is best to keep at least two and buy a cage which has enough space for them all.

If you are keeping your guinea pig indoors choose either a traditional wire cage or an aquarium type cage with solid sides. However, wire cages are often too small, so it is better to opt for the aquarium variety.
If you are keeping your guinea pig outside, choose a hutch design with separate living and sleeping quarters. Split level designs provide guinea pigs with additional space and a more interesting environment. It should ideally include a run to allow exercise, but it must be fully enclosed, to give protection from predators such as cats, dogs and foxes. Outside hutches need to include some insulation from the cold, especially on the floor surface. SmartBedz provides good insulation compared to, say, paper, which is too thin, or hay which can be too easily pulled away to leave a bare floor.

Your cage should contain the following:
  • Fresh water and food (see below)
  • A layer of guinea pig bedding throughout, including the sleeping area
  • Additional soft nesting material, especially in the sleeping area
  • A variety of play objects such as cardboard tubes or commercial toys
  • Something to gnaw on, such as wood, to help keep teeth from getting overgrown.

What Should a Guinea Pig Eat?
Grass and hay are the mainstay of a guinea pig’s diet in the wild and can be provided either fresh, dried or in pellet form. Commercially available guinea pig pellets are also suitable. However, if you use mostly pellets, you should still provide some fresh hay.

Your guinea pig will also benefit from fresh fruit and vegetables in order to get necessary levels of Vitamin C. Apples, carrots, celery, broccoli, and other green vegetables are all ideal.

Take care to avoid processed wheat based foods such as biscuits, bread, pasta which can be harmful. Chocolate should never be given to a guinea pig as it is poisonous to them.

With these foundations in place, your guinea pig can look forward to a long and healthy life.

Guinea Pig Bedding - click here to buy SmartBedz from our online shop

Caring for Your Rat

Rats make very entertaining pets, but to keep them fit and content it is essential to select the correct rat bedding/litter, accommodation and food. A healthy rat has a lifespan of two to three years and choosing the right litter for rats is vital to the comfort and well-being of your new pet. This article will look at the best bedding for rats, what to feed your rodent and finding the right cage.

Rat Bedding  - click here to buy our universal pet bedding online!

The Best Bedding for Rats - Choosing a Safe Rat Bedding
The best bedding for rats is one which, above all, will not harm your rat. When it comes to choosing rat bedding it is important to keep in mind that some products on the market sold as litter for rats is actually hazardous to small animals. Sawdust for example, which is traditionally used as litter, has fine particles which can irritate your rat and cause respiratory problems.

Clay based litter, which is used for cats, is also hazardous as it is far too dusty for rats who have small lungs and tiny nasal passages. This type of litter also clumps and is dangerous when swallowed as it can cause blockages which can potentially kill your pet. Wood based litters, such as pine or cedar, contains natural oils which can mask odours, but is actually toxic to your pet should never be used as litter for rats.

The best bedding for rats is a natural, non-toxic product such as SmartBedz which is made from pulverised straw pellets. It has had the dust extracted so the resulting product is completely safe for your pet to use.

The Best Litter for Rats - Keeping Your Pet Cage Odour Free
Rats cannot be toilet trained, so the right litter for rats is one that can effectively curb odour. This will benefit you and your rat. As rats use their nose to detect food, they dislike strong odours, which can be disagreeable to your pet as it interrupts their sense of smell.

As well as being the best bedding for rats from a safety point of view, SmartBedz is also a highly effective litter for rats from an odour control point of view. SmartBedz quickly soaks up wetness and prevents oxidisation, the main cause of odour. As a natural product, it does not include additional scents or any other material which can be unpleasant for your pet.

Cleaning Out Your Rat’s Cage
A cage that is clean and dry is central to your rat’s health and well-being, so it is essential that you keep any rat bedding and litter free of solids and excess moisture. However, a regular thorough clean can be disruptive to your pet. SmartBedz can offer a perfect solution as the pellets are highly absorbent and swell when they come into contact with liquid.

This means you can spot clean SmartBedz rat bedding which causes the least upset for your pet. All you have to do is to scoop out the enlarged pellets and replace them with dry ones. You can then give the cage a much more thorough clean on a less frequent basis, which causes much less of a disturbance and ultimately means a happier pet.

Spot cleaning saves money in the long-run and it means a bag of SmartBedz can go far.

Disposing of SmartBedz Litter for Rats
As SmartBedz is a natural, organic product, it can easily be flushed down the loo or disposed of in your garden to be used as compost.

Keeping Your Rat Healthy
Rats are very sociable and intelligent creatures and it is important to give them plenty of love and attention to keep them vibrant and happy.

As they enjoy company, they are best kept as a pair as they will enjoy a longer and more fulfilling life. They like playing, pretend fighting and cuddling up to sleep together and are far more exciting to watch as a pair than individually.

Your rats generally won’t show signs of illness, often until the very late stages so it is best to check your rat regularly for signs of health abnormalities. If your rat has symptoms that cause concern, then take a trip to the vet who will advise you on how to treat your pet.

See your vet if your rat has breathing problems, a dishevelled coat, discharge from the eyes or mouth, any injuries or open wounds, loses interest in food or attention or has other problems that may cause concern.
Obesity is common in rats as, like people, they prefer treats and fatty food over healthy food. See below on how to give your rat a nutritious diet.

What is the Best Food for My Rats?
As rats, like us, are omnivores, which means they can eat a varied died with lots of different foods. They can eat whole grains, wholemeal bread, brown rice, vegetables, fruit, meat scraps and dog food (including dry dog food).

A balanced diet is important for your rat and a grain mixture can be given as part of this. They will choose the best bits to eat first, so to avoid this, give them a small amount at a time and leave the bowl in the cage until most of it has gone. This will ensure that they get the right nutrients and not just eat their favourite pieces.

