The toxicity of untreated pine & cedar shavings

Do NOT use untreated wood shavings...ever!

The dust cause irritation in your rats’ respiratory tract and the phenols cause liver and kidney damage. Recycled paper pellets, heat treated pine pellets, kenaf and corncob are more expensive, but far safer, will last longer and absorb urine and most smells effectively.

Straw and hay have poor absorption and may have mites or lice in them. Alternatively you can make polar fleece sleeves and pull it over correx board, cut the same size as your cages’ base. Simply wash it in the washing machine and use it again.

http://buckysbunnies.tripod.com/Pine.html

http://www.ratfanclub.org/litters.html