toys

There are very few things in pet shops which are designed for rats. Not only is it a tough job trying to find a cage, once you get one there is nothing to go in it. You have to use some good old Kiwi ingenuity (and a few ideas borrowed from other websites!!!).

BEDROOMS
No rat home should be without a bedroom. It is very important that a rat has somewhere dark and cosy to escape to. There are several things you can use.
Bird nesting box:
These are cheap and cosy. However, rats often pee in their bedrooms and the nesting box may soon go soggy. The ammonia released from the old urine could damage the rat's respiratory systems. Not an ideal choice.
Rody Igloos:
Available in two sizes and a variety of colours at most pet shops. They cost about $10.00NZD for the larger size. I use these in my rat houses. They offer the security the rats need, but have ventilation holes down the sides to stop over-heating. I line mine with paper towels to soak up any pee. They are easy to clean. The only drawbacks are that in winter they can get condensation inside them (especially in the smaller ones) and, being lightweight, they get thrown around the house a lot!! (I have had to stick Timmy's down with Velcro).
Plastic containers:
You can improvise on the igloo theme using cheap plastic containers. Try The Warehouse or Payless Plastics. I used a two-litre ice-cream container for one of my rats and she seemed to like it (right up to the point where she ate it).
Plant Pots:
The sort that hang on the side of a tree, or a trellis, are great for affixing to the interior wall of a cage. Terracotta will absorb pee.
Cardboard Boxes:
In an emergency or a temporary housing situation, cardboard boxes are great. Ratties will chew their own windows and doors. When the box goes all soggy from pee, just chuck it out and use another. Just make sure that the box did not previously contain anything that may be poisonous to rats!!!!!!

HAMMOCKS
Rats love hammocks.
This is a universally accepted fact.

You can purchase hammocks from most pet shops for around $15NZD. They are designed for ferrets. Presumably ferrets don't chew their hammocks to pieces 30 minutes after you have hung them up. Rats do!

I make my own. If you can't sew, just buy some heavy duty cotton dishcloths and stick a curtain hook in each corner (see Timmy in his "hammock"). I use polar fleece or flanelette pyjama material (comes in a range of cool colours, is cheap and washes well).