Always looking for new rat toys to keep our charges amused, I hit upon a simple idea some years ago, using a couple empty paper boxes, some spare wood and a few screws, spending a couple hours in the workshop to produce my first rattie playhouse. A number of rats and a few rebuilds later, I've now got it down to a fairly predictable formula. I sent these plans to Debbie Ducommun in September, 2001 for inclusion in her "Rat Report" newsletter, but I wanted to reprint it here for others who may not be members of the Rat Fan Club.
Materials needed:
- Computer Paper Boxes. Two or four, depending on how big you want it.
- 3/4" Wooden Doweling. Enough to have two dowels per box, running along the width (about 11" each)
- Rug runners. These are cut to the size of the box, and are used on the bottom to absorb any moisture your ratties may leave as well as giving them a comfy floor!
- #8 x 1.5" wood screws. Two per dowel used.
- 1" diameter washers. Four per dowel used.
- 4" diameter tubing, about 8-10" long. PVC pipe works well, as do the large Biscotti containers you get at Costco. Optional, depending on how you build the condo.
- 4" ribbed tubing, about 5" long. Available at most hardware stores (Home Depot, Lowe's)
- 1x2 Wood, about 8" long, 4 pieces.
If you are making a one-level condo, you will need the non-ribbed tubing to make a pathway between the boxes. If you are making a multi-level condo, the wood, screws and washers are used between the box top for the lower level and the box bottom of the upper level. Also, the ribbed tubing is attached to the bottom of the upper level as an entry tube to the upper level.
Instructions:
- On each box top, cut a hole about 4" x 7 1/2" in the top. Start 3" from the long edge, and about 2" in from each side (see figure 1). Be sure to tape around the edges so your rats don't hurt themselves (or try to "expand" the hole by chewing!).
- Cut a piece of rug runner for each box to fit snug on the bottom. The standard size of a computer paper box is 11" x 17", but measure it to be sure. Take some duct tape and wrap it around the edges of the rug. This makes it easier to fit into the box, and it also discourages rattie "redecoration!"
- On one end of one box, measure and cut a hole to fit the entry tube. The bottom of the hole should be just a little above the bottom, as you want the tube to sit slightly inside the box, and you want room for the rug to fit underneath the tube. If you are making a one-level condo, cut a hole on the opposite end of this box and one end of the second box to fit the pathway tube.
- Make holes to fit the screws to hold your dowels. I generally set them at 3" from the edge/3" from the bottom, and 6" from the edge/6" from the bottom. For most rats, this is a comfortable distance and will give them a good base to get through the roof hole you cut above.
- Drill a small hole in the center of each edge of your dowels. This gives you a pilot hole for the attaching screws, and keeps you from splitting the dowel with the screw.
- Attach the dowels to the box. Thread a washer through a screw, push the screw through the hole in your box, and then put another washer on the inside of the box. Finally, attach the screw to the dowel and tighten down a little. Use the same technique for the screw on the other side of the dowel. Once you have attached both sides of the dowel, tighten the screws securely to the box.
- Glue the tube to the box end, pushing it in about 1/2" to make a good fit. I generally use a hot glue gun to secure the tube, but you can probably use any good type of glue for this.
- Finally, place the rug in the box, sliding it under the tube and pushing it down to make a snug fit.
For the more visual among you, here is a blueprint of how the boxes are
built:
