[rattikins]

This may seem rather obvious, but I wondered which blocks/toys your rats prefer?

I know that it's important to their health that they chew on something in order to keep their teeth filed down, since they are constantly growing.

The problem is that I've tried a few different shapes/sizes/flavors of those wooden blocks/sticks, and my girls really don't seem to care for them.

I'm just worried as to the possible negative effects this could be having longterm and was wondering what your rats feel about those wooden toys, and if they seem to prefer some over others?

Thanks!

 

[Forensic]

I just get them the hardwood aromatic free blocks.

Sometimes they chew, sometimes they don't.

Not chewing on chew toys shouldn't have any bad effects. They're still chewing on food and they're still bruxing, so they're fine.

 

[rattikins]

Not chewing on chew toys shouldn't have any bad effects. They're still chewing on food and they're still bruxing, so they're fine.

Good to hear, I was worried my ratties were the only ones who refused to chew consistently. The woman at the pet store made it sound like my rats had a problem if they weren't going through a block a week! 8O

And yes, they are definitely still bruxing... constantly. I love it!!

 

[twitch]

because i can't tell what wood is being used in the toys and because its a lot cheaper (and the rats really like it too) i just use chicken bones left over after dinner. they love them. i have 11 right now and the bone is normally completely gone by the next day. even when i only had 3 though a chicken bone would not last very long, maybe a week, but all the leftover meat and grissle bits were gone within an hour even with that few. they love them and it helps keep teir teeth worn down.

but like forensic said, just because they don't chew on the toy doesn't mean they're going to have problem with their teeth either. sometimes mine don't get a bone for a while but they keep their teeth down just fine but their kibble, bruxxing and chewing on the bars to wake mom or dad up so we'll cuddle them (normally its mom that does the cuddling, dad mostly just elbows mom to get them to stop....).

but the bones are infinately cheaper then those chew toys so you should try them out too.

 

[rattikins]

Thanks for the advice twitch!!

It does make me a little nervous, as I have always been weary of giving chicken bones to animals because of the splints, etc.

Is it completely safe? Do you give them to them after they have been cooked?

Thanks!!

 

[Matt]

NEVER Give COOKED bones to a dog or cat. Rats okay, But NOT cats or dogs. You can Possibly KILL the animal.

Dogs can have UN-cooked bones. We give them some all the time.

 

[Matt]

Also, I took a Wood chew from my sisters hamster and the rats barely knaw on it. except when I first gave it to them.

 

[Kimmiekins]

Generally, people advise chicken bones to be cooked or boiled. They LOVE them.

Be careful if yo do have dogs. My rats sometimes toss the bones out of the cages (ferret spacing) and we've had a close-call with the dogs. They didn't get any, but they were about to. Eeps!

We use wooden bird toys and most of the rats very much enjoy chewing on them.

 

[JennieLove]

I just recently got baby wooden blocks for my boys, which are also rat friendly!

 

[Kimmiekins]

Oh! Yes! The ABC blocks? I've never had a rat that won't at least nibble. Some have destroyed them completely.

 

[twitch]

i give them the left over bones from my meal so they are always cooked. i don't know how well they would do wit raw. i know a rat's degestive tract is stronger then ours but i think i would still be worried about somenella. i would at least research that before giving them it raw.

but it is completely safe for rats. the way a rat chews on things makes it that way, they gnaw rather then crunch like a dog so there are no splinters.

 

[rattikins]

Great! Thanks Twitch!

 

[lilspaz68]

Take those ABC blocks and string em up and make a chew toy. Its cheap, most rats will chew if not just bang the blocks around.

Some rats chew, some don't...give my little rotters anything plastic and they devour it. Waterbottles (mine and theirs), litter pans, any plastic in toys, etc... 8O

 

[rattikins]

lilspaz68, are those actual baby blocks or the "pet" ones you can find at petco?

Thanks!

 

[JennieLove]

No mine arent ABC blocks, there just building blocks for babies.

 

[rattikins]

You know I suppose if it's safe for a human baby it should be okay for a rat too huh?

I would very much like to give them a stuffed animal, but don't know how to find one that would be completely safe... any ideas?

 

[JennieLove]

I have a few teddy bears in my boys cage, but I dont have any serious chewers...They mostly just sleep with them and haul them around everywhere...My boys dont even really use the blocks unless jay ran outa stuff to put in the food bowls. xD

 

[taralyncouture]

instead of wood i gave her those mineral blocks. and omg she loved them. but it was the biggest mess ever. somehow she managed to make it look like exploaded into tiny little peices. which was great fun to clean up all over my boyfriends mothers craft room. haha

 

[JennieLove]

Mineral blocks? Are they those colorful dough looking things...I got my bosy that once and they didnt really like it much, haha it also gave them the squirts (LMFAO) so I threw them away.

 

[Kimmiekins]

I did some research a while back about rats and mineral blocks/chews. I actually didn't find anything concrete, but most said there's no reason for rats to have them, and there *might* be a concern about excess minerals they do not need. I did find one thing about a rat that was sick who'd always chewed on them, but they never knew if that was the problem or not (never found out what it was, so who knows). Many rats choose not to chew on them at all.

Just an FYI since the subject came up. I've decided to just stay away from them in favor of other chew materials.