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Pet Rat Cage Enrichment Question:
Hi, I’ve had rats for awhile and have a relatively large 3 story cage for my two rats, and they have an igloo and a hanging bed, but I feel like I should be doing more for them as far as sleeping stuff and toys go. I’m in college and don’t have a very large budget, but are there any things you can help me with to make them a little happier? Thank you!
ABOUT PET RATS Answers:
Great Question!
Here are fifteen inexpensive pet rat cage enrichment ways to add both excitement and comfort to the inside of your rats’ cage:
1. Boxes, Boxes & More Boxes!
There are so many ways you can make boxes fun. Cut out doors on all sides so your rats have plenty of entrances and exits. A folded-up T-shirt on the bottom of a box makes it into a nice cozy bed. A soft, folded-up cloth on top allows your rats to sleep comfortably on the “roof” of the box.
2. Rope
Get a thick rope and, for young rats, tie knots every few inches and hang it vertically from the top of the cage. If you have older rats, stretch the rope horizontally (making sure it’s not too high off the floor of their 
cage). [Caution: Your rope should be thick enough that there’s no chance they can accidentally get tied up or strangled. You also want to get a rope that’s made of natural fibers.]
3. Shredded Plain Newsprint
This is one of my rats’ staples for their bedding. I place wide strips of plain newsprint throughout their cage and my rats make incredibly elaborate nests out of it. They never tire of this stuff. Talk about pet rat cage enrichment! I buy plain unbleached newsprint and shred it into strips by hand.
4. Bandanas and Scarves
Bandanas and scarves are super easy to tie to the sides and/or from the top of your cage to create hammocks, a perfect way to create pet rat cage enrichment.
5. T-Shirts
Use T-shirts you’re no longer wearing or new ones you buy inexpensively. When using old ones, make sure there aren’t any small holes in which your rats’ limbs (or even their head) can get stuck. Beware that hole-free new T-shirts may soon have holes so be prepared to replace them as needed.
Three ways to use T-shirts:
- Long-sleeved T-shirts can be utilized as hammocks by tying the arms and the bottom end of the shirt to opposite sides and/or the top of their cage. Stretch the ends of the t-shirt far enough apart so it becomes a full-sized hammock.
- Thread two ropes inside a short-sleeved T-shirt. Thread the rope through the bottom of the T-shirt and run a separate rope through each of the sleeves. Hang the ropes across the cage so they’re parallel to one another. Stretch the ropes taut and tie knots to secure each end to a cage wall. The ropes should be spaced far enough apart so the T-shirt is stretched out into a nice-sized hammock in between the two ropes.
- Drape a T-shirt (or any other suitable cloth) over a rope so the two sides of the shirt reach the floor of the cage. Stretch the ends of the cloth out to each side making it into a cozy tent for your rats. You can also just run the rope through one side of the T-shirt and open up the inside of the shirt. This turns it into a “cave” on the cage floor for your ratties to explore.
6. PVC Pipes
These are the hard plastic pipes used in construction that measure from several inches to several feet wide in diameter. They’re usually aqua/green, white, or black in color. PVC pipe is very inexpensive and pet rats love using them as tunnels. You can buy them from a hardware store. (Or, if there’s a construction site near you, ask if they have any extra you can have.) Place the tubes on the floor of your rats’ cage or hang using two ropes spaced about an inch apart. I recommend buying pipes that are at least 4″ in diameter. 4.5″ is even better.
7. Gallon-Sized Plastic Bottles
After finishing a gallon-sized bottle of orange juice or water, cut off the top portion and wash it out well. (You can even run it through the dishwasher on the top shelf.) Cut two holes several inches apart on a side of the bottle and hang it from one wall of their cage. Position it so your rats can access the hanging bed from a shelf or a floor in their cage. Line the cut-out bottle with a soft cloth such as a folded-up T-shirt.
8. Plastic Baskets
Buy plastic baskets from a dollar store. Use shower hooks, rope, yarn, or ribbons to hang the basket from a wall inside your pet rats’ cage. Be sure to securely line the baskets with a soft cloth so their fingers and toes don’t get caught in the open areas.
9. Cardboard Mailing Tubes
Choose tubes wide enough for your rats to comfortably walk through and even turn around while inside. (Minimum diameter is 4″. 4.5″ is even better for adult rats.) Cut out several holes (big enough for your rats to get in and out of) along one side of the tube. Attach to sides of the cage cutting slots into either end that fit into the cage bars. An alternative is to skip putting holes in the side and place a rope through it to string up the tube. You can even create a tunnel to go from box to box.
