New cage for the rattie babies

[Ly&Pigs]

I think I have strange rats. They don't chew on things they like. They wouldn't use that wire shelf thing until I put some fleece on it, now they lay up there quite often. They chew a bit on the rug now and then. They like to burrow under things so I took an old hand towel and gave it to them to play under/burrow under.

The large red hammock up in the right corner is made from a cloth placemat. I just put grommets in the corners and took small chain and hung it up. The hammock on the left is made from a large bandana I folded in half, put grommets in and hung up with nylon rope. Markie goes partway across the rope sometimes but they just got full access of the cage last night so not sure if they all will use it or not. There is a dowel climbing rod across the front top too. Last night Izzy climbed up the front door, grabbed the dowel and did acrobatics across to the rope then down the little purple plastic ladder. It was too funny.

On the bottom they have their shelf, then in the back there is an L shaped bent grid with a placemat folded in thirds on top of that. They like to get inside the placemat and sleep. In the old cage, it was Izzy's favorite spot to hang out. The long ladder going upstairs is one my dad made for them. He made them a shorter one too but it's currently in the boys cage. They also have a double sided heavy ceramic dish to use as a food dish. I put grain mix and lab blocks on one side and the other side is for fresh foods. Then of course they have one of my daughters old Barbie couches. Izzy likes to sit on it.

I had crocheted them a tunnel a few months ago, I thought it wouldn't last a week. They never did chew on it either. It's in the boys cage. Sammy loves it. I am making a new longer one for the girls.

I know there are many people over on ratsrule who use fleece in their cages. I don't think it will hurt them to chew a bit of it but large amounts could be dangerous. I've even put plastic shoeboxes filled with fleece strips in there and they would just dig though it to find hidden things then scatter the fleece where ever they wanted but never chewed it.