ᐉ DIY toys and entertainment for rats - photo of ideas

Active and playful rats should be given a lot of time and attention, otherwise the pet may become bored and even depressed. Therefore, caring owners come up with various life hacks that help not only entertain the rat, but also satisfy its curiosity and passion for adventure.

What are they?

There are many simple yet fun toys you can give to your pet rat or mouse to make them happier.

Tunnels. Rats and mice by nature make and use burrows or tunnels. You can provide ready-made tunnels or let them make their own. You can buy or make tunnels from plastic and place them in a cage, hanging them on stainless steel hangers. You can create your own shape models and create a whole network of labyrinths. Plastic is easy to clean. Be sure to choose a pipe with a fairly large diameter so that the rodent cannot get stuck in it.

You can drill a hole for a tunnel in a piece of wood; in addition to climbing, rodents can use such a wooden tunnel for cleaning their teeth and gnawing on their new toy with pleasure.

Wheels and balls for training. Exercise wheels provide a great way for your rodent to exercise within the confines of his cage. Be sure to choose a safe wheel that will not damage its legs or tail. Solid wheels are definitely preferable to lattice wheels. Rats usually require 28 cm diameter wheels. Some wheels can be hung from the top or side of the cage. Exercise balls also provide a good workout outside the cage.

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Always supervise your pet while he is playing with an exercise ball to make sure he does not get injured and is actually in a safe place. The ball should be kept away from stairs and other dangerous objects.

Climbing toys: Ladders, ropes, branches, pipes, hammocks and other items can provide plenty of climbing options for your pet mouse or rat. They can be attached to the top and sides of the cage to greatly increase the play area of the cage. You can also use bricks and concrete blocks if the cage is quite large.

Toys that rats and mice will happily chew on. Wooden blocks, for example, should be in the cage of the pet rat and mouse so that they can chew on them. This is essential for dental health as teeth continue to grow and need to be constantly cleaned and filed down. Chew toys can be made of wood or cardboard. Inexpensive chew toys can be made from cardboard boxes, paper towel tubes, and toilet paper.

Chopping toys . Mice and rats love to shred softer materials such as toilet paper and straw. Grinding such materials is enjoyable for rodents and provides great entertainment.

Push and carry toys. Many rats like small toys that they can carry or push. Plastic balls with a small bell inside, for example, make a great toy for your rat. Never give your favorite rodent toys made of soft rubber, the rat can chew it and swallow a small piece, and this will cause intestinal obstruction. Always keep an eye on your pet's habits to make sure the toys they have are still safe.

Toys for walking. In the wild, rats and mice spend most of their waking time searching for food. Too often we simply fill the bowl with food, so your pet can soon become lazy and overweight.

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Among other things, it is worth providing mental stimulation to your pet rats or mice by hiding, for example, a special toy in their food. There are many bird feeding toys that can also be used for rodents, such as bamboo pieces. You can pour food into the bamboo and watch how your rodent takes it out. Use your imagination and you can give your favorite mouse or rat toys that will bring them great pleasure.

How to choose?

Be sure to choose non-toxic wooden or cardboard toys. Before you buy expensive toys for mice and rats, look around your house for leftover toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, or small logs of untreated wood. Rats love to chew these things and climb on them. Before giving any toy to your pet, make sure it is harmless. This means keeping an eye out for things like harmful adhesives, paint, and other man-made surfaces.

If we talk about choosing a wheel for running, it is better to choose one that does not have a mesh where a rat’s leg can get stuck. Mice love to run around at night as they are nocturnal, so make sure your wheel is quiet and placed far enough away from your bedroom so you won't be disturbed. If the wheel is attached to the top of the cage, always make sure that your mouse can reach it safely.

Make sure your rat's back is straight and not arched when he runs on the wheel. If the rodent's back is curved, then the wheel is too small.

How to do it?

Rats need plenty of exercise and space to roam, run and generally move around. Unlike small rodents such as mice and hamsters, rats cannot spend most of their lives in a cage. Some owners allow their pets to run free around the house, but unless your home is specifically prepared and rodent-proof, it is best not to do so. Creating a safe rat play area, on the other hand, is the best option for keeping your rodent entertained without damaging your property.

