I used to use Vet bed and Pro-fleece - same things! My stuff had the woven green backing and was quite flexible. I should imagine that if it is very stiff, it would be difficult to get it in the washing machine - if that is indeed how you wash yours? Where did you get yours from? I got most of mine from DogProductsdirect.co.uk and Profleece.com.
I got both my old vet bed and the new from e bay. I think the new one will be OK but was just a bit concerned that it wasn't green on the back. I put all my vet bed in the washer, just have to do several washes.
The vetbed I used was green but I read online that just because it's not green doesn't mean it's not the real thing. Different companies make it now and so it comes with different coloured backing X
Yeah you need an absorbent layer underneath. I initially used puppy pads and newspaper which worked fine, but was costing me a lot on puppy pads because of size of cage so I bought furniture moving blankets and folded them in half so there were two layers and put that under which worked brilliantly....you could also use towels, but I find the furniture blankets smell less and hold more wee. Only downside is it's more washing, but if your cage isn't too big and you don't mind an extra wash they are great X
I put mind straight down without washing and had no problems at all. The more you wash it the more flexible the back becomes and easier to get into the washer. I have a 2x5 piece that can just about squeeze into the washer. It always comes out clean and smells fine but smaller would probably be better for washing. My cage part with the vetbed is 2x6 so I have 2 pieces and that's not a problem. I would suggest cutting it probably an inch bigger than you want around each side as it does shrink a little over time. Best cut with Stanley knife and not scissors as with scissors you cut the hairy bit. If you turn it green side up (or whatever colour yours is) mark with pen where you want to cut, and then just run a stanly knife over it it's really easy. Then just pull away any stray hairs from the edges. I also brush mine after each wash to get it to look nice again as if you don't it kind of gets a bit matted looking (pigs don't mind that tho...just me lol). And brush when wet....it's easier lol. I got mine on eBay from vetfleece and it's really good stuff X