Extruded pellets can make a complete diet for your pet, but it is boring for your rat if it is their only form of food. To make it interesting for them to eat, mix these with grains and give them fruit, vegetables and meat as a treat. It is important to feed your rat small amounts of animal protein to keep them fit and healthy.   

Foods to avoid are citrus fruits as these are too acidic. Avoid giving your rat too much fruit and vegetables as this can affect their stomachs. Never give your rat a fizzy drink as it could ultimately be fatal for your rat.
Rats will enjoy commercially available treats, but give these only occasionally and in small amounts. Just a few a week is fine and it is better to give them to your rat only after they have eaten their healthy food.

To keep your rat hydrated, make sure they are given clean, fresh water daily. 

What is the Best Cage for My Rat?
Rats need lots of exercise, so choose the biggest cage you can. A wire cage is best and aquariums should be avoided as they have solid sides and rats like to climb.

Make sure you provide your rodent with lots of toys as rats are intelligent creatures and like an environment which will entertain them. Get creative, as there are all sorts of household objects that will interest them such as big glass jars to play around in. Rat hammocks and some commercially available toys can be fixed to the bars. Place these high up in the cage, so your rat will have to climb to reach them. 

A cage with a wire floor and tray beneath can cause a condition called bumblefoot, which is a painful infection of the feet. Instead choose a wire cage with a solid floor with plenty of litter or bedding to absorb urine and stop odours. A natural form of bedding which is dust free, such as SmartBedz is perfect for your rat to fun around in and non-toxic too.

Make sure you give your rat lots of care. Handle them frequently so they get used to you and enjoy your company. They are great fun as pets and can even be trained to do certain tricks, such as jumping through a hoop, opening a gift or riding on your shoulder. Keep them away from the light and in a draft free area and make sure they have lots of bedding for comfort.

Rat Bedding - click here to buy our universal pet bedding online!

Thursday 14 June 2012

Choosing Pet Rabbit bedding / Rabbit Litter

The first thing a new pet rabbit owner must think about is what type of pet rabbit bedding and rabbit litter they will use to create a secure living environment for their animal. Rabbit hutches need to give your rabbit space to move, stretch, play, eat and go to the toilet. They need to be safe, provide warmth and shelter and above all be comfortable. So when you choose rabbit litter and pet rabbit bedding for your hutch, you need to think about the specific requirements rabbits have.

Rabbits are reasonably large animals who spend a lot of their day and all night in their hutch. This means they are in constant contact with their rabbit litter and pet rabbit bedding.  Therefore your rabbit litter and pet rabbit bedding need to fulfil a number of important functions:

  • They require a high level of absorbency to soak up the amount of waste liquid a rabbit will produce.
  • They must also have very low dust content to avoid irritations to the eyes and respiratory problems which can be common in rabbits. 
  • They must be non-toxic and gentle on the rabbit's stomach, as rabbits are inclined to chew their bedding / litter.

SmartBedz is the perfect product for your rabbit litter and bedding needs. This natural, organic product will create a comfortable and healthy environment for your pet rabbit to live in. It is free from dust so will not irritate your rabbit’s eyes and nose and is made from straw, which is completely healthy to eat.

Pet Rabbit Bedding - click here to buy SmartBedz from our online shop

Why Do Rabbits Need Bedding?

Rabbits need bedding/litter for 3 reasons.

Firstly rabbit litter is required to keep the hutch dry, by absorbing urine and drinking water spills. Rabbit urine can be very strong smelling so something that reduces odors is advisable.

The second use is to give insulation to the base of the hutch and to provide shelter from the weather. As outdoor rabbits remain in their hutches all year round the bedding needs to be warm and dry and keep out the cold. 

Nesting material is the third reason rabbits need bedding. This needs to keep the rabbit warm while sleeping and be made of a pliable material, which the rabbit finds easy to burrow with. Rabbits find bedding comforting and like to move it around themselves. They can push it to the corners of their hutches to snuggle up in winter or to keep it out of the way when they are too hot in summer.

The perfect pet rabbit bedding is made from two layers, something absorbent on the bottom of the hutch like an organic, dust free litter, with soft nesting material on top. SmartBedz is highly absorbent so odors are covered up and locked away naturally from the air which stops ammonia forming. This means that it lasts longer than other types of rabbit bedding / litter before it starts to smell. Also soiled areas can be removed easily without changing the entire cage, which makes SmartBedz a cost effective choice.

Another benefit of SmartBedz is that rabbits can be cleaned out very quickly, by just removing the soiled areas. This avoids them sitting in their own urine and faeces, which can lead to soiled areas on the rabbit causing fly strike.

Rabbit Bedding - click here to buy SmartBedz from our online shop

Do Rabbits Need Separate Bedding and Litter?

Often rabbits will have different bedding and litter, and litter is sometimes kept in a separate litter tray in the hutch. Pellets are the most commonly used type of rabbit litter but sawdust or newspaper are also used. It is important to note however that the ink on newspaper can be a problem and is best avoided. Rabbits need a separate area for their toilet away from their food and bed, and hutches need to be cleaned every couple of days.

Hay, woodchips, barley straw, pine shavings and woven mats are all commercially available as rabbit bedding. If your rabbit doesn’t always use their litter tray or isn’t trained to, then these items act as litter as well and so need to be changed very regularly. In the case of special matting, this should be regularly washed and dried. Sawdust is often placed underneath the bedding in case of accidents to absorb moisture. Rabbits like to burrow and sleep in little corners of their hutch where it is dark.  A separate, shaded bedding area, divided off from the other parts of the hutch will persuade the rabbit to use that space for sleeping.

