Pet Rat Toys: Homemade Toys for Pet Rats and Other Pocket Pets
Ranked #3,789 in Pets & Animals, #96,210 overall | Donates to ASPCA
Why buy rat toys when you can make them?
I've created a collection of easy DIY toys for pet rats and other small animals made mostly from materials you probably already have around your house. I'll be adding pictures of each of them as I make or remake them all myself.
Try your hand at making a pet rat toy, tell me what you think of them, and submit your own ideas and pictures!
Contents at a Glance
Tell us...
If you've ever had a pet,
No-Work Rat Toys
Use everyday items as rat toys - no handiwork required!
Use an empty tissue box as a rat house.
Throw in a ball of crumpled paper.
Use yarn to thread a roll of receipt paper to the cage bars; they'll unroll and chew it like toilet paper.
Ratties love to chew empty, glueless paper towel and toilet paper rolls.
Weave paper strips through the cage bars.
Throw in some popsicle sticks for chew time.
If you can part with it, give Rattie a small, hardcover book to destroy.
Holey socks and old jean legs make cozy nests and warm tunnels.
Old rags make great nesting material for Rattie.
Sock Hammock
Ingredients
- Old sock (cleaned)
- Yarn
- Scissors
Instructions
Cut the sock lengthwise across the top of the sock. Use the scissors to cute small slits in four corners of the sock. Cut four long lengths of yarn. String one length of the yarn through on of the holes, tie a knot around the edge of the sock, and use the rest of the length of yarn to hand the sock from the cage bars. Repeat the process with the other three corners while making sure that the outside of the sock is the inside of the hammock. (This ensure that Ratticus, shown in the picture, and your rats don't get their little claws stuck in the terry cloth or loose strings.)
Rattie Paper Candy
Ingredients
- Empty kabob-type toy
- Leftover/half-chewed wood or mineral chews with a hole drilled in the center
- Colorful paper - used printer paper with soy ink - or magazine pages
Instructions
Cut the paper into pieces large enough to cover the wood chews. Place a wood chew in the middle of a piece of the paper and twist the ends of the paper so the chew is wrapped like candy. Cover all the wood chews and put the paper-covered blocks on the kabob post by piercing the paper. Hang in the cage and watch your rats go nuts!
Rat Pinata
Ingredients
- Glue-free toilet paper roll
- Yarn or other safe string
- Small treats
Instructions
Twist or fold over one side of the toilet paper roll to close it. Put a palm full of small treats inside. Close the other end and hang from the top of the cage so it dangles just out of easy reach. Watch your rats try to get to the good-smelling treats!
Tightrope Rat Rope
Ingredients
- 1+ feet of thick natural-fiber rope
Instructions
Purchase a length of thick rope from the hardware store. String it across the cage and through the cage bars. Tie knots in the end to hold in place.
My Favorite Rat Care Guide
My Rat (My Pet)
Amazon Price: $0.49 (as of 06/02/2012)
The most up-to-date, in-depth, entertaining-to-read pet rat care guide I've found.
Wrapped Rat Treat
Ingredients
- Your rat's favorite treat
- Piece of newspaper or used inkless computer paper
Instructions
Put the tasty treat (treats with a strong smell work best) in the center of the paper and wrap it, twisting the ends like candy. This simple little treat toy makes my rats go mad!
Rat Cave
Ingredients
- Large box
- Tape
- Scissors or craft knife
- An assortment of crumpled paper towels - tissue paper - used printer paper - old dish towels - or other material
- Small rat treats
Instructions
Use masking or packaging tape to tape all the sides of the box completely shut. Cut two doors, one on each side of the box. Fill the box completely full of crumpled paper towels, tissue paper, used printer paper, old dish towels or other similar, rat-safe material. Add a few rat treats and shake the box around the scatter them. Let Rattie explore and burrow in her new cave!
Note: If she doesn't want to go in right away resist forcing her. Put a treat outside the door, then just inside, then further inside, and then allow her to crawl all the way in on her own.
Cozy Clothing Tunnel
Ingredients
- Fabric scissors
- Needle and thread
- Old pants - especially soft sweat pants
- Small embroidery hoop (separated)
Instructions
Cut off the pant legs. Place a hoop inside one pant leg entrance to hold the pant leg open and tack into place with thread. Do the same with the second leg. Sew the opposite ends of the two pant leg pieces together into one large tunnel. Cut a few windows in the length of the tunnel and show your rat an entrance!
Warning!
Since certain chemical ingredients appear harmful but have not conclusively been proven as such, manufacturers are not required to disclose them on labels. As with human toys, buy only toys and materials certainly made of #2, #4, #5, or phthalate/PVC-free #7 plastics and untreated wood and leather.
Tell Us...
