How to Make a Bed for a Rat

Although many people see rats as pests that should be removed from the home immediately, some people can̵7;t help but love these furry little rodents. If you fall into the second category, it̵7;s likely that you share your home with a few caged rats. While rats don̵7;t need a bed in order to sleep, they spend a lot of time sleeping so they appreciate a nice, warm place to nap. Rats like to sleep in closed-in areas; create a bed with a roof so that the rat feels safe and cozy.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic bowl
  • Electric drill
  • Compass cutter attachment
  • Sandpaper
  • Bedding materials (paper, towels)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set your plastic bowl upside down on a flat work surface and attach a compass cutter to the bit of your electric drill.

    • 2

      Hold the bowl firmly with one hand and use the other hand to drill a rat-sized hole using your drill. The compass cutter will help you cut a perfectly round hole in the plastic. Place the hole anywhere you like on the bowl--rats are smart animals and they will figure out where the entrance is soon enough.

    • 3

      Use a piece of sandpaper to sand the edges of the hole so the rat doesn̵7;t get hurt on any rough pieces of plastic. The rat will enter in and out of the hole; sand down any sharp bits so he doesn̵7;t get hurt.

    • 4

      Put bedding materials on the floor of the rat̵7;s cage where you want to place the bed. Rats will sleep comfortably in any non-stringy bedding such as towels, paper towels or shredded paper.

    • 5

      Place the bowl upside down on top of the bedding material to complete your rat̵7;s bed. Make sure that you change the bedding regularly so ammonia doesn̵7;t develop.