To eliminate the need for buying and using two different rabbit litter and pet rabbit bedding products, Smartbedz universal pet bedding can fulfil the function of both. However you will need a nesting material such as hay in addition to this. To use Smartbedz, place a 1-3cm layer of the pellets in the hutch with thicker layers in the litter and sleeping areas. Add hay on top of the pellets for nesting. Dispose of soiled SmartBedz pellets frequently and refill as needed and when required, empty and fully clean out the hutch.

Rabbit Litter - click here to buy SmartBedz from our online shop

Why Choose SmartBedz - Summary of Benefits
  • SmartBedz rabbit litter has been specifically produced to absorb liquid and smells, quickly and efficiently which means it needs changing less frequently so costs less.
  • Time spent cleaning out the hutch is reduced as Smartbedz rabbit litter is longer lasting than straw alone and doesn’t form clumps when wet, which makes cleaning and maintenance much easier. Only very soiled areas will require removal and replacing.
  • Smartbedz is also used as pet rabbit bedding so you will not require 2 separate products. By using SmartBedz litter as bedding base, your rabbit will always have plenty of insulation and comfort underneath it.
  • SmartBedz Universal Bedding & Litter is manufactured under rigorous conditions from 100% naturally pressed straw with no additives added and all the dust is removed.
  • The straw used for our pellets is completely natural and a by-product of farming that is available continuously throughout the year, so causes no detriment to the environment.

Choosing a Cat Litter for Your Cat

Choosing a suitable cat litter for your cat is an important decision. Firstly, it is something which your cat will be in contact with several times a day - so you will want a cat litter which is safe for your cat and which your cat is happy to use. Secondly, your choice will have implications for how often you need to clean - so you will want a cat litter which helps to minimise cleaning out time. Thirdly, once your cat is used to a particular type of cat litter, you may feel reluctant to experiment with another type in case it causes confusion or disruption for your cat - so it is important that you choose a cat litter which you can stick with for the long term.

There is a wide choice when it comes to cat litter e.g. clumping cat litter, non clumping cat litter, organic cat litter - and several sub-types within these main categories. But with so many types of cat litter to choose from, how does the cat owner go about making this important choice? Here we present the main types of cat litter currently available and discuss the pros and cons of each, to help you make an informed choice which is right for you and, of course, right for your cat.

The Purpose of Cat Litter
Before looking at the different types of cat litter available it is useful to define the purpose and ideal qualities of cat litter so that we can compare each type according to how well it meets these requirements.

The main purpose of cat litter is to absorb urine effectively and minimise odour in your home. Some cats need a litter tray available permanently i.e. cats which live entirely or primarily indoors. Outdoor cats may need a litter tray available just occasionally, such as during holiday periods (when the owner is away) or when the cat is staying indoors for some reason, such as during illness or when having kittens.

Apart from absorbency and odour control, there are other qualities which make a cat litter more or less desirable as a choice. As we discuss the various types of litter below, we will be considering how each meets the following requirements:

Safety: Chemicals that have been added to cat litter - e.g. to help suppress odour - can cause allergy problems or can simply be disliked by cat or owner. Chemicals used in clumping cat litter can cause problems if ingested, especially if the main material is non-organic (e.g. clay or silica) and cannot be digested or processed within the cat’s intestine. Dusty cat litters can cause allergy or respiratory problems for cats and owners alike, and especially kittens or smaller cats.

Ease of Use: All cat litter trays need to be kept clean for hygiene reasons and so that your cat is still willing to use it (a cat will stop using a litter tray if it becomes over soiled). So some cleaning is unavoidable. But a litter which reduces the amount of cleaning needed will save the owner time and effort. A dusty litter will create additional work for the owner in cleaning up dusty paw prints around the house. The ideal cat litter will also be easy to dispose of.

Cost: Some cat litters have a low purchase price - but these often require larger volumes to be used. Others have a higher ticket price but last for longer. A cost-effective cat litter is one which lasts a long time and where there is minimum wastage (you are not throwing away quantities of clean litter).

Environmental Impact: Many cat owners are also very environmentally conscious and would prefer to use a cat litter which has minimal environmental impact. Ideally, its production should not cause damage to the environment or use excessive resources, and its disposal should not contribute to landfill.

The main categories of cat litter are clumping cat litter, non clumping cat litter and organic cat litter.

Clumping Cat Litter
Most cat litters are of the clumping variety. A clumping cat litter is designed so that when it comes into contact with liquids it will stick together in solid clumps. The clumps can then be easily removed, leaving behind the clean litter. Clumping cat litter is generally popular among owners as it allows them to spot clean without having to empty out a whole tray each time.
While this is certainly convenient for owners, there are some potential health concerns with some types of clumping cat litter.

Most clumping cat litter is made from clay or silica, and often contain silica dust which is believed to be mildly carcinogenic. It is inevitable that cats will inhale and/or ingest a certain amount of this dust as a result of their own natural behaviours. Cats will typically scratch and kick inside the litter tray, which obviously stirs up dust, some of which will attach to legs and feet. Sooner or later they will then clean themselves by licking, resulting in ingestion of the litter dust. Contact with the cat’s saliva will activate the clumping chemical and the clumped litter will then be swallowed. In a mature cat these quantities may not cause a problem, but in small cats or especially kittens, the likelihood of intestinal blockage is higher.

In terms of environmental impact both clay and silica are resourced through strip mining, which is highly damaging to local environments. And because it is non organic, disposal can only be achieved by sending used litter to landfill.

So a clay or silica based clumping cat litter does not meet the requirements for safety or environmental kindness. Clumping cat litter is, however, usually quite cheap to buy.