Sound off!
Is it better to BUY pet rat toys or MAKE toys? Tell me why!
BUY toys
luke says:
i like making toys its way better
Jhangora says:
I'd rather buy toys, saves a lot of time.
MAKE toys
Hanna says:
Im getting my first rat on Saturday, and im looking forward to making a whole bunch of toys :3
JessyGene says:
Making is better because stores usually don't have much of a selection for rats. And why spend a bunch of money when you can make something as good or better for way less? Plus, i love putting time into pampering my ratties.
mick says:
i say it is better to make toys because you can make what ever you like and it be very fun for your rat
Jess says:
There's more options if you make your own toys and it's way more fun
lilly says:
it is so much more fun make toys
and you know what goes in the toys so you dont have to worry
SuZ says:
I fall somewhere in the middle on this. The main issue with making toys or cage accessories would be using safe materials. Because humans don't make a habit of chewing on everything, there are many things "safe" for us that aren't for rats. For example, particle board is often made with resin that contains formaldehyde, a carcinogen. Then again, I don't know if all the sold products out there are as safe as they could be either, considering that unsafe or unhealthy bedding and food are sold everywhere.
I made my rats a swing/bridge using wooden chew sticks wired together hung by thick wire at the corners. NOTE: When using wire, be SURE to fold over loose ends until you can't poke yourself on the ends at all so your rats won't get hurt. The swing also has the benefit of lasting a while, unless the rats take a special liking to those specific chew sticks. I end up not following through on most of my ideas due to material or construction concerns, but it is fun to make them things. Just do your research before using new materials, because you really never know unless you check.
Gracie says:
Well, I don't have a RAT, I have a sugar glider. She loves all her toys I make!
If you really want your "pocket pet" to be a great pet, avoid stress and board-ness. HOME MADE TOYS ARE BETTER! You know how it's made, what's in it, and how strong it REALLY is.
Erin says:
Make toys it saves alot of money and if you really love your rat you wouldn't mind wasting a bit of time. Also it's alot of fun decorating your homemade houses :)
Olivia says:
Make toys because you can make the toys to fit their personalities! Plus it saves money!
toad says:
I dont have a rat but I do have a mouse, + I love making toys for him. It is creative fun and he loves it, so why not? It also saves money and is good for the environment. :)
Rat Bridge
Ingredients
- One 1x4 wood board (untreated)
- Cutting blade or saw
- Craft sticks
- Wood glue
- Screw gun
- Hinge with screws
- 2 small metal hooks
Instructions
Cut the board in half and reattach the two pieces with the hinge and screws (this is to fold the bridge for easier storage). On the opposite side of the board, glue each craft stick on the board (perpendicular to the board) with approximately 3-inch spacing. The rats will use these as treads. When the glue is completely dry cut off the excess length of the craft sticks. Screw the hooks into one end of the bridge. Attach the bridge to the top of your rat cage and extend the bridge to the floor, a nearby couch, or other supervised play area. (You may have to coax your little ones with treats to use the bridge. Start by placing the rat near the end and using a treat to urge him forward, then do it again with the rat a little further back. Repeat until the rat runs all the way from the cage to the far end of the bridge.) Now if you're watching T.V. or a movie your rat can join you on the couch and return to his cage as he pleases!
BRIDGE MODIFIED FOR EXTRA WIDTH: We modified the bridge as shown in the picture to make it wider to accommodate a rat who grew clumsy thanks to a head tilt. We removed the hinge and put the two halves of the bridge side by side, attaching them together with 3 straight brackets and 12 small screws. This doubled the width, which is what we wanted, and halved the length of the bridge, which was fine for our needs at the time.
Flowerpot House
Ingredients
- Plastic flowerpot (use #2 #4 or #5 plastic for safety; wide bases work better)
- Craft scissors
- Masking tape
Instructions
Turn the plastic flowerpot up-side down and cut a door on one side and a large window on the other. Tape the rough edges to protect you rat from scratches, and place in his cage for an easy hideaway!
Milk Jug Hut and Wading Pool
Ingredients
- #2 Plastic gallon-size cleaned milk or water jug (#4 or #5 plastics are also safer)
- Scissors (very sharp)
Instructions
This is the simplest rat house ever. Recycle the milk jug lid and cut off the bottom of the milk jug evenly about an inch, inch and a half from the bottom. Use the scissors to make the edges of the bottom half, the wading pool, smooth. Voila! Fill half-full with water and you're done with that part! To finish the hut cut an arch in a corner or a side of the jug for a door (an arch has smooth sides). Use the scissors to round the bottom corners of the doorway and to make sure all the edges and cut smoothly. If you have a hairless rat you may want to tape the edges if they still feel sharp. Voila! A rat hut! My hairless rat, Ratticus, likes to reach us and stick his nose out of the opening in the top!
