Newspaper in cage

[lovemychingary]

Is it harmful to my chin to have a layer of newspaper under his bedding? So far he hasn't found it n started chewing, but I know a time will come when he'll start trying to eat it. Is this dangerous for him to eat?

 

[tunes]

The ink on newspaper is nontoxic, but it's messy as heck. If he moves his shavings and sits on the newspaper it is going to stain his fur. If he decides to munch on it too much, it could cause a blockage.

What is the reason that you put the newspaper down?

 

[lovemychingary]

I guess just as added absorbancy? I think it was just one of those things that was ground into my head when I was a kid. I had a rabbit once and was always told to put newspaper under the bedding.. then again, the rabbit wasn't directly on the bedding, so i suppose it makes a difference. But if its not necessary, then there really is no need for me to keep it there.

 

[bchins]

I use shredded newspaper alot for my chinchillas' bedding. At first they are curious as of thinking "oooo what is that?!", but after they nibble on one piece they could careless about it. They also nibble on the clean wood shavings right after I clean their cages, but after they realize what it is, they don't do anything more with it. And I definitely do not use the newspaper for my show chins, because just like Tunes said, it will stain their tummies.