How to Make a Triangle Rat Hammock
A triangle hammock gives a rat a cozy place to lounge, offering the same combination of comfort and support that a backyard hammock gives to a human. The triangle shape offers the advantage of fitting neatly in the corner of the cage. This allows you to attach the hammock securely and reduces the risk of the rat chewing through the cord. Although you can use any strong fabric for a rat hammock, fleece provides warmth and the furry texture may be comforting to a rat living alone.The fleece hammock is a no-sew project.
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Instructions
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Draw the triangle on the back of a piece of fleece with a ruler, such as 8 to 12 inches on all three sides for a medium-sized rat. Make sure the triangle will be large enough to support the rat, at least twice as wide as the rat's body.
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Cut out the fleece triangle with scissors or utility knife. Poke a hole a 1/2 inch from each corner of the fleece triangle with one blade of a pair of scissors or the tip of a utility knife. Enlarge each hole by twisting the blade in it to make it large enough to fit a strong cord.
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Cut three 2 to 3 inch pieces of cord. Push one cord through each hole in the hammock. Tie each cord tightly around a bar of the cage in a corner of the rat's cage, with the hammock spread out with a dip in it for the rat's comfort. Tie the cords directly above a horizontal bar of the cage if possible, for extra support of the rat's weight. Knot the cords very tightly around the bars if there isn't horizontal support directly beneath the anchoring points.
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Tips & Warnings
Tie the hammock low enough for the rat to get into it easily if the rat is old or injured.
Avoid stretching cords across the cage to hang a hammock. The rat will probably chew through the cord. Rats gnaw on things because their teeth grow continuously, according to the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Society.
Don't use pine or cedar in a the rat's cage -- these woods contain toxins that can cause serious illness in rodents.
References
- Photo Credit William Thomas Cain/Getty Images News/Getty Images