Lego Hideaway
Ingredients
- A whole lot of Lego building blocks (Lego brand building blocks are PVC and phthalate-free)
Instructions
Create a rat house hideaway with legos complete with door and windows. Place in the cage or build it on a base for out-of-case use. Your rattie will love a new hideout, and you or your child will love seeing him crawl through this fun, hand-build house.
Rat Ledge Hideout
Ingredients
- Ferret-sized corner little pan
- Hammer
- Nail
- A source of heat to warm the nail
- 2 screws - 2 wing nuts - 4 washers - OR - florist wire
- Bedding or old sock or rag
Instructions
If it already has tabs, just hook it up high to the sides of the cage in a corner. If it doesn't have tabs use a hot nail to pierce two holes in the base of the pan, on on each side edge, and attach it high in the cage with a screw, wing nut, and washer on each side. Use the hot nail to pierce two holes next to each other on EACH side of the pan and attach with florist wire. Fill with bedding or an old sock or rag. If it's particularly high add a bird ladder for access. Your ratties will long this new sleep and play place!
Warning:
Avoid nickel metal, pine/cedar wood, or scrap wood (which may be chemically treated) when making pet rat toys. They can harm your rattie!
In years past experts recommended avoiding newspaper as the ink, when ingested, made rats sick. Today's newspaper inks are safe but stay away from inkjet inks!
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Reader Toys, Thoughts, and Pics
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jay
Apr 14, 2012 @ 8:32 pm | delete
- A great and easy toy to make at home - cut an egg carton in half (down the middle, not cutting the lid off the bottom), fill the egg cups with different snacks and close the lid. It's easy enough for them to open up, chew open, or poke their heads though the side with the hole to get the treats. Hours of rat fun!
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glutenallergy
Apr 11, 2012 @ 7:31 pm | delete
- This is full of great ideas! We tied an empty toilet paper roll with yarn earlier today, per your suggestion. Although our rats haven't chewed it up yet, I'm sure they will. This is the first toy we've made for them, so they probably just need some time to figure it out.
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JessyGene
Jan 27, 2012 @ 9:32 pm | delete
- nice lens, great ideas
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darciefrench
Jan 3, 2012 @ 11:14 am | delete
- What a fantastic resource for pet rat owners. I really enjoy your tips and pictures of homemade toys. My little guy will too :)
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ShandiGP
Dec 12, 2011 @ 6:21 pm | delete
- Ideas from SuZ, posted in the Duel above:
I made my rats a swing/bridge using wooden chew sticks wired together hung by thick wire at the corners. NOTE: When using wire, be SURE to fold over loose ends until you can't poke yourself on the ends at all so your rats won't get hurt. The swing also has the benefit of lasting a while, unless the rats take a special liking to those specific chew sticks. I end up not following through on most of my ideas due to material or construction concerns, but it is fun to make them things. Just do your research before using new materials, because you really never know unless you check.
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WordCustard
Nov 29, 2011 @ 4:14 am | delete
- These are fantastic toy ideas for rats! They need a lot of stimulation and things to chew on, and these clever ideas are just the thing. Cheap to make too! Oh and your rats are so cute. Angel blessed.
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annmackiemiller Jun 22, 2011 @ 1:09 pm | delete
- great lens - angel blessed and I'll feature it on my new lensroll when it is next published
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SereneSea Jun 20, 2011 @ 10:27 am | delete
- Well, quite an awesome collection of rat toys, sure they are going to love them.
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rgasperson
May 7, 2011 @ 10:43 pm | delete
- Fantastic Lens. I would love to own a Rat, but they Wigg out my wife.
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tandemonimom Mar 15, 2011 @ 12:15 am | delete
- Love it! The only thing I would worry about is the plastic milk jug, since my rats always get sick on plastic. ** BLESSED ** and featured on Blessed by Tandemonimom; also lensrolled to Best Chew Toys for Rats.
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About Me
by ShandiGP
Shandi is the proud mother of two Peach Face Lovebirds and one Fancy Rat. She's also the owner of LuckyRatFengShui.com, has a business partnership with... more »
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Personal Review: Training Your Pet Rat
a rat care guide with instructions for making your own rat toys
Training Your Pet Rat (Training Your Pet Series)
Amazon Price: $5.12 (as of 06/02/2012)
This book includes all the basics from picking a cage, choosing a healthy rat, feeding your new pet, and training them. It also gives several ideas for using cat, ferret and bird toys as pet rat toys, and it gives simple instructions for making your own pet rats toys, including mazes. It's an easy read for those picking their first rat and a great, quick re-read for those of us who already have rat ownership experience.
