Photo credit to Hamster Haven Rescue.
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Kleenex Tissue: Facial tissue is super soft and makes the perfect comfy insulation for a hamster's nest. Because it's super shreddable and light-weight (easy to move) hamster's will happily pick up this stuff and make a nest with it. Plus it's completely safe if it's accidentally ingested.
Paper Towels: Paper towels are a bit thicker than tissue, but they're also more durable. They are a great way to keep your hamster entertained. They'll be busy for hours tearing and shredding this stuff apart to make the perfect nest.
Fur: Bits of short-haired real fur make great nest building material for hamsters. Thinks like mink, muskrat, and weasel all work great for hamster's nests. Look for 'tanned fur'- this means it's been treated and isn't raw, so the contaminants are gone. Do not use faux fur- as it can cause severe digestive problems if it is swallowed. On the other hand real fur is absolutely okay to be swallowed in small amounts. But the best part of real fur is that it's so so warm. It can help insulate tunnels for hamster's who live in colder homes- and can overtime prevent illnesses by upping their temperatures and helping them keep a good immune system!
Feathers: Feathers, like fur, help keep tunnels really warm. And because they are so easy to move around hamster's love lining tunnels with them. Look for undyed feathers. All natural chicken, pheasant, and even goose feathers work wonderfully for hamster nesting material.
Straw: Little bails of straw are the perfect nest-building item for a hamster. Not only will they love gnawing away bits, they will be consumed with hours of enjoyment transporting pieces from the block to their nest.
Burlap Fabric: Burlap fabric is a very 'loose' fabric- which means it isn't tightly woven. This is great for cutting into pieces and allowing your hamster to use for nesting material. They will be able to push it into cracks and conform it to their needs.