How to Create a Rat House

Rat on a bird house

Rats love to hide out in little, cozy places. You can create one of those places when you create a rat house. The main thing to watch is that your rat house does not have any sharp edges or contain anything the rat can get sick from when he chews it up. A few simple steps will help you create a rat house and give your furry friend a happy home.

Things You'll Need

• Wood pieces
• Hammer and nails
• Plastic piece
• Reptile hideout
• Bird box
• Metal debris
• Terra-cotta pot
• Nesting material

Instructions

1. Build one out of wood. Use 5 square sheets of plywood, with 4 as the walls and 1 as the ceiling. Use small nails that fit all the way into the wood to secure them. Nail the four walls together by overlapping the edges. Nail the roof on once the walls are in place. Saw a small opening for the doorway.

2. Give him a plastic abode. Your rat would also like hanging out in tough plastic, dome-shaped houses. Just make sure the plastic is very thick and difficult to chew through--no cheap stuff. A part of a thick pail, broken salad bowl or other rounded dome will do.

3. Use reptile logs or hideouts. The reptile section in most pet stores have an array of hollowed out logs and other hideouts that also work for rats. Note they are pretty expensive. Check them out to get ideas on how to make a similar item from your own wood.

4. Find a bird house or bird breeding box. Sturdy birdhouses will work for a rat, as long as they are big enough for the rat. Check out the supply at your home and garden store to see if any of them work. Remove thin perches or other small object that can get easily chewed off.

5. Use metal debris. Parts of thick metal pipes, large springs or other very thick metal that cannot be bent or chewed through are also good items from which to make a house. Make sure there are absolutely no sharp edges or thin metal pieces on which a rat can hurt himself. This has to be heavy-duty metal, 1/4-inch thick or thicker.

6. Give him a terra-cotta pot. A small terra-cotta planter placed on its side also works well for a rat house.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean any item thoroughly before you give it to the rat. Never give him parts of containers that were used for paint, bleach or other harsh chemical mixtures.

• Give the rat some nesting material—like old fabric or pillow innards—so he can make a little nest in his new little house.

• Temporary homes can be created out of cereal boxes. Just empty it, make sure there are no globs of glue and put it in his cage for a field day. These are temporary because they will get chewed up, shredded and soiled quite quickly. However, they are tons of fun while they last.

• Watch your rat’s reaction and progress. If he absolutely hates the house or is afraid of it, get it out of his cage. If he loves it so much he is chewing dangerously close to the nails, also get it out of his cage.