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Proper cage care

Housing for a rat, like for a person, must be kept in order and in perfect cleanliness. The cage should be treated only with natural substances, without pesticides or unpleasant odors, so as not to cause poisoning in the animal, and to avoid various kinds of diseases. It is better to do cleaning regularly - clean the toilet, wash bowls, change fillers, be sure to regularly change the water in the drinking bowl.

General cleaning should be carried out at least once a week , completely change everything, filler, if necessary, replace bowls, drinking bowls, disinfect toys, swings, and other household items.

We will set up an indoor play area

First, you need to clear the area of anything that could harm your rats. While the play area will be enclosed with a barrier, the rodent may be harmed by bright lights, vents, and electrical wires. Clear the area of chemicals, wires, sharp objects and anything that gives off smoke, such as candles.

Choose a location away from walkways and other pets. The best place for a play area would be a corner in the living room with a wooden floor. Just keep the play area clear of things that you don't want to get damaged or become chewed on.

Fort

This is an interesting and cheap homemade toy for rats that will awaken your pets' burrowing instincts. It will also come in handy as a distraction for your rodents from destroying your furniture and other home furnishings.

Take a big box.
Seal all flaps and cut two or three rat exits at each end of the box.
Fill a box with paper towels, newspaper, scraps of fabric, pieces of cardboard, old towels, etc.
Hide a few treats in the box to pique your pets' interest.
Bring the rats to the box.

Your rodents will enjoy breaking through the fort, chewing new exit holes, moving packing material, finding hidden treats, etc.

What toys for rats can you make yourself? Features of material and product selection

Many people decide to get a pet, but not everyone wants to have a large animal, since they need to devote a lot of time to it, and it is also very difficult to maintain such a pet in an apartment. Therefore, an excellent solution would be to get a decorative rat, but this does not mean that the rodent does not require your attention and time. At first, the animal will behave warily and even aggressively, but when it gets used to its new home and its territory, and also understands that nothing threatens it, its behavior will return to normal. The pet will spend most of the day on its own; there are various toys for rats, with the help of which the rodent will be able to fill the lack of attention from the owner. Such products are sold in special pet stores, and you can also make them yourself with your own hands.

Water attraction for pets

In the summer heat, you can arrange fun entertainment for decorative rats by inviting them to splash in a pool with peas. A wide metal basin, deep bowl or plastic tray with a convex bottom will work as a pool. The selected container is filled with warm water and frozen green peas (or corn kernels, if rats like them) are thrown into it.

Catching peas from the water will not only be a fun game for rodents, but will also help them cool down on a hot day. And to make this activity more exciting for them, you can lean ladders against the outer sides of the makeshift pool, along which the animals will climb to the water.

What material are rat toys made from?

When choosing a material for a toy, it is important to remember that the main factor is safety. The material you give the rat must not contain toxic substances, and you also need to pay attention to small elements and pieces, because the rat can swallow them out of curiosity, which will lead to serious consequences, primarily blockage of the digestive tract.

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To prevent your pet from getting bored, you should equip its cage with various toys.

It is better to abandon threads and loose ropes. There have been cases where pets have had threads wrapped around their limbs or even their necks, resulting in death.

In the process of research, as well as on the advice of experienced factories, we managed to find out a list of materials and components that are excellent for creating toys with your own hands. These include:

