Cage Accessories
Now that you have a cage, why not fill it with things to make it a bit more homey? Rats like places to sleep, eat, hide and chill out, so you need to find things to keep your rat busy and happy.
Bowls and Water Bottles
Every cage needs at least one of both of these items. You should always have a bowl of food available as your rats needs to eat frequently, as well as a bottle of water to keep them hydrated. The best kinds of bowls to use are small and heavy stoneware bowls. They're cheap and easy to clean and you can get them from anywhere. You could even use a ramekin you have in your cupboard. You can also keep water in an identical bowl, but it's likely it may make a mess and get dirty, which means your rats may not want to drink from it. Bottles are ideal, as they're suspended so they are less likely to become dirty. These are available at most pet stores. Size isn't too important, but I prefer to keep smaller bottles so the water is always being replenished so it's fresh and clean.
Hammocks
Hammocks aren't necessary but many rats enjoy their hammock time. They can be bought from pet stores, however they're often over priced. The best way to go about it is to buy them online or to make them from household items yourself. One simple hammock is an old t-shirt. You can use the whole shirt or you can cut it up, it's totally up to you. Tie the corners of the shirt to the bars or hold it in place with pegs. The same can be done with towel face cloths. for a fun hanging tube, get a leg of an old pair of pants and hang it up with string. You can be as creative as you like. Keep in mind that it's very likely they will be 'altered' to suit your rat's interior design tastes; be prepared for gaping chew holes.
Igloos and Other Hidey Holes
Igloos provide good shelter for rats inside your cage and are fun to climb on. They come in many different sizes and colours and are fairly cheap. SuperPet Igloos are between $10-$25 depending on the size. If you don't want to spend too much on one, don't worry. Tissue boxes, paper shopping bags and ice cream containers with entry holes cut in them are great options. Your rat sure doesn't care what they look like! And if it's made of cardboard it doubles as a chew toy.
Shelf Liners
Liners are important. They provide a comfy place to crash and will keep your rat's delicate feet safe. You can use old towels, t-shirts, any kind of fabric lying around will do. Just try to avoid ones that will fray badly and catch small toes, as this can cause injuries.
Bowls and Water Bottles
Every cage needs at least one of both of these items. You should always have a bowl of food available as your rats needs to eat frequently, as well as a bottle of water to keep them hydrated. The best kinds of bowls to use are small and heavy stoneware bowls. They're cheap and easy to clean and you can get them from anywhere. You could even use a ramekin you have in your cupboard. You can also keep water in an identical bowl, but it's likely it may make a mess and get dirty, which means your rats may not want to drink from it. Bottles are ideal, as they're suspended so they are less likely to become dirty. These are available at most pet stores. Size isn't too important, but I prefer to keep smaller bottles so the water is always being replenished so it's fresh and clean.
Hammocks
Hammocks aren't necessary but many rats enjoy their hammock time. They can be bought from pet stores, however they're often over priced. The best way to go about it is to buy them online or to make them from household items yourself. One simple hammock is an old t-shirt. You can use the whole shirt or you can cut it up, it's totally up to you. Tie the corners of the shirt to the bars or hold it in place with pegs. The same can be done with towel face cloths. for a fun hanging tube, get a leg of an old pair of pants and hang it up with string. You can be as creative as you like. Keep in mind that it's very likely they will be 'altered' to suit your rat's interior design tastes; be prepared for gaping chew holes.
Igloos and Other Hidey Holes
Igloos provide good shelter for rats inside your cage and are fun to climb on. They come in many different sizes and colours and are fairly cheap. SuperPet Igloos are between $10-$25 depending on the size. If you don't want to spend too much on one, don't worry. Tissue boxes, paper shopping bags and ice cream containers with entry holes cut in them are great options. Your rat sure doesn't care what they look like! And if it's made of cardboard it doubles as a chew toy.
Shelf Liners
Liners are important. They provide a comfy place to crash and will keep your rat's delicate feet safe. You can use old towels, t-shirts, any kind of fabric lying around will do. Just try to avoid ones that will fray badly and catch small toes, as this can cause injuries.
Example of hammocks