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Kate
ADMIN & RP Supporter
Thu Mar 18, 2004 8:26 am
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 RP CAGE GALLERY/RAT ROOM DECOR/TOYS & FUN! |
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Don't forget to share pix with us in the RatPalace Cage Gallery! 
Please post all of your TOY ideas here! That includes links to sites with great ideas for toys, any toys you've made, all sorts of fun stuff for the cage.
And speaking of fun stuff, let's post all sorts of cage and rat room decorating ideas: hammocks, playpens, home-made and bought stuff -- anything!
This should be a fun and creative topic. 
_________________
Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous
Last edited by Kate on Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:52 am; edited 3 times in total |
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Noyoti-Kai
Mon Apr 05, 2004 2:16 pm
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| Cage accesories? |
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*EEEE* Well, it's finally happening...after my Martin's arrives, I've two babies reserved to be picked up and brought home...I'm so excited!!! We're visiting the ratlets today! :D But some time this week, we're also going to be accessory shopping. The big question is, what all should I get?
Some things on the list are of course sturdy food bowls, water bottles, a rattie hammock, igloo, litter pan...but what other things are good ideas? I was thinking some sort of ropy bird toy, for climbing, and a concrete perch, as well...what sort of things does everyone use for play in cage? Ideas/thoughts, anyone? What can I get to mix and match things, and keep things fun and interesting? Do rats like ferret tubes and things, like to put on the floor for when it's free-roam time? What about cardboard box mazes and castles, are they quite good? Suggestions welcome!
~Noyoti-Kai
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Kate
ADMIN & RP Supporter
Mon Apr 05, 2004 2:35 pm
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Rat toy ideas at The Dapper Rat. It's a start, and tons of fun to read through the entire site (make sure you read and print out the Bad Rat Pledge for your new kids  ).
_________________
Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous |
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crazyfeather
Tue Apr 06, 2004 12:19 am
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knuckles
Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 am
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the rule with my pack is....the more you paid for something, the less the rats will like it
plastic hanging baskets are fun (mine have an "easter" basket this week). and alot of cat toys are great.
and of course cardboard boxes. We like to tape a bunch of boxes together with lots of "windows" cut out to make a "castle"
Have fun and congrats
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Kellz625
Fri Apr 09, 2004 2:35 am
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I get comfy perches for my rats to climb on, they are in the bird section at pet stores. You can get them in different types, there are "boings" which are spiral swinggs, then there are perches which go from one side of the cage to the other, this is how my rats get up to their "loft", there are also round swings, and more, you never know what you'll find. I got a trianular rope swing recently for my soon to be new babies. Also, if you see any stores getting rid of fixtures, shelves used to hold videos or books are great, mine have one in there and it adds a ledge to climb on. Almost like another level. The "loft" that I speak of is actually one segment of a paper holder, like you see in offices, they stack up and you can put paper and folders in them....I zip tied it to the top and it's a loft! The good thing is, they usually come with three or more. So once the one is chewed and deemed unusable, you just switch it out.
Here's a "loft"...
MY rats' loft...
http://www.ratpalace.com/albums/album13/rats_044.sized.jpg
http://www.ratpalace.com/albums/album13/rats_048.sized.jpg
_________________
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fleet-rat
Mon Apr 12, 2004 7:55 pm
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| Rat Accessories |
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Hi
you can get some funky rat toys from http://stores.ebay.co.uk/jandy54petaccessories
 I bought a load of play tunnels and chews from them, it's really quick if you pay by paypal and cheap, all there stuff is brand new!!
They even sell huge cages at cheap prices its a right bargain..
Hope this helps 
xxx :cool:
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JamieinGA
Mon May 03, 2004 8:42 pm
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I got my rats a plain wooden bird ladder. They climbed on it AND used it as a chew toy. I agree with the More Expensive = Less Used, thing. Every pet store worker I've ever come in contact with will try and talk you into the wheels and the Exercise balls and, while some rats might use them, mine have always seemed to look at unneccesary movement as just that: Unneccesary. And would much rather use their energy up wrestling or trying to capture my pizza. Hmm...and I actually made my rat a hammock just yesterday, using an old dish towel and shower curtain rings (I got one of the ones Super Pet makes a while back, and had it for about a month before the rats had chewed off two of the straps that were holding it up.) Then again, it's been a while since they've had a hammock, so Petunia can't seem to choose at this point between ignoring it totally and trying to yank it down and use it as bedding. Oh! And have you ever seen those little baskets at, like, Wal-Mart and Kmart that look like miniature neon milk crates? My rats love those, as well. I currently have one turned on its side and from the top of the cage in one corner (using shower curtain rings, again. those things are so clever) with an old towel in at. Kinda like an extra mini-shelf/cozy spot. I've also seen bits of plastic pipe used as a hiding spot. Especially the corner joint things (I know nothing about plumbing).
