Pet rats are intelligent and playful. They need a variety of toys to keep them amused and active. With a little creativity, you can provide inexpensive and entertaining homemade toys to supplement any store-bought toys.

Safety First

The most important thing when choosing any pet toy is that it is safe. Anything you give your rat must be nontoxic; you should also watch for any bits that might be swallowed and could cause a blockage of the digestive tract. Threads of fabric and ropes can cause intestinal blockages and loose threads might become wrapped around toes or pose a strangulation risk. Fleece toys are a good choice since they don't include ropes or threads.

Cardboard

Cardboard boxes and rolls from paper towels and toilet paper make good toys. Boxes are great for hiding in, though they will often be shredded fairly quickly (but that's fun too!)

Another great idea is to take a variety of boxes and other items to create a rat playhouse for enjoyment outside of the cage during playtime. Tape together a bunch of boxes and create a network of rooms connected by doors, ramps, bridges, and ladders.

Paper

Most rats love shredding paper. Plain brown paper lunch bags are great for playing in as well as shredding. Crumpled up paper makes for a fun, if temporary, ball. Your rats will likely love digging, diving, and hiding in a plastic bin or box filled with crumpled or shredded paper. Paper towels and tissues are also great for shredding and your rats can make a nice bed out of these. Try wrapping or folding a piece of paper in layers around a favorite treat; shredding and unwrapping the treat will keep your rat busy for a while.

Wood and Nuts

Wood is good for chewing, which rats need to do to keep their teeth in good condition. Make sure wood is untreated, not painted, and non-toxic. Branches from apple or willow trees are good as well, just make sure they are pesticide free. Hard-shelled nuts provide good chewing opportunities as well as a tasty treat inside. Give them sparingly as many nuts are high in fats.

Digging Box

Most rats love a digging box. Take a small cat litter pan or other shallow plastic box and fill it halfway with plain sterilized potting soil (not treated with any chemicals or fertilizer and with no additives like vermiculite). Plant some birdseed or wheat grass and water it to let the seeds sprout and grow for a bit, then let your rats go crazy in the box. To minimize the mess, avoid watering the box for a day or two before offering it to your rats and place it a bathtub or spread a tablecloth or newspapers around the box to contain the mess. Your rats will love to dig in the soil and snack on the sprouts or seeds.

Tubes and Tunnels

PVC pipe is pretty indestructible and comes in a variety of sizes and configurations. You can buy it at your local hardware store. Buy a simple straight piece or use a variety of connectors to create a network of tubes. Choose a size you are sure your rats will be able to fit through without getting stuck. If you are handy with a sewing machine, you can also make great collapsible tubes out of fleece or other sturdy fabrics. Sew a ring cut from a plastic bottle or wide cardboard tube into the ends to help hold it open. Sleeves cut off old sweatshirts are also handy tubes/sleep sacks.

Other Containers for Hiding and Climbing

Clean jars and clay plant pots placed on their sides make neat hiding spots for rats. Mini stacking bins (like those meant for office or workshop supplies) make great hiding spots too. Washed coconut shells are also good for hiding, climbing, and chewing.

Rope

Rats are very agile and like to climb on ropes. You can make little rope ladders and bridges for in the cage. Cotton ropes are available in thick widths and are usually at hardware or horse supply stores. Just make sure the configuration of ropes doesn't pose a strangulation risk and that your rats are not unraveling the threads.