Cedar or carefresh?

[Veers]

I used Carefresh with my rats after many here said pine and cedar were unsafe. My girlfriend doesn't like Carefresh because it doesn't smell as good as pine, but I can't convince her that pine isn't good for their lungs. So, what's the concensus here?

[mandycoot]

Pine and cedar are absolutely not safe. Too bad that she likes the smell of pine better; she's not going to be happy anymore when you're paying to treat respiratory issues. And hopefully she'd feel bad that her selfishness forced her animals to live in an environment toxic to their respiratory systems.

Why not try many of the other bedding options out there other than Carefresh? There's aspen if she'd rather have shavings, Soft-Sorbent, Critter Country, Eco-Bedding, Yesterday's News, and even cloth. It's not like Carefresh and softwoods like pine and cedar are the only options out there.

[Ratlovingkippy06]

http://ratfanclub.org/litters.html
here show her that

[aphoeniceus]

Try yesterday's news.  Its pretty cheap (if you buy it in the cat litter section) and has no odor.  Can't go wrong with that!  Oh, and I love the smell of aspen, it's not much more expensive than pine or cedar.

And yes, pine and cedar are EVIL

[Sun of Samsa]

What about aspen? It certainly doesn't smell as strong as cedar, or pine even, but being a hard wood (cedar and pine are soft), it won't have the hydrocarbons and acids that are toxic to rats. It's a little more expensive, but still cheaper than Carefresh.

[Poppyseed]

Yuck I think cedar smells hideous! If she likes that smell get a cedar chest and put it in the furthest room away from the rats but do NOT use that as a litter! I like having air fresheners and scented candles and incense but sacrifice that for the well being of my animals. It sucks not being able to light incense but it's not so important to me that I risk hurting their health.

I agree with getting aspen if she likes the smell of wood.

[ashleyjay]

Stick with carefresh please-I use this for my four piggle winks.
The phenols in cedar and pine bedding are not healthy for rodents and may damage respiratory tracts. Cedar and Pine=unsafe for rodents. Piggies don't appreciate the fumes! 
ashleyjay

[Punkygirl0101]

I use aspen and carefresh for my small critters...

PLEASE DON'T USE CEDAR OR PINE FOR ANY ANIMAL!

[Sun of Samsa]

This topic is three months old, and the OP hasn't been active since January 28...