Toys and Accessories
The reason we use a lot of plastic items is because they are easy to clean. Wooden ladders and hide-aways tend to get pee-soaked, start to smell, and need to be thrown away. Our rats are (for the most part) litter trained. This means they will generally poop in the litter box (you can’t do much about the pee though). The litter box is filled with Super Pet Outhouse Potty Litter. This litter is all natural, dust free, and clumps. It is a good idea to use a material different from their bedding as their litter. That way it is easier for them to know where to go and where to sleep! ☺ The rock is fun for them to climb and it also helps file their nails. Since rats’ teeth are always growing, the Nylabone Edibles, along with other safe wooden chews and blocks help to keep their teeth down. All of our hammocks and ropes are made from fleece or flannel fleece which doesn’t fray if it gets chewed up. Materials that fray pose a choking threat, and can also get wrapped around one of their limbs.
If you do not want to spend a fortune in toys at the pet store, there are also do-it-yourself solutions. For hammocks, you can use a non-fraying fabric, such as fleece, and string paper clips through each corner. Then just hang the four paper clips from the top of your cage. Empty tissue boxes can double as a disposable hide-away. You can also use empty toilet paper rolls for them to chew on or crawl into. What we do for our rescues is put one blueberry or other treat inside the roll and fold the edges down. Once it is placed in the cage, the rats have a blast chewing through the roll to get to the treat!
Rats are active and inquisitive. They like to explore and the more you have to stimulate their curiosities, the less bored they will be.
Included later in the packet, are links for other great cage accessory and toy ideas. If you would like tips on how to go about litter training, decorating your cage, or anything else, just let us know!
