Toys for rats: types, tips for choosing and creating

Decorative rats are very intelligent animals, and therefore they need interesting cages and toys. Even if you don’t own any tools, don’t know how to sew, or don’t have time to do something fancy, there are many other simple ways to add new accessories and toys to your rat’s cage.

There are many simple and at the same time funny toys that you can present to your beloved rat or mouse to make them happier.

• The tunnels. Rats and mice, by their nature, make and use burrows or tunnels. You can provide ready-made tunnels or let them make them yourself. You can buy or make tunnels made of plastic and place them in a cage, hang on stainless steel hangers. You can create your own model of forms and create a whole network of labyrinths. Plastic is easy to clean. Be sure to choose a pipe with a rather large diameter so that the rodent can not get stuck in it.

• Wheels and balls for training. Training wheels provide a great way to train a rodent within its cage. Be sure to choose a safe wheel that cannot injure its legs or tail. Solid wheels are certainly preferable to grille wheels. Rats typically require wheels with a diameter of 28 cm. Some wheels can be suspended from above or from the side of the cage. Exercise balls also provide good workout outside the cage.

• Climbing toys: ladders, ropes, branches, pipes, hammocks and other items can provide many ways to climb your favorite mouse or rat. They can be attached to the top and side of the cage to significantly increase the area of ​​the playing field in the cage. You can also use bricks and concrete blocks if the cage is quite large.

• Toys that rats and mice would love to chew on. Wooden blocks, for example, must be in the cage of a domestic rat and mouse so that they can nibble them. This is necessary for the health of the teeth, as their teeth continue to grow, and they need to be constantly cleaned and sharpened. Chewing toys can be made of wood or cardboard. Inexpensive chewing toys can be made from cardboard boxes, tubes of paper towels and toilet paper.

• Chopping toys. Mice and rats like to grind softer materials such as toilet paper and straw. Grinding such materials brings pleasure to rodents and provides excellent entertainment.

• Toys "Push and carry." Many rats like small toys that they can carry or push. Plastic balls with a small bell inside, for example, will be a great toy for your rat. In no case do not let 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 it has are still safe.

• Toys for walking. In the wild, rats and mice spend most of their waking time looking for food. Too often, we just fill the bowl with food, so your pet may soon become lazy and gain extra weight.

Among other things, It is worth providing mental stimulation to your domestic rats or mice by hiding in food, for example, a special toy. There are many toys for feeding birds, which can be used for rodents, for example, pieces of bamboo. You can pour food into the bamboo and watch your rodent get it out of there. Use your imagination, and you can give your beloved mouse or rat toys that will give them great pleasure.

Be sure to choose non-toxic wooden or cardboard toys. Before buying expensive toys for mice and rats, look for the remnants of rolls of toilet paper, rolls of paper towels or small logs of raw wood in your home. Rats are very fond of chewing these things and climbing them. Before giving any toy to your pet, make sure that it is harmless. It means that you need to keep an eye on things like the presence of harmful glue, paint and other artificial coatings.

If we talk about choosing a wheel for running, then it’s best to pick one that doesn’t have a net where the rat’s leg can get stuck. Mice love to run at night, as they are nocturnal, so make sure your wheel is quiet and set far enough from your bedroom so you don't get disturbed. If the wheel is attached to the top of the cage, always ensure that your mouse can reach it safely.

Rats need a lot of exercise and space to roam, run and just walk around. Unlike small rodents, such as mice and hamsters, rats cannot spend most of their life in a cage.Some owners allow their pets to run around the house freely, but if your house is not specially prepared and not protected for a rodent, it’s best not to do so. Creating a safe playground for rats, on the other hand, is the best option for entertaining your rodent without harming your property.

First you need to clean the area of ​​anything that could harm your rats. While the playground will be enclosed by a barrier, a rodent can damage bright lights, air vents, and electrical wires. Clean the area of ​​chemicals, wires, sharp objects, and anything that emits smoke, such as candles.

Such an original beautiful house can be made independently. Inflate the balloon to the desired size. Next, you need glue, which must be made harmless by mixing water with flour. Strips of white paper are cut, each strip is dipped into the prepared glue and superimposed on the inflated balloon. As soon as the whole ball is covered with several layers of paper soaked in glue, you can leave it for a while, so that the craft is completely dry.

After complete drying, the balloon can be burst and removed from the craft. Cut a large inlet. You can also cut additional doors and windows. A small hole can be made in the upper part to hang the house from the ceiling of the cage. You can fill such an original house with crumpled strips of fabric or paper to make the nest more comfortable. In this way, you can make absolutely any houses of various shapes using different balls.

To make a denim rope ladder, cut long strips from old jeans and twist into long strips that will become the side main elements for the ladder. Then make the crossbars, the thinner strips are also twisted and attached to the main strips.

You can hang the baskets and fill them with cloth or put a small mat inside to make the shelter softer and more comfortable. If your rats like to chew and chew everything, make sure the material the basket is made of is safe for your pet’s health. Such original baskets can be hung vertically or sideways using a rope.

Almost any house or toy for your favorite rodent can be made by yourself at home. The main thing is to use natural materials and ensure that nothing could injure your pet. Follow the habits of your favorite, and he will tell you which of the toys he likes and which ones are better not to use.

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