[Agretfethr]

Hello! I've had my rat boys for about a month and over the past few weeks, I've been trying switch over to more sustainable products for myself, such as plastic free hygiene products, tupperware, etc. and after getting a project in my editorial illustration class themed around Earth Day and sustainability, it's come to my attention that there aren't many earth friendly pet supplies for rats.

Does anyone know of any companies/websites/independent sellers that have plastic free rat supplies? Be it hide houses, water bottles (I've heard the kaytee water bottles can be dangerous or doesn't work right), toys, etc.

I don't want to compromise my boys' health or quality of life but I also want to be more conscious of the products I invest in :]

 

[MinkShadow]

For hides use cardboard boxes - biodegradable & free! I use glass water bottles and they work fine, but also put in a water bowl or two in case they malfunction

 

[CorbinDallasMyMan]

I'm pretty sure most if not all glass water bottles have plastic and/or rubber parts. You could use a ceramic or metal water bowl instead of bottles. You have to be careful with bowls because they can get disgusting pretty quickly. Bowls that attach to the [walls of the cage] (up off the ground) tend to stay cleaner longer. I generally prefer bottles, though, because I think they're the best way to provide my rats with a consistently clean source of water.

For the rest of it, I'm guessing it would be pretty easy to find or make cage accessories out of wood, fabric, ceramic, rope, cardboard/paper, etc. Old clothes can be turned into hammocks. You can raid the recycle bin for boxes/hides. Bendy rope perches and branches from the park are great for climbing. There are lots of wood cage accessories available. Wood can get gross pretty quickly, though.

 

[lukehartinger]

I agree with the above replies, and this is the water bottle I've purchased; it uses minimal rubber, only where needed, and the rest is made of glass and metal. It's still not as environmentally conscious as recycling things you already have, but it's a step forward.