Non Clumping Cat Litter
Non clumping cat litter is generally made of the same type of material as clumping litter - clay or silica - but does not contain a clumping agent. So its qualities as a litter are much the same as those described for clumping litter above, but without the ease of use of a clumping litter.  The main benefit is the improved safety of the litter for cats, with less chance of intestinal problems due to clumping chemicals. However, any clay-based non clumping cat litter is still, essentially, a very dusty material and can cause nasal or respiratory irritation for cats and humans.

The lack of clumping also increases the use of perfume or other chemicals in an effort to minimise or mask odours - and these additives can be irritants, or simply be disliked by cats, which have an extremely sensitive sense of smell. While a non clumping clay-based litter is usually the cheapest type of litter, the lack of clumping also makes spot cleaning more difficult, and the tray needs to be completely changed frequently - which often wipes out much of the apparent cost benefit.

So a clay or silica based non clumping litter is somewhat safer for cats but still has some safety issues relating to general dustiness and the usual presence of chemicals. And it still causes environmental damage through strip mining and disposal in landfill.

Organic Cat Litter
Organic cat litter is any cat litter made from organic material such as plant matter. Any organic cat litter will, by definition, be biodegradable and need not contribute to landfill when disposed of. And of course production of the plant matter does not involve strip mining. However, this does not automatically mean that an organic cat litter will be completely environmentally friendly. Ideally, an organic cat litter will use a by-product of an existing crop or production process, rather than requiring its own water and fuel resources to grow. Straw and wheat husks are such by-products, but wood and corn are usually not.

The ease of cleaning depends very much on the format of the organic cat litter used and whether it is easy to spot clean. Ideally, an organic cat litter will absorb liquids in a localised way, which can be easily seen and picked out by the owner, rather than spreading through the entire litter.

The cost of organic cat litters can vary enormously depending on the cost of producing the raw material. Using waste products, such as straw, will result in a much cheaper product than a material which has been specially grown for the purpose.


SmartBedz - The Ideal Cat Litter?
SmartBedz cat litter is an organic cat litter made from processed straw pellets. The straw is processed and compressed to produce a highly absorbent pellet which can absorb up to 4 times its own weight of liquid. It absorbs urine very quickly, which locks away most of it from the air, preventing the formation of ammonia which is a primary source of odour. Since SmartBedz controls odours naturally there is no need for perfumes or other chemicals to help with odour control. Swollen pellets are easily noticed and spot cleaned, so there is no need for clumping chemicals to make cleaning easier. During production the dust from the straw is extracted, resulting in a virtually dust-free product. SmartBedz is 100% biodegradable and can be disposed of easily. It can be composted or safely flushed in small quantities and can also be burned. Finally, one 5kg bag of SmartBedz will last one cat about 50 days - equivalent to using around 35kg of a non clumping clay litter.

In short, SmartBedz is safe, easy to use, environmentally friendly and cost-effective - making it probably the ideal cat litter.

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Looking After Your Pet Mice

To keep your mouse comfortable and healthy it is vital that you select the ideal cage, food and bedding for mice. If these things fall into place, then you can concentrate on enjoying your new pet, knowing your mouse is well provided for. This article will look at caring for your rodent and providing the right cage, food and mouse litter.

Mice Bedding  - click here to buy our universal pet bedding online!

A Guide to Choosing the Perfect Bedding
Mice will nibble on almost anything within their reach. So when it comes to choosing your mouse litter, it is important to use one that is safe for them to ingest. As SmartBedz is made entirely from straw, it is completely harmless for your mouse to eat.

Odour Control
Like most rodents, mice will go to the toilet wherever they choose. Despite being so tiny, they are known to be especially odorous, so you will need to choose mouse litter that will soak up urine and control smells - particularly if you have lots of mice, as smells will build up quickly. An alternative is to clean the cage out more often, but this takes time and will disturb your pet. Another option is to use a spray or scented bedding, however, as many of these products contain artificial chemicals, they can aggravate your mouse and may even cause allergy problems. So choosing a solution like SmartBedz for your mice bedding is ideal - as it immediately absorbs moisture and prevents oxidisation, which is the principle cause of odour.

Using SmartBedz you can spot clean your cage on a daily basis and give it a more complete cleanse less often. How regularly this is done, depends on how many mice you have in the cage. To spot clean just scoop out the swollen pellets and put a new layer of SmartBedz on top. This means a bag of SmartBedz lasts longer and is very cost effective form of mouse litter / bedding.

Mice Bedding / Litter - What Not to Use
Softwood shavings, such as pine or cedarwood, are hazardous to mice as the natural oils in the wood can cause health problems.  Sawdust is much too dusty for mice who use their nose to hunt for food. And clumping clay litters should never be used as it can cause blockages in respiratory and digestive systems.
SmartBedz is the perfect bedding for mice as it has no added chemicals so it does not cause irritation. It is made entirely out of straw with the dust extracted and the resulting product compacted into pellets.

Summary of Benefits of Using SmartBedz Mouse Litter

  • SmartBedz mouse litter is non-toxic, so it is totally safe for your mouse to use.
  • It is organic, so can be disposed of on the compost heap and small amounts flushed away.
  • SmartBedz is the perfect solution to litter / bedding for mice as it is non-toxic, quickly soaks up moisture, defeats odour and has no added chemicals.
  • It is virtually dust free, so does not irritate your mouse and as it is a natural product it can be safely gnawed on or eaten by your mouse.

A Balanced Diet for Your Mouse
Always make sure your mouse is hydrated by giving them clean, fresh water daily and cleaning out their bottle once a week.

Mice are rodents and will eat almost anything; however, you need to provide them with the right nutrition to keep them healthy. There is plenty of commercially available food on the market for mice. Extruded pellets provide a balanced diet but can be a bit monotonous for them, if that is their only form of diet. Instead grain and seed based mixes can be used together with extruded pellets.