10. Fleece Blankets
They’re so soft and inviting. Use them as cozy sleeping bags and as linings for boxes. Fleece blankets can also be used to carpet cage floors. For extra value, buy the largest size possible and cut into smaller sections to fit your rats’ cage.
11. Wrapped Treats
Twist unbleached plain newsprint around a lab block, several pieces of kibble or a treat. Your rats will love unwrapping their “gift.”
12. Paper Cups
Buy cups that are made only of paper. (i.e., Don’t choose cups that have a waxy, plastic coating.) Place a small hole in the side of the cup. Cut a length of string or twine long enough to hang the cup from the top of your pet rats’ cage. Tie a knot in one end and pull the string through the cup leaving the knot inside the cup. Place treats, lab blocks or kibble inside and fold over the top of the cup. Hang the cup from the top of the cage. [Caution: Make sure the string or twine is in a place where your rats won’t be able to get tangled up and, as a result, injured. If you’re not able to supervise closely, just place the treat in the cup without tying it up. They’ll still enjoy figuring out how to get the treat out of the cup.]
13. Chew Toys
Chew toys are cheap and give your rats the pleasure of using their impressive teeth. Besides the dainty-sized Pretzel Sticks, there are the much larger Mega Munch chews. Both are wood from willow trees which is safe for pet rats. Another great option for gnawing are these bamboo chews.
14. Space Pods
Very inexpensive and quite versatile, space pods can be used right-side up or up-side down. Both ways are equally fun for your pet rats.
15. Always provide something new for pet rat cage enrichment
Change things up regularly. Rotate toys, boxes, and hammocks every few days so your rats feel like they’re continually getting new toys and cage accessories. A couple of times each week, place treats inside several foraging toys. Stash them in areas of their cage where your rats won’t see them right away. They’ll be delighted to find their treats later while you’re at school, work or otherwise occupied.
updated 12/7/23
Wonderful tips!
Something my boys LOVE are tissue boxes. I buy inexpensive, generic brand tissues, tear away any plastic from the opening, and then place the box in the cage. My boys have a blast pulling out the tissues, shredding them, and carting them off to other areas in the cage. Just make sure you get plain tissues (white, non-lotion). Cheap, plain toilet paper is another good option.
I also use the bottom of a plastic pet carrier (the one I initial brought my boys home in when they were pups) and put either fluffy bedding or plain crinkle paper in it. They love to burrow in it.
Hi Melissa,
Thank you so much for sharing what you do to keep your rats cozy and comfy when they’re in their cage.
That’s a great suggestion about the tissue paper and toilet paper. I like that you included to make sure there’s no lotion in the tissue. Another thing I worry about is tissues can be rather dusty. Fine particles get in the air when kleenex or toilet paper is dragged around or ripped. A roll of paper towels can also be fun but, again, they do give off a good amount of dust when being torn or moved around. Also, I’m not sure if you know white tissue or paper towels has bleach in it. However, you can find unbleached paper products. All in all, though, it’s probably okay to let them play with these products every once in awhile, but certainly not on a regular basis. Rats’ lungs are so delicate and they’re prone to getting respiratory diseases.
I love that you’re using the bottom of a pet carrier filled with bedding or crinkle paper for your rats to burrow in. Sounds like so much fun!
Thank you again for sharing. You sound like an excellent rat guardian. :)
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Is it safe to use old tshirts that have screen printing type designs on them?
Hi Jax,
It’s safe to use t-shirts with screen printing as long as they don’t have holes in them and as long as your rats don’t chew and ingest the screen printed sections. Of course you really wouldn’t want them to eat any of the shirt even if it’s 100% cotton.
You can turn the t-shirts inside out so the printed part isn’t facing out. The inside of the t-shirt would be softer and more comfortable for your rats.
Thanks for asking your question. Feel free to ask more anytime.
Best Wishes to You & Your Rats,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
I wanted to buy my little cousin a pet rat but I no longer have the budget for accessories. It’s great to know that I can actually use mailing tubes as a tunnel toy. I wonder where I can find those tubes.
Hi Claire,
You can find mailing tubes at a UPS store, office supply store or online through Amazon.
Remember it’s always best to have at least 2 pet rats. They really enjoy one another’s company.
Also, you are probably already aware that giving someone a pet as a gift doesn’t always work out. I’m hoping that if your cousin is a child they have lots of parental support and supervision. If your cousin is an adult, maybe they already have other rats and/or have let you know they’re looking for a new pet rat? I don’t mean to “lecture” here, but it really can go in the wrong direction when giving a pet as a gift.
