Things You'll Need
- Carpet scraps or fabric
- PVC piping
- Balsa wood
- Wooden half-dowels
- Hobby glue
- Screw-in hooks, cable ties or eyelets
Instructions
Determine what type of ramp your pet requires. A rat or a mouse can climb a steep wire ramp, but a guinea pig or a ferret will need a covered ramp with a more gentle slope. While most rodents can climb wire ramps, consider a softer ramp that won't damage their feet. Consider whether your pet uses a litter box or not -- for pets that aren't litter trained, choose an easy-to-clean material, such as PVC piping.
Cut a length of balsa wood to the appropriate size for your pet if it is a lightweight pet, such as a mouse, rat or degu. For example, a ramp that is 4-to-6-inches wide is appropriate for a rat. The length of the ramp will depend on its location. Glue half-dowels or popsicle sticks spaced 2-inches apart down the ramp to provide traction. Attach screw-in hooks to the top of the ramp to attach it to a shelf. Soak the ramp in food coloring to add color to your pet's cage. Use a sturdier type of wood for heavier pets such as ferrets.
Make a ramp out of a length of durable fabric, such as denim, an old sock or a scrap of carpeting. Cut the fabric to the desired length. Attach it to the cage using eyelets. If using a sock, consider positioning it in the cage so that your pet can climb down inside it.
Use lengths of PVC piping to create a ramp. Make the slope gentle, so your pet can get down and climb back up easily. Glue wooden half-dowels or fabric, such as carpet scraps, inside the pipes to add traction.