Foods to avoid include lettuce as it will give them the runs and citrus fruit which will upset their stomach. You can give your mice commercially available treats, but only offer these to them periodically and in small quantities.

Keeping a Healthy Mouse
Mice are sociable creatures and like to have company so make sure that you have a cage big enough for at least two. Two females are the best choice, as two males together will squabble unless they have been brought up in the same cage together.

Make sure that they have lots of human handling and contact; however, as they are nocturnal creatures, this is best done during the evenings.

Mice have a short life-span and live around 18 months to two years, but they can live as long as three years. When you select your pet, choose one that has a smooth, clean coat, pink and clear skin on their nose and tail. Make sure they have no discharge on their nose and eyes and their eyes are bright, not cloudy.
Mice can get skin conditions which can be caused by food intolerance or parasite infections. This can be identified by itchy skin or sores. What causes the food intolerance will vary from mouse to mouse but can include oily seeds or peanuts.

If you have any concerns about your pet, make sure you talk through the symptoms with your vet who will best advise you on treatment.

Mice litter - click here to buy SmartBedz from our online shop

Picking the Right Cage for Your Mice
As mice like to have a go at nibbling anything, the best cages for your mouse are those made of wire of glass. A wire cage with a solid floor is a fantastic choice for a mouse as they can use the bars to climb up you can also attach toys to the side. Make sure that the wires are spaced close enough together to keep the mice in (you will be surprised about how small a gap your mouse can squeeze through).

If you choose a glass aquarium, ensure it has a secure mesh lid. Provide your mice with an environment which will stimulate and entertain them, with lots of toys and climbing areas. A glass aquarium means you can give your rodents a deep enough layer of mouse litter / bedding without worrying that it will spill all over the floor.

Whether you choose a wire cage with a solid floor, or an aquarium, your mice will regularly come into contact with the bedding you choose so make sure that it is natural and dust-free option, such as SmartBedz.

Mouse litter - click here to buy SmartBedz from our online shop.

New Chicken Owners Guide to Keeping Chickens

Chicken litter may not be the first thing on your mind when you decide to keep chickens for the first time - you are probably more focused on the idea of having fresh, free range eggs to eat and perhaps the appeal of seeing your chickens roaming about in your garden. But choosing a good chicken litter and chicken bedding can help make your life easier as a chicken owner, as well as potentially helping your chickens’ egg yield.
In this short guide we look at how to go about choosing a chicken coop, chicken litter, chicken bedding and chicken food to help maximise the health and productivity of your chickens, and minimise the work you need to do. We also briefly look at the importance of registering with a vet.

Chicken Coop
The first thing you need to provide your chickens is physical safety, from predators and weather. Apart from preventing attacks on your chickens, a chicken needs to feel secure if it is to lay eggs successfully. Chickens that feel stressed or insecure will lay less frequently or stop laying altogether.

The chicken coop you choose needs to be made of a solid material. Wood is traditionally used, but some models are available made of recycled plastic which are easy to clean and allow mite infestation to be more easily controlled.

Chickens need access to outdoor space for exercise and other natural behaviours. But they also need protection while outside, which affects the design of your chosen coop.
A chicken coop can either be a standalone design or integrated design. A standalone design needs to be enclosed within a pen of some kind, e.g. wire netting, which is high enough to prevent predators such as foxes from jumping over.
Many owners therefore prefer an integrated design, in which an enclosed outdoor space is integrated into the overall design. These types often include a totally enclosed pen, including overhead cover, consisting of wire netting in wooden frames. The outdoor section of the coop may be completely integrated or detachable. The advantage of a built in run, apart from the excellent protection it provides, is that the whole coop can be easily picked up and moved to another part of the garden.

Ideally the main hen house should be off the ground by at least a few inches to help protect from damp. The design of the coop should allow easy access for cleaning and egg collection. Intruding into the coop is a source of stress for chickens, so a design which allows necessary intrusion to be minimised will be easier for both you and your chickens.

Inside the coop there need to be perches for sleeping and roosting, and nesting boxes for brooding and laying, as well as food and water provided via drinkers and feeders. The bottom of nesting boxes and the floor of the coop need to be kept dry and clean - which means using appropriate chicken litter on the floor of the coop and chicken bedding in nesting boxes.

Chicken Bedding and Chicken Litter
Nesting boxes need to be dry and comfortable for brooding hens. Nesting boxes which are uncomfortable, damp or have excessive odour will discourage hens from laying. But chickens will also be stressed if they are moved frequently (e.g. for cleaning out nest boxes). The ideal chicken bedding is therefore something which can absorb droppings, suppress odour, be comfortable to lie on and require relatively infrequent cleaning. SmartBedz is long-lasting, super absorbent and naturally odour suppressing. It is also a completely natural product, made of straw, so it is safe for chickens to peck at. When SmartBedz pellets come into contact with moisture it swells up and breaks down quickly to create a soft bed. Complete cleaning out of SmartBedz chicken bedding is required only infrequently - you only need to remove very wet areas, turn over the remaining litter to refresh it, and perhaps top up with fresh pellets.

Chicken Bedding - click here to buy Smartbedz organic, natural pet and bird bedding / litter in our online shop

The floor of the coop will receive droppings from chickens, especially directly underneath perches. So it is advisable to use a chicken litter on the floor of the coop to absorb moisture and keep down odours. SmartBedz can also be used as a chicken litter on the floor of the coop and, as for nesting boxes, requires only occasional cleaning, helping to minimise disruption to the chickens. We recommend using around 2cm of SmartBedz in nesting boxes and on internal coop floors. Cleaning out it best done using a scoop with 11-12 mm holes - this allows any dry pellets to fall back through and minimise wastage.

