Making toys for rats
Rats love are very active especially during the night when you aren't around to play with them. This means that you can set up toys for them in their cage for them to play with during the hours when you can't be with them. Rats are very smart and love toys that are slightly challenging to discover. On this page I will show you some easy home-made rat toys that you can make for your rats to leave in their cages or play with during out time.
The digging box
This fun activity is ideal for rats during out time or to leave in a larger cage as it requires a fair amount of space.
You will need: Large sized plastic box (you could use a cat litter tray), rat-safe soil, wheat grass seeds
Instructions:
1. Half fill box with clean soil. (Get sterilised soil from the garden shop with no added fertilisers, chemicals or bugs)
2. Toss in a handful of wheat grass seed (found here) and water lightly
3. Keep lightly watering each day until the grass has sprouted enough (Don't water on the day they are using it or it will be muddy)
4. Bury some of their favourite treats just below the surface and through the grass
5. Add rats!
Warning- This can get very messy if you have enthusiastic diggers
You will need: Large sized plastic box (you could use a cat litter tray), rat-safe soil, wheat grass seeds
Instructions:
1. Half fill box with clean soil. (Get sterilised soil from the garden shop with no added fertilisers, chemicals or bugs)
2. Toss in a handful of wheat grass seed (found here) and water lightly
3. Keep lightly watering each day until the grass has sprouted enough (Don't water on the day they are using it or it will be muddy)
4. Bury some of their favourite treats just below the surface and through the grass
5. Add rats!
Warning- This can get very messy if you have enthusiastic diggers
Pea fishing
Pea fishing is a great game for during out time, it is loads of fun for both you and the rats!
You will need: A suitable tray (You can use a bowl or paint-roller tray)
Instructions:
1. Fill your tray with shallow water.
2. Place it somewhere waterproof like on a plastic sheet or in the bathroom.
3. Add frozen peas and corn into the water.
4. Add rats!
Note - Some rats take a while to get over their nervousness towards water, never place a rat directly into the water or they may act aggressively.
You will need: A suitable tray (You can use a bowl or paint-roller tray)
Instructions:
1. Fill your tray with shallow water.
2. Place it somewhere waterproof like on a plastic sheet or in the bathroom.
3. Add frozen peas and corn into the water.
4. Add rats!
Note - Some rats take a while to get over their nervousness towards water, never place a rat directly into the water or they may act aggressively.
Bundle of treats
This game is ideal for leaving in the cage overnight or while you are out during the day.
You will need: paper towels, treats, string
Instructions:
1. Lay out paper towels several layers thick
2. Place a pile of treats in the middle of the paper towel stack (peas, corn, yoghurt drops or whatever treat your rat likes)
3. Pull up the sides of the paper towels (with the treats in the middle) and scrunch closed
4. Tie it off with string and string it up in the cage so that your rats can just reach it on their back feet
5. Add rats!
You will need: paper towels, treats, string
Instructions:
1. Lay out paper towels several layers thick
2. Place a pile of treats in the middle of the paper towel stack (peas, corn, yoghurt drops or whatever treat your rat likes)
3. Pull up the sides of the paper towels (with the treats in the middle) and scrunch closed
4. Tie it off with string and string it up in the cage so that your rats can just reach it on their back feet
5. Add rats!
Tunnels and Tubes
A great addition to make your cage more interesting!
You will need: PVC pipe or a thick cardboard roll or an empty large drink bottle
Instructions:
1. Cut the pipe/roll/bottle to the length of tubing you are wanting (If you are using the bottle cut the ends off first)
2. Hang up in cage
You will need: PVC pipe or a thick cardboard roll or an empty large drink bottle
Instructions:
1. Cut the pipe/roll/bottle to the length of tubing you are wanting (If you are using the bottle cut the ends off first)
2. Hang up in cage
Easy beds
Perfect for adding into the cage in addition to the main bed for more hidey spots for your rats.
You will need: A tissue box or ice-cream container, scissors
Instructions:
1. Cut a hole big enough for your rat to get inside (You may want more than one door)
2. Hang from roof, attach to cage or just sit it on the ground level
3. You're done!
You will need: A tissue box or ice-cream container, scissors
Instructions:
1. Cut a hole big enough for your rat to get inside (You may want more than one door)
2. Hang from roof, attach to cage or just sit it on the ground level
3. You're done!
The rat run
A great idea for someone who wants to let their rats have a run around but their house is a nightmare filled with electrical cords and places for rats to get lost.
You will need: A few large boxes (high enough that rats can't jump over when collapsed), a few large bull clips
Instructions:
1. Cut the boxes down one side so that they become flat cardboard pieces
2. Stand the pieces up next to each other (slightly overlapping) and attach together with bull clips
3. Continue to do this until a corner of the room or an area is blocked off by the cardboard wall
4. Add rats!
Note - You must supervise them when they are in here since rats are excellent escape artists
You will need: A few large boxes (high enough that rats can't jump over when collapsed), a few large bull clips
Instructions:
1. Cut the boxes down one side so that they become flat cardboard pieces
2. Stand the pieces up next to each other (slightly overlapping) and attach together with bull clips
3. Continue to do this until a corner of the room or an area is blocked off by the cardboard wall
4. Add rats!
Note - You must supervise them when they are in here since rats are excellent escape artists
Fabric levels
You will need: Sturdy fabric, scissors
1. Measure your cage to decide on the size you should cut your fabric. You should add 3cm to each side of what you want the finished piece to be.
2. Draw the square (or rectangle, triangle, or whatever shape you want your level to be) on your fabric and cut it out.
3. Draw a 3cm border on your fabric. Make slits in the corners.
4. To make tying easier you may want to cut away some of the 3cm border. Adding ties along the sides in addition to the corners makes the level sturdier.
5. Tie your level up. You don't want the fabric to droop, so take the time to make readjustments until it is pulled nice and tight.
--To make an even sturdier level you could try folding a piece of fabric in half and tying it up so that it has double the thickness.
1. Measure your cage to decide on the size you should cut your fabric. You should add 3cm to each side of what you want the finished piece to be.
2. Draw the square (or rectangle, triangle, or whatever shape you want your level to be) on your fabric and cut it out.
3. Draw a 3cm border on your fabric. Make slits in the corners.
4. To make tying easier you may want to cut away some of the 3cm border. Adding ties along the sides in addition to the corners makes the level sturdier.
5. Tie your level up. You don't want the fabric to droop, so take the time to make readjustments until it is pulled nice and tight.
--To make an even sturdier level you could try folding a piece of fabric in half and tying it up so that it has double the thickness.
Home-made chew toys
Pretty much everything in a rat cage is a chew toy, but you can make specially flavored toys that your rats are actually meant to chew on. To make a chew toy cut clean pieces of wood, drill holes through them, and then soak them overnight in apple juice with food coloring. Next, bake them in the oven on a low temperature. The baking not only dries out the wood but also kills anything that might be living in the wood which is really important. Finally, I strung the colored pieces of wood onto flexible wire.
For more ideas and instructions on making rat toys go here