Cardboard. Toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls and cardboard boxes are great items for rats to play with. You can hide in them. Climb on them and perform other actions, but most of all rats love to chew on them, so such a toy will not last long. Some users claim that using a few boxes, rolls and other items can create a real play center where the rat can spend time outside the cage. It is enough to correctly fasten several boxes, with the presence of guaranteed entrances and exits; the more ramps, stairs, bridges, the better. Glue and ink can sometimes make rats feel anxious because these ingredients can be toxic. That is why you should approach the choice of materials as responsibly as possible.
Paper. Almost all rats love to shred paper. An ordinary small food bag is great not only for destruction, but also for games. If you crumple the paper, you will get a wonderful ball, but it is important to take into account the fact that such a product will only last a short time until the rat gets tired of running after it. You can place a small container of paper in the cage so that your pet can dive in, hide and dig around. Tissues and paper towels are also great for shredding, and the rodent also makes a comfortable bed out of them.
Wood. This material is very good for chewing, because rodents need to chew constantly to ensure proper development of teeth, otherwise side effects will occur and the pet's future life will be problematic. It is important to use untreated wood so that it does not contain toxic and dangerous components, as well as varnish, paint, insect repellents and other products. Apple branches are great for this, but it is better to pick them from your site to be sure there are no pesticides.
Nuts. The nuts are covered with a hard shell, the process of cracking them seriously occupies the rat, because in the middle of the nut is its motivation. However, playing such games too often is very dangerous for health, because nuts contain a lot of fats, they have a negative effect on the health of the rat if consumed in large quantities.
Dig box. Rodents really like this product; to do this, you need to take a small container, preferably made of plastic, and fill the box with clay, purified, simple soil. It should not contain fertilizers or chemicals. Next, you need to sow wheat in this box, or you can simply add food for ornamental birds; over time, large sprouts will appear, then you can let the rat out to fool around. Believe me, your pet will definitely appreciate such a gift, although you will have to clean up the mess later. It is not at all necessary to place the box in the animal's cage; you can go to the bathroom and cover some space with newspapers to stop the spread of dirt. A few days before the game, you should stop watering so that the ground is not wet, this will eliminate dirt. Rats love to dig in the ground and also eat sprouted seeds.
Ropes. Rats have amazing mobility; even in natural conditions, these rodents behave quite impressively and will never refuse to climb some ropes and other products. Previously, we noted that ropes and ropes should not have protruding threads, and the rat should not be able to damage this product in order to get to the fibers. You can create real bridges and stairs in the cage. It is advisable to give preference to cotton products of various widths. Most often, store-bought clotheslines are used.

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Choosing material for a toy is a responsible and quite fun event, as is the further creation of the product. This time is very fun to spend with children, and the baby himself will be interested in making something beautiful and fun for the pet, and then watching him play. A hammock is very suitable for rats, and playing in it turns into a real spectacle for the whole family.

How to please your pet?

From such an abundance of materials you can create a large number of different toys and fun products; this is not a complete list of materials, so the quantity and quality of products differs only by your imagination. It is very important at the design stage of the toy to take into account all factors so that the rodent not only likes it, but is also safe.

Ramps, ladders and ropes are fun alternatives to regular cage slides

The rat is one of the most intelligent animals, so it cannot sit in one place, it needs to constantly do something. Then the pet will feel good, is in excellent shape and will confidently communicate with its owner. There are several models of different products, each of which is unique and fun in its own way. Let's look at the instructions for creating the best toys for rats.

Digging container

Previously, we looked at the features of this product, but we should consider in more detail the stages of creating a toy, because we need to take into account some features. Such a box can keep a rat occupied for several hours, and it brings the animal closest to its natural conditions. In addition, the rodent will not only be able to dig, but will also consume roots, grass and sprouted seeds. In the summer, the pet will be able to spend time in cool ditches, which he himself will make in this box. To create a product, you should perform the following algorithm of actions:

You need to prepare a fairly large box; it is best to choose an eraser product, for example, a kitchen bowl.
The box is half filled with clean soil.
You should throw grain or birdseed into the soil, then water it with a small amount of water.
Within a few days, the seeds will germinate, and after 7 days the harvest will be enviable.
You need to place the box in a place where it can be easily removed.
After this, you can put the rat in this box.

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At first, the rodent will not understand what it needs to do, and will also be embarrassed to cause mischief, casting doubtful glances at the owner.

Soft tunnel

This is a very simple and easy to implement product, but you will still need to have basic knowledge and sewing skills. To implement a soft tunnel, you should perform the following algorithm of actions:

It is necessary to prepare a piece of inexpensive fabric, for example, cotton or fleece.
We cut out a piece from this material, the size of which is 35 centimeters in width and 1.5 centimeters in length; you do not need to strictly adhere to this size, focus on the dimensions of the finished product.
Next, you need to proceed directly to creating a tunnel. A sewing machine is perfect for these purposes, although you can also use the manual method, although it will take a lot of time.
If you have the appropriate skills, then you can add several more to one tunnel, as well as make separate rooms and all kinds of branches.
Rings are cut out of a plastic bottle, which need to be secured at the ends of the tunnel, and if it is long, then in the middle. Thanks to such actions, the product will always be open.

Pets will love this toy; they will wander through the tunnel and hide if necessary. This product is able to imitate the natural habitat of rodents, because they always build a whole cold system underground. Making toys for rats with your own hands is not that difficult, the main thing is to show patience, responsibility and creativity.

The simplest toys.

