Well unless the paper towel smells like a rat or mouse, I wouldn't imagine them trying to eat it. Now if you put a rat on top of the paper towel, then the paper towel might get wrapped in the rat and get eaten. To them it looks like just another cage item. I put mine on top of their RBI hides under their CHEs. But if you are worried, then go for what you feel. My sunglow is only 24" but she is playing ambush predator now and sits under the aspen with just her nose and eyes sticking out looking out the front of the cage. I bet she is waiting for a mouse lol and my beeper is a pet rock who only leaves her hide for water, rat or to poop and my big BCI girl is too big to even pay attention to a folded up wet paper towel lol.