Pet rats are intelligent and playful. They need numerous toys to take care of them amused and energetic. With barely creativity, you probably can current low cost and entertaining selfmade toys to enrich any store-bought toys.
Table of Contents
Safety First
An essential issue when choosing any pet toy is that it is safe. One thing you give your rat must be unhazardous; you should additionally sit up for any bits which may be swallowed and can set off a blockage of the digestive tract. Threads of fabric and ropes may trigger intestinal blockages and free threads might develop into wrapped spherical toes or pose a strangulation menace. Fleece toys are a wide variety since they don’t embrace ropes or threads.
Cardboard
Cardboard containers and rolls from paper towels and toilet paper make good toys. Containers are good for hiding in, though they might usually be shredded fairly shortly (nonetheless that’s fulfilling too!)
One different good idea is to take numerous containers and completely different objects to create a rat playhouse for enjoyment outdoor of the cage all through playtime. Tape collectively a bunch of containers and create a neighborhood of rooms linked by doorways, ramps, bridges, and ladders.
Paper
Most rats love shredding paper. Plain brown paper lunch baggage are good for participating in in along with shredding. Crumpled up paper makes for a fulfilling, if non everlasting, ball. Your rats will probably love digging, diving, and hiding in a plastic bin or area full of crumpled or shredded paper. Paper towels and tissues are moreover good for shredding and your rats may make a nice mattress out of these. Try wrapping or folding a little bit of paper in layers spherical a favorite cope with; shredding and unwrapping the cope with will protect your rat busy for a while.
Wood and Nuts
Wood is good for chewing, which rats should do to take care of their enamel in good state of affairs. Ensure that picket is untreated, not painted, and non-toxic. Branches from apple or willow timber are good as successfully, merely make certain that they are pesticide free. Onerous-shelled nuts current good chewing options along with a tasty cope with inside. Give them sparingly as many nuts are extreme in fats.
Digging Subject
Most rats love a digging area. Take a small cat litter pan or completely different shallow plastic area and fill it halfway with plain sterilized potting soil (not dealt with with any chemical compounds or fertilizer and with no elements like vermiculite). Plant some birdseed or wheat grass and water it to let the seeds sprout and develop for a bit, then let your rats go crazy throughout the area. To attenuate the mess, steer clear of watering the sector for a day or two sooner than offering it to your rats and place it a shower or unfold a tablecloth or newspapers throughout the sector to comprise the mess. Your rats will wish to dig throughout the soil and snack on the sprouts or seeds.
Tubes and Tunnels
PVC pipe is pretty indestructible and is accessible in numerous sizes and configurations. You can purchase it at your native ironmongery store. Buy a simple straight piece or use numerous connectors to create a neighborhood of tubes. Choose a dimension you are optimistic your rats may have the power to match by way of with out getting caught. In case you’re helpful with a sewing machine, it is also attainable to make good collapsible tubes out of fleece or completely different sturdy supplies. Sew a hoop decrease from a plastic bottle or broad cardboard tube into the ends to help keep it open. Sleeves decrease off outdated sweatshirts are moreover helpful tubes/sleep sacks.
Completely different Containers for Hiding and Climbing
Clear jars and clay plant pots positioned on their sides make neat hiding spots for rats. Mini stacking bins (like these meant for office or workshop offers) make good hiding spots too. Washed coconut shells are moreover good for hiding, climbing, and chewing.
Rope
Rats are very agile and like to climb on ropes. Chances are you’ll make little rope ladders and bridges for throughout the cage. Cotton ropes could be present in thick widths and are sometimes at {{hardware}} or horse present retailers. Merely make certain that the configuration of ropes doesn’t pose a strangulation menace and that your rats normally aren’t unraveling the threads.