Chicken Bedding - click here to buy Smartbedz organic, natural pet and bird bedding / litter in our online shop

The traditional chicken bedding or chicken litter has been straw or hay. As well as not being terribly absorbent, untreated straw and hay frequently carry mites or lice with them, which can cause an infestation in your flock requiring chemical treatment. SmartBedz is heat treated during production to kill any bacteria or mites and is therefore a contribution to keeping your flock mite free.

Chicken Food
The food your feed your chickens will affect their long term health, as well as the quality of their eggs, so it should be good quality feed designed especially for chickens. Chicks, if you have any, will require "chick crumbs", moving on to grower’s mash or pellets when they are 6-7 weeks old, and layers pellets when they are old enough to begin laying (around 16 to 18 weeks old, although this varies by breed).
Corn and mixed corn is often sold as chicken feed, but this should be an occasional treat, not the chickens’ staple diet.

Since all pre-formulated chicken feed is dry food, it is essential that plenty of fresh water is available to your chickens at all times.

Actively laying hens also require grit in their diet to help produce good sized eggs with strong shells. The grit is used to help mash down the rest of the feed within the gut, as well as being a source of calcium carbonate used in egg production. Some feeds include grit within the feed itself. Alternatively you can buy grit separately and place it in a container for the birds to help themselves. Chickens will regulate their own intake, eating just what they need.

Vet
Chickens are prone to a range of common health issues including red mite infestation, lice and worms. There are also several serious conditions which can be vaccinated against such as bronchitis, Marek’s disease, Newcastle disease (which is transferrable to humans), laryngotracheitis, fowl cholera and fowl pox.

If you are new to chicken keeping it will serve you well to register with a vet specialising in poultry who can arrange necessary vaccinations and advise you on the symptoms of the conditions mentioned above. A vet can also keep an eye on your flock in the early days and advise on good keeping practices to help prevent the development of several of these conditions.

Tuesday 12 June 2012

Organic Cat Litter

Many cat owners are seeking out organic cat litter as an alternative to the conventional clay or silica based litters. But what makes organic cat litter better than non organic cat litter? Here we examine the benefits of using an organic cat litter, looking especially at health and safety issues, ease of use and environmental impact.

Organic Cat Litter - click here to buy Smartbedz organic, natural biodegradable cat litter in our online shop

What is Organic Cat Litter?
Organic cat litter is any litter made from plant matter. Non organic cat litter, by contrast, is made from non-plant material, the most common material being clay of some kind, or silicon. It is important to note that the use of the word "organic" here does not necessarily mean that the plant material has been organically grown (i.e. without pesticides or other chemicals).

There are many different types of organic cat litter available nowadays, made from a wide variety of different plant material. Common types include litter made from wood (e.g. chips or shavings), food crops (e.g. corn kernels), non food crops (e.g. hemp) and crop by-products (e.g. wheat husks, straw).

Benefits of Organic Cat Litter

When cat owners make the choice to use an organic cat litter, it is almost certainly in the expectation that it will confer benefits either to the cat, the environment or both. However, not all types of organic cat litter will provide as many benefits as others - and not all organic cat litter will perform effectively in terms of absorbency and odour control. So it is important to understand exactly what benefits you are hoping for, and then choose an organic cat litter which can deliver those benefits.

Safety Benefits
Many cat owners look around for an organically based cat litter as a way to avoid the health concerns associated with conventional clay or silicon based cat litters. Clay based litters can be very dusty, creating respiratory irritation for cats and owners alike. Not only that, but some types of clay and silica particles are known carcinogens and should be avoided.
In addition, these litters typically contain additional chemicals to aid clumping or to mask or suppress odours. Clumping cat litters can present significant health risks if inhaled or ingested, especially for kittens and smaller cats, while perfumes can be irritants for allergic cats and owners.

Of course a cat litter based on organic matter could also be dusty, depending on the raw material and how it has been processed, and could also have artificial chemicals added to it. If you are looking for an organic litter on safety grounds, be sure to choose one which is dust free and chemical free.

Environmental Benefits
The clay and silicon used in conventional cat litters are produced using strip mining. And when it has been used it can only be disposed of in landfill sites, since it is not biodegradable or recyclable. Strip mining and landfill both create a great deal of environmental damage, and many cat owners are keen to find a litter which does not damage the environment.

Just about any organic cat litter will do less environmental damage than a clay based litter - but some organic cat litters are more environmentally friendly than others. So if environmental impact is one of your motivations for moving to an organic litter, it is helpful to know which types of organic litter do the least damage.

The most environmentally friendly organic cat litters will:
(a) Not cause damage to the environment as part of its production - either by causing direct damage or by using excessive amounts of fuel or water to produce.
(b) Not cause damage to the environment as part of its usage as a product - causing harm to animals or humans.
(c) Not cause damage to the environment as a result of its disposal - contributing to landfill or environmental toxicity.

Using food crops for cat litter seems like a waste to many, as well as requiring water and fuel to produce. Wood-based cat litter may or may not be a waste product or a primary product, depending on its source. The ideal environmentally friendly cat litter will be a natural waste product of an existing production process, such as straw or husks which would otherwise be discarded. It will, as an organic product, also be biodegradable, allowing it to be disposed of safely in a variety of ways other than landfill.

Performance and Ease of Use Benefits
An organic cat litter should be at least as effective and easy to use as a conventional litter. Few modern cat owners will be won over by the benefits of organic litter if it creates more work or difficulties, or if it does not perform well in terms of absorbency and odour control.

To perform well, most organic cat litters require a degree of processing to create an absorbent product. A high level of absorbency is also associated with odour suppression, since it is the ability of a litter to quickly absorb urine which largely determines how well it can prevent the formation of ammonia and, hence, control odour.

