The Dangers of Cotton Nesting Material

  Today we're going to be discussing the dangers of fluffy cotton nesting material for Hamsters. This nesting material is often offered inside tunnels and other toys, or on it's own by most chain Pet Stores. Words used by the Pet Stores to describe it are "Comfy! Safe! Fluffy! Soft!".
   It doesn't matter how many times if says "safe" on the packaging, cotton nesting material can be deadly to your hamster. Hamsters tend to ingest small amounts of their bedding, which is completely fine if you are using a safe nesting material. But cotton nesting material can cause blocks in your hamsters digestive system and cause problems in their intestines; which can kill your hamster. Cotton Nesting Material can also get wrapped tightly around one of your hamsters limbs, and there are cases of a hamster actually chewing off one of their legs in order to get free. In infant hamster, the material can get wrapped around their necks and choke them to death.
  Cotton Nesting Material can come in all sorts of colors, but that doesn't change the fact that it's absolutely essential that you keep it out of your hamsters nest. If you purchase a toy that has cotton nesting material in it, simply remove the cotton before giving the toy to your hamster. You can google "the dangers of cotton nesting material" and hundreds of results will show up in your search.
  Some safe nesting material choices include; Shredded Toilet paper, aspen, and paper based bedding.
 This is cotton nesting material:It's incredibly dangerous to your hamster, so make sure you remove nesting material from any toys and don't give it to your hamster.