I appreciate that you sought out additional information about rats on my site! Thanks for visiting :)
Best Wishes,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
Oh yay!! This post is perfect timing! I recently rescued 3 rats and am trying to learn all I can about them since I have never experienced being a rat owner!!
That’s so exciting you’ve recently rescued three rats, Jenna! Let me know if you have any questions—I’m happy to help anytime.
These are great ideas, and perfect for a pet owner on a budget. I love that you helped out a budget minded college student. I’m sharing this to my DIY Pinterest board, thanks!
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Hi, Cathy! I’m impressed that the college student asked how to enrich her pet rats’ environment. Thanks for sharing this on your DIY Pinterest board.
Rats are so cool. Really great tips to keep them busy and happy- such easy DIY ideas but such fun
Easy and fun is a great combination! Thanks for visiting and commenting.
What great ideas! I’m going to share over on Pinterest. When I was in high school, my close friend had a pet rat – what a sweetie! Loved newspaper!
Thanks so much for your comment, FiveSibesMom, and for sharing on Pinterest, too!
That looks like quite the castle! Love the animal print fleece. These are some great ideas.
Really cool ideas! I’m sure these will be helpful to many people who have little rat companions. :)
Thank you so much, Fur Everywhere!
Our bunny Lulu LOVE boxes as well. Another thing she loves – which might also work for rats is an empty paper towel roll stuffed with hay. We give her one or two in the morning and I think it occupies her while we are at work. She has her box with hay as well, but she especially likes the challenge of pulling the hay out of the tube. Maybe rats might like it stuffed with newsprint?
As a kid, I had many mice as pets. Loved reading about the Rats!
That’s great you had mice when you were young, Lisa. Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Great recommendations that I’m sure can be applied for a variety of rodent family members! I remember the joy our hamsters exuded with the addition of a fresh paper towel roll.
I’d also add the need for regular cleaning as, enrichment is difficult when living conditions are not up to par! We would clean our hamster homes every other day.
Hi Bryn,
Thanks so much for your comments. I worry about my rats with paper towel rolls since they tend to try to eat the glue off of it. Every animal is different though…I’m sure not all will try to eat it.
Great suggestion about adding the need for regular cleaning. Thank you! I have an entirely different section on cleaning but you are so right that enrichment is just not possible if the cage is dirty.
Thanks Again,
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
I have two pet rats and this helped a lot for some good tips and ideas.
Hi Katrina,
I’m so glad you’re finding my website helpful! It makes me so happy to hear that I’m able to make a positive difference for you and your rats.
Jasmine | About Pet Rats
I love the Space Pods – all of the ideas/tips are low-cost, and easy to do to help out one of our littlest fuzzy animal family members!!
I follow several people and their pet rats. They are really cool pets. ☺
Pet rats are amazing. Thanks for stopping by!
Pets are pets, regardless of it’s a rat, bird, cat dog etc.. This is great information. Thank you for your post.
Thanks, Jodi!
PVC pipes are so cheap and what a great way to enrich your rats! Great advice for a first time rat parent too!
Thanks, Christine! I really appreciate your stopping by and commenting.
Some great ideas for those who own rats. They need comfort, security, and stimulation, too.
So true! We all need comfort, security and stimulation. :)
awwwww
Thanks for stopping by, Ruth!
We don’t know much about rats…but we think it’s pretty cool they like boxes just like us cats!
Boxes are great for everyone! Thanks for visiting and commenting and enjoy your boxes!
Great post! I don’t have rats but do similar things for my rabbit.
That’s great you provide similar enrichment for your rabbit. Mental stimulation is important for all of us (including humans)!
I agree! Mental stimulation for all pets is important. Even my dogs love hunting for treats. We turn it into a fun game and they love it.
That’s so great you create situations where your dogs hunt for treats. Hooray for providing mental stimulation for all! :)
What lucky rats to have so many cool things to play with.
Thanks, Val! I appreciate your visiting and commenting. It’s fun to make our pets’ lives the best possible, isn’t it?
Great tips! Lots of easy up cycling and DIY tips!
Thanks, Nicole. I appreciate your stopping by and commenting. :)
These are great tips! It looks like they have a wonderful place to call home.
It’s fun creating a wonderful home for our pets…can’t imagine anything better! Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Rachel.
Mental stimulation is good for all species! Mr. N likes finding hidden treats too.
This is a really great list of ideas! So many good ways to keep them happy!
Thanks, Carleen!