EricLove, are you sure the pine does not have phenols in it? I've read that it's impossible to be rid of them. What do the shavings smell like?

Type: Lifemate Hemp Shavings
Biodegradable: Yes
Flushable: No
Scented: No scent
Shape: thin, paper-like shavings
Colour: light tan
Dust: I don't find it to be dusty at all. 0
Comfort: I'm sure if it was anywhere outside their litter box, my rats would really enjoy it. 5
Odor Control: The best I've had so far, besides pine. 4
Longevity: 3
Tracking: Quite a bit. 2
Absorbency: Could be better...3
Overall Safety: 5
Cost Value: 5

Type: Carefresh
Biodegradable: Yes
Flushable: No
Scented: No scent...but it stinks lol.
Shape: soft cardboard-like
Colour: grey
Dust: Everyone says it's dusty, but I don't find it dusty at all.
Comfort: My rats will sometimes sleep in their litter box on the first day I put it in lol. 0.
Odor Control: TERRIBLE! The litter smells in the first place, and once pee is added, YUCK. 0.
Longevity: Under normal circumstances I would say that it lasts pretty long -- it's pretty absorbent. Howver, due to the smell. I have to change it quite often. I give it a 1.
Tracking: TONS of tracking. I find it all over my house. 5.
Absorbency: 4
Overall Safety: I've heard of lots of rats being allergic to it or having health problems because of it. 2.
Cost Value: 5

Type: Aspen
Biodegradable: Yes
Flushable: No
Scented: None
Shape: small thin shards
Colour: light tan/white
Dust: 4. It can be pretty dusty...I always put it in a collander and strain the dust out of it. Works for me!
Comfort: 3.
Odor Control: Pretty bad...1.
Longevity: 3.
Tracking: TONS of tracking. 5.
Absorbency: 3.
Overall Safety: Lots of dust....Otherwise it's fine. 3.
Cost Value: 5

Ones I've used in the past...

Type: Pine Shavings
Biodegradable: Yes
Flushable: No
Scented: Natural
Shape: Thin small mostly square wood chips
Colour: Light tan
Dust: 5
Comfort: For laying in, 4
Odor Control: 5...The best odor control of anything I've used.
Longevity: 5
Tracking: Definatly 5
Absorbency: 5
Overall Safety: 1. It contains phenols (toxins) and it's too dusty. Shards can also get in the eyes. Before I knew better an used pine (when I got my first rat), he was sick all the time. When I switched he did alot better.
Cost Value: 5

Type: Yesterdays News
Biodegradable: Yes
Flushable: Yes
Scented: No
Shape: Pellets
Colour: Dark Bluish Grey
Dust: 0
Comfort: 0 -- terribly hard and uncomfortable. My rats hated it.
Odor Control: 0 --- STINKY!
Longevity: 0 -- I had to clean out the cages every single day.
Tracking: 5. I don't know how or why, but it got everywhere.
Absorbency: 0. More like it would suck it up and then let it all out.
Overall Safety: 4. My first rat, Frisco, was terribly allergic to it.
Cost Value: 4.


Type: Shredded newspaper
Biodegradable: Yes
Flushable: No
Scented: No
Shape: Shredded paper
Colour: Grey/Black
Dust: 0
Comfort: 3
Odor Control: 0
Longevity: 0 -- Newspaper sucks.
Tracking: 1
Absorbency: 1
Overall Safety: Newspaper does not have toxic ink anymore, so I'd give it a 5.
Cost Value: 5...You don't even have to pay for it...lol.

Those are the only things I've ever used. I recommend Lifemate Hemp above all else. I haven't found anything better and I don't think I'll switch.