~Jamie 
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Rats101
Tue May 04, 2004 2:43 am
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I have been thinking of getting a bird nesting house at a pet store for some time.They are great beds and hangouts for pet rats,I've heard.
_________________
To my loving rats Arwen and Parle'
RIP:
Suzy:November 20th,2003-January 1st,2005
Rest in peace Suzy Q.I will miss you so much. |
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nutbrownhare
RP Supporter
Tue Jun 29, 2004 1:54 pm
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thearetical
Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:04 am
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| Where Do I Buy Rat Accessories?? |
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Does anybody here know where I can buy rat cage accesorries in the Vancouver area (British Columbia, Canada)? I want to make use of my tall cage (which is meant for Birds) by installing some extra half-levels. All I've been able to find is "Super Pets Look Out Corner" which the PetsMarts (in Langley and Surrey) sell. They're not too pricey ($14.99), but I want to add at least 2 to my cage, or better 3, so by then I'll be out almost $50. If anybody knows of a good place to find stuff like this, that would be awesome. I can drive a ways for a good deal, but a place in the area would be good. I've already tried Petcetera, King Ed's Pet Store and Bosleys.
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Jess
Wed Jun 30, 2004 3:35 am
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I just have to say, don't get wood huts unless you're willing to sand down all the edges and pad them. I lost a very sweet girly because she fell and hit her head on one  It wasn't a far drop either...only the height of a Martin's shelf.
On another note, my girl ratties love the cat toys with bells in them and clean processed paper to shed, make nests and play in
_________________
Rats~Janine, Madeleine, Cooper, Basil, Dolly, Kitty, Ilori, Theo, Elliot, Vladimir, Freya, Devi, Yoshimi, Nigel, Rosshalde, Faust, Tolkien, Caleb, Mira, Ivy, Nemo, Willow, Nikolas, Lucian & Linus
Mice~Molly, James & Will
Beardie~Cleo |
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mlescully
Wed Jun 30, 2004 5:11 am
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Try the hardware stores. Around here, Mom and Pop (as opposed to the big chains) stores often have the most amazing stuff. I just found one that sells galvanized wire mesh (they call it "Rabbit fencing") in 1/2"x1", just like Martin's uses. I was going to buy enough to build myself a whole big cage, but then I adopted my two newest girlies (who will be introduced soon, as soon as Boo comes out from under her feeder) who came with a big Martin's cage of their own. Now, I've bought enough to make the cage 6' tall! Woohoo! Enough space for a million ratties Anyway, try closet shelving, hardware cloth, etc, etc. Plastic ferret litter boxes are good hideouts and shelves and they're really cheap (heck, if you lived closer to me, I'd give you some. These girls came with a million toys!) I've also seen Mom and Pop petstores that sell the wire bottoms for birdcages separate. I bought a bunch and used 'em for shelves. You can also get creative with towels, washcloths, or old clothes and turn them into hammocks. Also go to thrift stores and bargain/dollar stores and get creative. My guys are nuts for aluminum dryer ducting which makes a great hideout or will also work to attach two cages together. The possibilities are unlimited. I wouldn't even buy the commercially made shelves unless you either have the money just laying around and have to spend it, or you want your cage to look beautiful. Rats generally will ignore the things which cost a lot of money and play in the Kleenex box anyway.
PS Have a look at some of the recent threads in this topic. . .there are a lot of good sites mentioned that might have other fun ideas. Enjoy
_________________
Sarah
Gus, Electra and Lillie (cats)
Artemisia Serendipity Timoune Paikea Eowyn (RIP) Nimue Chrysanthemum Mozart, Elizabeth
Ruby Sunrise, Angelina, Madeleine, Claudia, and the Angels |
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knuckles
Wed Jun 30, 2004 5:23 am
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I would just add one thing. My personal experience is that galvanized wire STINKS after awhile, and no amount of scrubbing seems to keep the stink away very long. You can get coated hardware cloth in the states, I don't know if you can there.
you also might think about other creative ways of making levels. I've been able to buy "stackable" plastic shelving which I have been able to put in the cage to make more levels. Also, those plastic coated things to "organinze" kitchens, pantries etc can be used.
