Home | Family | Pets
Owning a rat is more than just making sure they have food, water and a clean cage. It is also making sure they are active and have enough toys to play with to keep their bodies and minds active and keep them healthy.Rats are sweet animals that enjoy play time. They are very intelligent and enjoy games that test their mental abilities as well as their physical ones. Both physical and mental stimulation is important to rat health.Think about your rat's personality before you go shopping for toys. Some will go over big while others will be ignored. There are many different types of toys you can choose for your furry little friend.Chewing Rats love to chew. It keeps their teeth, which are constantly growing, at a healthy length and it satisfies their natural desire to gnaw. The things they love to chew are wood, rawhide, and cardboard. Be sure you pick chew toys that are free of preservatives to keep your rat safe. You can find these at pet stores and your own home. Paper towels or toilet paper tubes and cardboard egg cartons make excellent toys for your rat.Shredding Another great toy for rats is paper towels and toilet paper. Rats love to rip and tear and will use the shredded results as bedding. Use only fragrance free, white paper towels or toilet paper to avoid potentially harmful dyes or fragrances.Climbing Rats love to climb as any rat owner knows. Up the side of the cage, across the top and back down is something they will do all night long. You can make their cage more climb-friendly by placing a rope, ladder or fabric hammock inside to give your rat things to climb and hang from.Tunneling In nature, rats are tunnel makers. They use tunnels for passageways and homes. Pet stores have ready-made tunnels out of a variety of materials. Plastic, wood and cardboard as some of the types of tunnels you will find there. But be prepared, rats will chew through a wooden or cardboard tunnel. It is in their nature to do this. So do not be surprised if you have to replace these types of tunnels on a regular basis.Running Running in an exercise wheel or ball are both wonderful ways for your rat to get exercise without needing a lot of room. When choosing a wheel pick one that has a solid running space, to keep your rat's feet from getting stuck in the holes. For most rats, you will need a wheel at least 11 inches in diameter with a secure base, preferably attached to the cage. When buying an exercise ball pick one that is big enough for your rat to be comfortable in while running.Playing Plastic balls with bells inside can be very fun for your rats to play with. Choose ones that are made of hard plastic, you can find them in the cat toy section of the pet store. Avoid ones that are made of soft plastic and have feathers or other such things on them.Foraging In nature, rats spend most of their time looking for food. They have a desire to find things and love to search for hidden treats. You can either make your own hiding box from a small cardboard box, or purchase one from a pet store. Either way, your rat will have a wonderful time tying to get his treat.Regardless of which toy you choose always inspect the toys daily for wear and breakage. Remove and replace any toys that are broken or so excessive chewing damage, for your rat's safety.Rats require activity and mental stimulation to be healthy. Spending time with your rats and giving them toys to play with when you can not be there will help keep them healthy and happy.
Article Source: http://www.new.citynewslive.com
Dawn Arkin is a writer and animal lover who enjoys spending time with her pets. This article has been submitted in affiliation with www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pets.
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