SmartBedz - The Ideal Organic Cat Litter?
SmartBedz is an organic cat litter made of straw which has been processed into super absorbent pellets. It is virtually dust free, as a result dust extraction carried out during manufacture, and completely chemical free - it is therefore completely safe for cats, kittens and humans.

The raw material for SmartBedz - straw - is a waste product of existing food production, so it does not require additional energy to produce. It is fully biodegradable and can be composted or can even be flushed in small amounts - it need never see the inside of general waste bin.

SmartBedz also performs well as a litter, being highly absorbent and naturally odour suppressing. Wet pellets swell up, making them easy to see and spot clean. This all means that SmartBedz lasts a long time and, if spot cleaned daily, will need a complete change approximately monthly for an average cat (compared to once or twice a week for conventional litter).

SmartBedz therefore has all the qualities of the ideal organic cat litter. It is a natural, dust and chemical free litter that is safe for kittens, cats and humans alike. It uses a by-product of an existing process, minimising resources, and it is fully biodegradable. But at the same time it offers exceptional performance as a cat litter, especially in terms of absorbency and odour control.

Organic Cat Litter - click here to buy Smartbedz organic, natural biodegradable cat litter in our online shop

New Rabbit Owners Guide to Caring for Your Rabbit

Rabbits make great pets because they are easy to look after, can be left while owners go out to work, and are generally safe for children to play with. But if you have not owned a rabbit before you will need some guidance on how to care for a pet rabbit, including what type of hutch to provide, what type of pet rabbit bedding to use, what to feed it and what medical care it may need. Read our short Getting Started guide to set you in the right direction.

Choice of Rabbit Hutch
A rabbit hutch needs to provide two main things for your rabbit. First, it needs to provide an environment in which your rabbit can feel safe and secure. It needs to provide protection from potential predators (if kept outside, or if there are dogs and cats in the household) and from extreme temperatures. The hutch should include a sleeping area which should be small and dark - mimicking a wild rabbit’s underground burrow. And it needs to contain suitable pet rabbit bedding to allow it to burrow into, which also promotes a feeling of safety.

Second, it needs to be large enough to allow your rabbit to stretch and move about freely.
So the size of hutch required will vary depending on the breed of rabbit, but if in doubt choose a larger rather than a smaller one. Rabbits prefer company and should ideally have at least one other rabbit in the hutch with them. The hutch you choose should be comfortably large enough for at least two rabbits. If you are acquiring baby rabbits be sure to choose a hutch that will be big enough when they reach adult size.

Hutches need to be kept well ventilated and dry - a significant challenge when most pet rabbits will spend the majority of their time inside their hutch and will go to toilet inside it. Hutches need to be cleaned out on a regular basis to help maintain dryness. If kept indoors, regular cleaning is essential to prevent odours getting out of hand. Maintaining dryness and controlling odour can be greatly assisted by choosing the right pet rabbit bedding materials.


Choice of Pet Rabbit Bedding
Pet rabbit bedding has two main functions. The first is to help maintain a dry hutch, absorbing urine and water spills. The second is to provide some insulation from the floor of the hutch (especially important if the hutch is located outside in cold weather). The third is to provide nesting material which also helps keep a rabbit warm while sleeping.

So in practice, the ideal pet rabbit bedding consists of two layers: an underbed of absorbent material covering the base of the hutch, and a top layer of soft nesting material to be used especially in the sleeping area.

For the underbed we highly recommend using an organic, naturally absorbent, dust free litter layer such as SmartBedz. Since rabbits will spend a lot of time exploring a sniffing the ground, looking for food, it is important that the pet rabbit bedding base is dust free to avoid eye and nose irritations. Natural straw can be quite dusty, but SmartBedz is dust-extracted and then compressed into pellets, creating a virtually dust free product. And since SmartBedz is made of straw, it is perfectly safe for rabbits to nibble on. SmartBedz is highly absorbent - up to 400% - and suppresses odour naturally by locking away urine from the air, preventing ammonia formation.

For the top layer, use any soft material which the rabbit can easily burrow into and pull round themselves. Soft pet hay is ideal, but some owners like to experiment with toilet paper or strips of fabric.

Choice of Rabbit Food
Your rabbit should have a fresh supply of hay, food and water at all times. Hay serves as both food and nesting material, and needs to be replenished daily to ensure there is always enough nesting material. Hay and grass should make up the major part of a rabbit’s diet although this can be occasionally supplemented with fresh fruit or vegetables such as carrots or apples. Fresh water should be provided via a drinker bottle (an open dish will be spilt or become contaminated). A food dish should be provided for food pellets or fresh food.

Registering with a Vet
It is a good idea to register your pet rabbit(s) with a vet who can arrange vaccination against rabbit diseases such as Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) and Myxomatosis. These diseases require annual booster shots to maintain full protection, so being registered with a vet is highly recommended.

A vet can also give advice on other common rabbit conditions such as E Cuniculi, Fly Strike and overgrown teeth, allowing you to spot symptoms quickly.

Try to find a vet with a special interest in rabbits, as not all vets will have the specific knowledge and techniques necessary for treating rabbits. In the UK the Rabbit Welfare Association can assist you to locate a rabbit vet in your area.

Monday 11 June 2012

New Cat Owners Guide to Caring for your Cat

Becoming a new cat owner is an exciting time, whether you are bringing home a new kitten or adopting an older cat. But there are several key practical considerations to think about including what type of cat litter to use, what type of food to feed your kitten or cat, and getting registered with a vet. Getting these aspects right will mean that you can focus on enjoying your new pet.