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thearetical
Mon Jul 05, 2004 1:08 pm
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Mlescully and Knuckles: by fluke, that's exactly what I did. I bought a few plastic organizing trays from a doller store in the neighborhood and used picture-hanging wire to fasten them to the walls of my cage, and my boys loved them.
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Gulliver, Mogget, Mulligan, and Bob Jr. |
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Carolyn
Sat Oct 09, 2004 10:33 pm
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| Planning another cage update! |
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Hello again to everybody and I'm back for a while! Now that the girls are used to the lovely new 4-and-a-third foot tall cage and getting rather bored of racing up and down the four levels and destroying their toys and hammocks  I think it's time for new toys! I'm going to make them some new hammocks and throw away the shredded ones, but I'm kind of stuck on finding new toys. Currently, they have cat toys with bells in them, which they love, a tiny stuffed elephant toy, a climbing rope, and some dangling wood chew toys, along with some tunnels and rocks. They don't seem to care for most dangly things, they seem to have gotten tired of cardboard boxes and simply shred them and shove them out the sides of the cage..  which sort of leaves me at a loss. My girls are getting spoiled and less easily amused. =P Any new, innovative suggestions? What else can I use for nest boxes?
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Karinka
Sun Oct 10, 2004 8:36 am
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sapphire_rats
Sat Jan 29, 2005 7:06 am
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sure!! Just get creative! Here is a pic of my R-695!
Just put hammocks, boxs, toys, hide treats, get a wheel, take a toilet paper tube, put treats in it, toilet paper, some more treats, toilet paper, etc... until it is full and let them go at it!
put frozen peas (or fruit or anything frozen) into a shallow bowl with water, they will love to go "fruit/pea" diving
_________________
The Boys:
Enigma
Neptune
Zion
The Hamster: Mischief
And Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will! |
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Jill
RP Supporter
Sat Feb 05, 2005 10:46 am
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So far the only "toy" my girls really like is a tiny stuffed animal that's hung in their cage. Besides that, they use their ladder to out maneuver each other when they're playing chase. Of course... tossing the litter out of the litterbox is their REAL favorite game, but they only play it at night, so I can't tell which girl does it!
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meretseger
Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:58 pm
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It might look a little disturbing, but rats tend to really love... those little fur mice that they make for cats. I know some pet store owners that have pet rats in their back room... and when the rats escapes they walked past several bags of dog food and treats to destroy the fur mice. So I got some for my rats and they very much enjoy them.
Erin B.
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I feel so listless, I think they're drugging my cocoa. |
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dragynflye
Sun Feb 13, 2005 6:55 am
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cat toys! like erin said, the little furry mice are great! my girls looooove these little plastic jacks i got at walmart for like 97 cents. and dingle balls... and feathers... and laser pointers... and chasey dangley things...and...and...and....crap! off to wallyworld to buy more toys! 
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i miss you dove, oz, briar and fern. liam, my love, i 'll never forget you. |
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SunWolf
Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:49 pm
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Off to the carpet store!! Most will give you the cardboard roll that carpet is stored on. Cut it into pieces with any handsaw you have on hand and you have instant chewing, snuggling, stashing, sleeping spots!!!
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katierat18
Sat Mar 19, 2005 7:27 am
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Try a digging box. Get a deep plastic container with drainage holes (or drill some yourself), fill with clean soil (no fertilisers, chemicals, bugs or other nasties), toss in some bird seed, lightly water. In a few days you will have a nice lawn of long grass. Put in cage or on a cleanable floor and add rats. Your rats will love chewing on the grass, pulling grass out by the roots, digging, getting their noses dirty and searching for food that you may have hidden in there before hand.
Have fun!!
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BadRattitudeRattery
Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:52 am
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Here's my current toy stock :
Igloos
Bird Hanging Toys
Cat Jingle Balls
Dog Rope Toys
Bird Branches that attach to cage
Large Empty Tin Cans (no sharp edges)
Sisal Cat Mice
Hammocks
Bird Linking Chains
Bird Ropes that attach to cage
Wheels
Wood Boxes
Huge Ferret Roll Balls (Balls with holes on each side they can climb in)
Ferret Tunnels
Dryer Pipes
Hanging Baskets
Terra Cotta Pots
I'll have to check again, I'm sure there is other stuff...
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nostalgia
Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:16 am
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Look in the bird section. There are tons of hanging things that my girls like to swing on or sit on. Notti has a wooden bird toy that hangs and she likes to chew it.
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-Randi and the Rats: Notti, Mysty, Nilla, and Wafer
~My precious Angels: Nosi, Jumper, Margie, Francie, and Bart~ We miss you. |
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