A house for a rat: how to choose and do it yourself?

Decorative rats have won the hearts of many pet lovers. They are very smart, inquisitive animals with their own character and habits, and the owners try to make their content as comfortable as possible. One of the conditions for this is that the animal has its own house. How to choose it correctly or make it yourself - we'll talk in our article.

Does a rat really need a house? Experts insist that the animal should have its own secluded corner. Let's try to figure out the reasons.

First of all, it should be noted stressful situations that can happen to an animal due to many factors. A stranger, loud sounds, sudden movements - all this can frighten the animal, and he wants to hide.

Providing a comfortable environment for the pet, the owners need to take care that the cage does not get caught in drafts. Rats can be very sensitive to them and often catch colds. A house with windproof walls will allow you to hide inside and not get sick. Also, in an insulated house, you can easily hide from the cold, even in an apartment where, for whatever reason, the temperature is rather low. On the other hand, when direct sunlight hits the cage, rats can hide in a shelter from the heat.

In the shelter, the rat feels safe... This is especially important if the animal is not feeling well. Calmer males feel much more comfortable without having a house, while girls, on the contrary, need protection and a secluded corner.

When choosing a house for a rodent, you need to take into account the size of your pet. He should be comfortable and not cramped inside. If the rat is taken into the house at a tender age, it will grow - this must also be taken into account.

If you plan to make a house yourself, the first thing you should start from is the choice of material. Let's consider the most relevant options.

• House made of wood Is a great way to take care of your pet's health and comfort.
• Plastic has a democratic price, in addition, it may well be in every house among unnecessary things, and it can be used without compromising the budget. It is easy to clean, however, it can lead to stagnation of air and stuffiness inside.
• You can make a house from thick fabric... Such dwellings do not have to be placed on the floor, they can be easily hung up, and you will also get a comfortable hammock for the animal. In addition, the fabric is easy to wash, and hygiene will not be a problem either. However, we must not forget that rodents try practically everything in the immediate vicinity on their teeth, and dense tissue becomes an easy prey that quickly becomes unusable.
• Ceramic houses, unlike plastic, keep cool and are especially useful in hot rooms or in summer. When cleaning, you need to be careful, as the material is very fragile and breaks easily.
• Houses made of bark and branches They are especially valued by rodents, but, unfortunately, they do not last long for the same reason: pets sharpen their teeth about them with great pleasure.

So, it was decided to make a house for the rat with our own hands. When choosing a material, the owners often opt for plywood. It is quite durable, the surface, unlike wood, does not require heat treatment. In addition, working with plywood does not require special skills and any person can handle it.

First of all, you need to figure out how the animal's dwelling will look like, decide on its size and design. Also important is the location and methods of attachment in the cage. Further, measurements are made and a schematic drawing that will help in the work. With the use of a jigsaw, the necessary parts are made.

Experts recommend considering ventilation. This means that, in addition to the entrance, you need to make a couple of small holes that will help air circulation.

The faeces of animals inevitably lead to an unpleasant odor. To minimize this problem, you can make a house without a bottom for your pet. Such a structure is placed directly on the floor in the cage. The roof can be protected with plastic elements attached to it.

It should be borne in mind that when making a house, it is very it is not recommended to use glue, varnish, impregnation and paint. These materials can be toxic. In addition, the pet will definitely gnaw its home, and these substances can lead to its poisoning.

Plywood is a great option for making a rat house. However, we will consider how you can make a pet's home from other materials, the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

This version of making a rat house is the simplest and does not require financial costs. A box of equipment, shoes or food is perfect as a base. In addition, the cardboard is absolutely safe and will not harm your pet.

Among the minuses, it should be noted the very short service life of such houses. Cardboard gets dirty very quickly, deforms and starts to smell unpleasant, which means that it will need to be replaced every few days.

Plastic is not a toxic material, besides, it is easy to clean and does not absorb odors.Accordingly, a house created from a food container can serve a pet for a long time. In addition, the material is quite dense, and the rodent will not be hurt by it while grinding the teeth. Food containers are often opaque, an added benefit as rats like to be in the dark and may not be very comfortable in bright light.

The manufacturing principle is simple. You need to take the container and cut the inlet for the pet in it, if necessary, close the edges with electrical tape.

In this situation, materials at hand will be required. First of all, a plastic bottle, which can be found in almost any home. Containers made from milk, kvass or mineral water are suitable. In addition, you will need an old and unnecessary jacket made of soft material, you need to cut off the sleeves from it.

To make a house, the neck is cut from the bottle. There are sharp and not too straight edges, which can injure animals, so you need to glue them with tape or tape. Also, the sleeves of the jacket are attached to the tape, both inside and outside the house. It must be remembered that the use of glue is highly undesirable, since its toxicity can be harmful to the rat.

Experts believe that it is best to make a rat house out of wood. There are several advantages, the main one is environmental safety for the pet. Also, the animal will be able to grind its teeth on the body.

The choice of material must be approached carefully, because not all types of trees can be used. Among them, there can be found unhealthy pets. It is recommended to choose fruit crops such as rowan, apple and pear. Birch, oak and linden houses will not harm the rodent.

It should be borne in mind that the material must undergo heat treatment, which is designed to help get rid of possible parasites. To do this, it is placed in a hot oven for 2-3 minutes. The temperature should be 100 degrees.

One cannot but mention the disadvantages, the main of which is the ability of wood to absorb moisture. The waste of the rat's vital activity can cause him serious damage, and the smell will be appropriate. Thorough cleaning of the house and its periodic replacement with a new one will be required.

You can find out how to make a three-story house for a rat with your own hands by watching the video below.