Choosing Cat Litter for Kittens
A kitten will need to start using a litter tray when it starts taking solid food - this happens at around 3-5 weeks of age. If you have bought your kitten from a breeder, your kitten will usually already be at this stage when you bring her home, so you will need a suitable cat litter tray and litter in place straightaway. A kitten needs a low-sided tray that it can easily climb over - it will not be able to use a full size litter tray at first.

The choice of cat litter within the tray needs careful consideration since some types of adult cat litter can present problems for kittens. In particular, avoid any type of cat litter which is dusty (this includes any type of clay-based litter) as kittens will typically explore it with their noses or even try to eat it, creating nasal and respiratory problems. For the same reason any type of chemical clumping litter should be avoided, to avoid blocking nasal passages or intestines.

For safety reasons it is best to choose a type of cat litter for kittens which is virtually dust free, contains no clumping chemicals, or any artificial chemicals at all. Since kittens are likely to be in an out of the litter tray frequently, it is also useful if the litter you choose is easy to clean, does not need frequent changing and does not cause undue mess to the surrounding area. SmartBedz cat litter for kittens is straw-based pellet litter that is virtually dust free, contains no chemical additives, is highly absorbent and naturally odour suppressing. It can be easily spot cleaned and does not generate dusty paw prints around the house. SmartBedz is also cost effective since only the pellets that are actually wet need to be removed.

Choosing Cat Litter for an Adult Cat
For an adult cat, the safety concerns around choice of cat litter are not quite as strong, as an adult cat can more easily cope with a degree of dust, for instance, and is less likely to explore the litter with its nose. However, an adult cat will still benefit from being in a dust free environment to avoid general respiratory irritation - and a dust free litter is better for owners too!

Clumping clay litters are still best avoided, even for adult cats, since all cats will lick litter dust off legs and feet as part of their natural cleaning behaviour, resulting in a daily dose of clumped clay entering the cat’s intestine which is difficult for the cat to digest or process.

Other chemicals used to suppress odour, such as perfumes, are not ideal since cats are very sensitive to smell and may find the perfume off-putting.

And older cats will still kick and scratch in the litter, especially after defecation, and then walk around the house - so a dust free litter will greatly help the owner in keeping the rest of the house clean.

SmartBedz is therefore an ideal cat litter for older cats, as well as kittens, helping to prevent a range of health problems in your pet.

Feeding your Kitten or Cat

Cat food and kitten food is supplied in three main formats: wet, moist and dry. Most cats will prefer wet food, as this most closely approximates to the experience of eating freshly killed meat or fish. Wet food is also the easiest for kittens to eat, especially as they make the transition from milk to solids. It also has a high water content, helping to ensure good hydration, although clean, fresh water should always be provided, even on a wet food diet.

The two main problems with wet food are that it tends to be more expensive than moist or dry food, and that it goes off quickly if left uneaten for more than a couple of hours, especially in warmer weather. For kittens especially, it is usually recommended to feed on demand and to have food always present - which is not always easy or hygienic to arrange using wet food. It either means putting out small quantities of wet food at frequent intervals - which means the owner needing to be around most of the day, or putting out larger quantities with the risk of it going off.

Understandably, owners are tempted into using dry food (also known as kibble) as an easier alternative. Apart from ease of use and hygiene, dry food does offer two benefits to cats. The first is dental hygiene, as eating dry food helps to clean a cat’s teeth. The second is nutrition, with many dry food formulations being specially designed to provide the specific range of nutrients required by cats of different ages. However, you will need to check the formulation of dry foods to ensure it has appropriate nutritional levels. Aim for a high protein, low carbohydrate formulation (cats are not natural grain eaters) and in particular try to avoid formulations which include large quantities of wheat, soy or corn, as these can cause allergic problems for some cats.

For kittens, it is recommended to avoid dry food, at least for the first few months as they may find it more difficult to eat and are most at risk of dehydration. For an older cat, some dry food can be introduced, but a completely dry-food diet is thought to increase the risk of conditions such as gallstones (a side-effect of dehydration). In practice, you will need to experiment with your cat or kitten to find out which type of food it prefers, including which flavours it likes, to find the ideal feeding regime for your cat. This may involve a combination of wet and dry food, for instance occasional wet food, supplemented by dry food to ensure your cat does not go hungry and to benefit from the cleaning effect on your cat’s teeth. You will need to monitor your kitten or cat’s eating habits and health, and make adjustments to the diet as necessary.

Registering with a Vet
It is not a legal requirement to register your kitten or cat with a vet, but doing so will contribute to the long term health of your cat. There are three main reasons for registering with a vet:

1. Vaccinations and Sterilisations

Kittens will require vaccinations for a range of conditions in the first few weeks and months.  Being registered with a vet will ensure that your new kitten receives all the necessary vaccinations and, when appropriate, is spayed or neutered at the right time.

2. Security Chip

A vet can arrange to have your cat or kitten security chipped, making it easier to find if it becomes lost. This is important both for kittens who may go astray, and for older cats being re-homed in a new location. A security chip will make you feel easier about letting your cat outside, resulting in more freedom and better quality of life for your cat.

3. Peace of Mind
In the event of an emergency you will benefit from knowing exactly who to call for help. Looking through the phone book when your cat is sick or injured is not the best time to be trying to find a vet. A vet can provide valuable advice and support about how to care for your cat, saving you time and worry, especially if this is your first cat. A vet can also give you information about different types of condition to look out for, so that you can spot symptoms in good time and take action more quickly.

It is a good idea to research possible vets in your area well before your kitten or cat arrives. You will be more likely to make an objective choice at this early stage, rather than later on when you are perhaps worried about your cat. As well as looking for a vet who is friendly and who you feel comfortable with, take time to consider different payment options for vet services and perhaps look into taking out pet insurance. You may save yourself from large, unexpected bills, as well as heartache by planning for your cat’s medical expenses in advance.