It’s quite easy to make toys for rats with your own hands. Here are the simplest options for such toys:

Plastic labyrinth. Buy plastic pipes for sewerage, connect them together with PVC tubes or hoses in the form of a labyrinth.

Fabric labyrinth. Take any scrap fabric, such as an old sheet or towel, and throw it over the rats. Wrap it up so that your pets have to make an effort to find a way out. Rats can chew holes in fabric, so it's best to use items that you won't mind throwing away later.

A labyrinth of dirty laundry. Place your pets in a basket or drawer with dirty laundry. The animals themselves will dig passages and holes in it, exploring unfamiliar smells and climbing to the very bottom of the box. But be careful: if you leave them unattended for a long time, the rats can damage the laundry and gnaw holes in it.

Stone. Take a large stone and place it in the cage. Animals will explore a new object, try to dig under it, sniff from all sides - and will occupy themselves for quite a long time. This toy for rats has one more undoubted advantage: crawling on the stone, the animals will grind their claws on its surface.

House made from newspapers. Stack up several old newspapers. Roll some of the newspapers into a tube, placing pieces of treats for rodents between the newspaper sheets. Your pets will love searching for treasures in their new house.
Napkins. Place a pack of paper napkins in the rats' cage. One or two napkins can be pulled out from the package so that the animals can quickly guess what they can do with the new toy. It will take the rats very little time to pull out all the napkins, and they can easily use the remaining packaging as a new house.

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Rat football. Take some table tennis balls. Throw these rat toys into the cage. Your pets won't be able to bite through them, but will have a lot of fun chasing them around the cage.
Closet. Remove all foods and items dangerous to animals from the kitchen cabinet. Release the rats there. The new space is full of unknown smells, and curious animals will happily explore it.
Climbing wall. Take pieces of old grating, plastic or metal. Mount them on the wall so that your animals can crawl on them comfortably.

Domestic rats are very active and curious animals. They will get bored sitting in a cage all the time. In order to somehow limit the movement of animals around the apartment and at the same time keep them occupied in your absence, you can create a real small town for them from scrap materials.

Shallow pool

A shallow pool will provide a lot of fun for your rodents in the summer. Cool splashes, a chance to dig around and look for treats!

Use a heavy flower pot stand or bowl.
Add some smooth pebbles to the bottom - these can be found in garden stores or aquarium supplies.
Fill the container with water.
Scatter some frozen peas or corn under the pebbles.
Let the rats in.

Your pets will love rummaging through the pebbles looking for treats! At the same time, they will escape the summer heat in cool water.

Rat town

If you have a little free time, then toys for rats can be made a little more complicated, for example, by building a real rat town. Take several shoe boxes and connect them together, not forgetting to make holes so that animals can easily move between floors. Cut windows and doors in the resulting two and three-story houses. Such houses can be connected to each other, for example, by bridges made of wood, ropes or strips of fabric.

You can also attach bird ladders, pieces of thick rope or fabric to the sides of the boxes for the animals to use as ladders. From plastic bottles with the neck and bottom cut off, you can create a whole system of tunnels, also connecting the buildings of the town with each other or adjacent to them in the form of a separate labyrinth. Place other rat toys in the town, such as pieces of fabric and table tennis balls. When you release your pets into the resulting town, they will happily begin to explore their new possessions.

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It is better to make such a town collapsible so that, if necessary, it can be easily removed or moved to a new location. Also take care of how you will get the animals out of the town to return them back to the cage. To do this, it is most convenient to make the roofs of the houses removable.

Games with you

If you have free time, be sure to play with your pet.

Rat Throwing . Pick up the rat and carefully place it on a soft surface such as a pillow, sofa or bed. Most rats will love this and will come running back to repeat the procedure. You can try to increase the throwing distance, but always make sure that the landing is soft and safe.
Wrestling with hand. Let your hand be that of a hunter who has caught up with his prey and began to fight with it. When fighting a rat, do not hurt it; you can throw it on its back and scratch its abdomen with your nails. Remember that your rat has to win sometimes too.
Mutual care. Clean your rat. In turn, let her comb your eyebrows and hair, give you a manicure, and remove bandages, earrings or rings.
Rat rolling . Place the rat on its back and press its paws to its sides. Roll it from side to side. At the same time as you roll, scratch and tickle her tummy.
Joint affairs. Let your rat finish your ice cream, chew a little on the book you're reading, walk around the TV remote and change channels. Do regular household chores with her.