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Hoppy Holiday Shopping: Part II. The Rodent Roundup

© Dorothy Hoffman

Last minute shoppers may dread that feeling that they're running around in circles in search of the perfect gifts. But many of our rodent friends seem to find the experience exhilarating. In fact, the ever-popular exercise wheel always tops most rodents' holiday wish lists. The Rat Fan Club's online Rat-alog (www.ratfanclub.org) lists one of the most popular - the sturdy plastic, enclosed Wodent Wheel, in senior and wobust sizes. No health conscious wodent . . ., that is, rodent . . . should be without one.

For rats who hate to be separated from their humans, the Snuggle Pouch is a great gift. Worn around their humans' necks, the pouch provides a comfy, secure rest area when the ratties tire of sitting on their people's shoulder.

The Rat-alog offers a variety of rat hammocks as well as a Hanging Hideaway for cages too small for a full-sized hammock. The Giant Roll-a-nest is a toy that doubles as a sleeping place for playful rodents. Woven from natural grass, the ball has four holes to peek out of.

Some other cool gifts for rodents in the Rat-alog are the Critter Cave Chew - a fruit-flavored cardboard tube that's just perfect for chewing, tunneling, and snoozing - colorful plastic tubes, rat balls, the Roller Basket toy (which can be filled with yummy treats), several treat dispensers and, of course, delicious and healthy treats.

For humans, the Rat-alog offers some really cool rat-themed jewelry, home decor and collectibles, stationery, clothing, and other accessories.

Oh Rats! (www.inconnect.com/~bramble/rats/rat_toys.html) suggests some imaginative rat toys for humans on a budget (i.e., cheap). The Rats' Nest consists of strips of soft, freshly laundered strips of fabric which the host ratties of the web site found suitable for use as bedding, toilet paper, and a toy ("There is nothing more fun than rummaging through freshly washed, dried-in-the-dryer snugly scraps of fabric!")

The Convertible Spy Box is another extremely versatile toy that can be made out of various sizes and shapes of cardboard boxes, which can even be taped together to make fun mazes. Long, narrow juice drink boxes are highly recommended for playing SuperSewerRat games.

Clothespin bags can be hung on a tank or wire cage to make a fun rat-sized pouch for snuggling, and desk organizers like plastic pencil holders and little plastic baskets make great lookout towers, lofts and cubby nooks. The Pantyhose Jungle Gym is pretty self-explanatory.

In the November/December 1997 Rat & Mouse Gazette article, "Oh Boy! Rat Toys!"(www.rmca.org/Articles/toys.htm) Sarah Shuman lists several fun rattie entertainment ideas that have endured her triple test: "durability against tiny rattie teeth, cleanability, and the wallet test!"