Are cedar shavings toxic to rats?

If your rat ate this

Contact a vet who treats small mammals now. Say it is a rat and what it ate. Do not wait for signs.
Keep the packaging, label or a piece of the plant to show the vet.
Note what was eaten, roughly how much, and when.
If you cannot reach a vet, call a poison line that covers small mammals (below).
Do not try home treatment. Do not give food, drink or medicine unless a vet tells you to.

Your region

Animal PoisonLine (run by the Veterinary Poisons Information Service)
01202 509 000

We have not verified a poison line that covers small mammals for this region. Contact your nearest vet who treats small mammals, or an emergency vet clinic.

We have not verified a poison line that covers small mammals for this region. Contact your nearest vet who treats small mammals, or an emergency vet clinic.

Your own vet comes first. These services are run by other organisations and may charge a fee. All regions, fees and hours

Applies to: All pet rats. Cedar wood shavings used as bedding. Some answers also cover pine.
Also called: cedar bedding, cedar wood shavings, cedar chips, pine shavings

The oils can irritate a rat's sensitive airways. Source: Merck Veterinary Manual

Merck Veterinary Manual: Providing a Home for a Rat (opens in a new tab)
“Cedar, pine, and other wood shavings contain oils that can be irritating to rats' sensitive respiratory tracts and are not recommended.”
Read on 10 October 2026
PDSA: Rats as pets (opens in a new tab)
“never use cedar/pine woodchips or newspaper in your rat's cage as they can be toxic!”
Read on 10 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Providing a Home for a Rat (opens in a new tab)
“Recycled paper products marketed as bedding are safe and easy to clean.”
Read on 10 October 2026