Rat Toys!

[Aina Kintsu]

Many first time rat owners don't realize that rats will play with toys as long as there is a goal behind it. Some toys are seen as ways to keep teeth at a healthy length, or to get a treat out of. Some just keep your ratties entertained. :3

BIRD TOYS: Yes, any bird toy made of plastic, wood, or rawhide, makes a good toy for your rats!

BIRD PERCHES: You can use bird ladders as well, to help ratties get around.

-one-
-two- this is the ladder I have in my girls cage and they use it very often. They also chew on the wood (doubles as a chew toy!)
-three- these ladders are interesting. I've been thinking about getting one for my girls, but I'm waiting for their current one to give way.
-four- simple and work well. I have a couple in my girls cage that they use often to get to extra levels I have added to the cage. They also will chew on these so they also double as a chew toy! Because they are wood they soak in pee. To give them a good cleaning you can soak them in 10%bleach/ 90%water for 15 minutes or more. Wait for them to COMPLETELY dry and for the bleach odor to go away before putting back in the cage.

BIRD PERCHES: some bird perches can help you ratties get around also.

-one- I have the largest one of these in my ratties cage. I love it and my girls love it to! It is bendable, so you can play around with the shape and create twists and turns for your ratties to climb on.
-two-

-You can buy this at petco.com. I would have given a direct link but the picture is for the wavy perch made by the same company. For ordering, you want the "Swing Perch" Anyhow, I am planing on getting this for my rats. I believe they would have fun swinging on it. I would remove the bell because it would probably get in the way. So, I'll update this once I get it and see how my girls like it. :3 *UPDATE* So I bought it for my girls... but the plastic is too slippery for them (they try to get on it, but they cant keep a good hold) so I am going to construct a way to fix that. Will update once I have done so. :3
-three-

REPTILE SECTION- there are a few items from your petstore reptile section that can give your rat, that can give them a more comfortable home. (and no it isn't a snake! )

-grapevines-these and drift wood can be found at both petco and petsmart in a variety of styles. The texture
-driftwood- provides something new for your rat so they are not always feeling the bedding, bars, and levels under their feet. Heck you can take a smooth rock from your back yard and put in the cage a an interesting and texture (given that you have properly cleaned it before hand)
-ramps- just some random things. I personally wouldn't buy one, because I find the ramps and ladders in the bird section more appealing.

CAT DEPARTMENT: yes even items from the ratties enemy can make good ratty toys.

-balls- plastic only. While there isn't much a goal in the toy itself, I like to arrange the toys in the cage on ledges and in beds (places where they would be in the way >.<). My rats then pick them up and put them where they want, so in other words mommy messes up their room and they get to clean up XD! Keeps them busy for a bit so they are not just being lazy.
-cat teasers-My rats love chasing this, there fore this is an interacting toy not one you leave in the cage. The goal in this toy is "oh! whats that!? and why is it moving!?" lol kind of the "oh shiny" response XD
-tunnels and cubes- if you give your rat a room to run in (mine have the run of the bathroom a few times a week and other time they have the run of my room) then you can make things more interesting for them by adding tunnels and cubes. However, you can find items like these in small animal departments as well. You can also create tunnels from plumbing pipes, but this will be in another post.
-random- this looks like fun! I plan on buying this for both my cats and rats to use. :3


SMALL ANIMAL DEPARTMENT- obviously there will be toys in the small animal department for rats, but known seem to be specific to rats. So, what toys can you ratties play with?

-one- just the hard plastic toys! the tennis ball, the ping-pong ball, and crinkle ball will not be ok for rats (I gave them to my cats and they love them). However, the solid/clear ball with the beads inside is my girls personal favorite! the beads drive them nuts, so they will chew on it and nudge it, and carry it around to try and get the beads out. Once they chew a big enough hole and the beads come out... the toys no good anymore.
For the ball, put some yogies in it and watch your rats try and get them out. Its entertaining to see them carry something bigger then their head. (pictures of this toy in action found HERE)
The wheel like toy works the same way but you can also put cut up veggies in the wheel toy (not the ball because veggies are moist and stick together. The holes in the ball are too small for the rats to grab the veggies, but the wheel toy's openings are.)
-two- these are just like the cat balls, the only goal in them is to put them in the ratties way somewhere in the cage. Sometimes my girls will gnaw on them, not eat them, just gnaw. But if you are worried about your rat eating the toy, then I wouldn't get it. (you can find these at Walmart for .82 cents in the cat department)
-three-another ball you can put treats inside of.
-funnels!- I have a few of these is my girls cage. In the summer they like to sleep in them and when they are active they'll run through them. Adds some variety to their cage. Something to be aware of, I have read online of some people's rats feet getting stuck in the wholes. I believe this is rare but can happen. However, rats can get their toes and feet stuck in a lot of things.

WHEELS- Female rats tend to use wheels more then males. Males will use wheels, but normally it is when they are younger, when male rats get older, they tend to use them as sleeping areas XD. However, this does not mean you shouldn't get your male rat a wheel. Some wheels come in cages. If they do, make sure they are solid and have a backing. Some cages come with wheels that are not solid. Solid is better because rats can get their feet stuck in open wheels. A wheel should have a backing because, again, the rat can get his feet stuck between the wheel and the side of the cage. Wheels that do come with cages that are solid and have a backing will last for a little while but eventually break.

-Silent Spinner- This is the wheel I bought my girls. It is wonderful! It has a solid bottom and a backing. The best part, it doesn't make a loud, high pitch squeaking sound. It does make a sound (it is not completely silent) but the sound is a low pitch sound so it isn't has noticeable, and therefore not annoying. This wheel is also a breeze to clean! The down side to this wheel, the price. It also will break easily if you drop it from a standing position. I broke the first one I bought, when I accidentally dropped it, so now with the unbroken one, I am careful with it.
-Comfort Wheel- This wheel has a solid bottom and a backing. It is also nice on your wallet. I almost went with the wheel, but in my own personal opinion, it seemed flimsy. However, I have heard positive things about this wheel, like it is easy to clean. But I have heard it is louder then the silent spinner.
-Wodent Wheel- solid bottom? check! Backing? check! I have heard that this is the best wheel out there for small animals. This is because of the front design of the wheel makes the animal feel safer because there isn't this open space to one side of them. However, the downside to this wheel, it is a pain to clean because the front is hard to get off.
-other wheels- I do not like these wheels because they do not have a solid bottom. Rats (and other small animals) can get their feet stuck and break their foot. (I have had this happen to a robo hamster at work. The little guy is doing great even though one of his foot is completely backwards because the vet had no way to correct it). the ONLY positive thing about these wheels is that they are cheap... but the vet bills won't be so I recommend the first 3 wheels.


-this concludes toy ideas:part 1. Keep a look out for Part 2, which will be at home and inexpensive toy ideas!