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Hoppy Holiday Shopping: Part II. The Rodent Roundup

© Dorothy Hoffman

PVC pipe makes fabulous rodent tunnels and can be found in your local hardware store and the connectors come in a wild variety of sizes and shapes. Just be sure to get a pipe big enough to accommodate the largest rodent in your family - getting stuck in a pipe is embarrassing and tends to spoil the fun.

As an economical substitute for hammocks, which are quickly chewed to shreds, Sarah recommends Ferret Corner Litter Pans with hanging tabs in the back. Climbing ropes can be made from sturdy, nontoxic, chewable cotton clothesline (from your hardware store) that can be braided, knotted and strung across your ratties' cage for hours of climbing enjoyment. Sarah finds clothesline to be more resistant to rattie teeth that typical petstore bird ropes, but I can testify that the sturdiest clothesline I could come across couldn't withstand squirrel teeth for more than half an hour.

Hanging Tubes can be made from an old jeans leg, cardboard mailing tubes, sweatshirt sleeves, or even washed out coconut shells. Wooden bird toys also make great rodent chew toys (and I've found baby-safe alphabet blocks are perfect for rabbit gnawing).

This barely scratches the surface of potential rodent and rabbit toys (see last month's article on Best Buys for Bunnies). The true rodent lover, as you can probably see from these toy suggestions, will see exciting new ideas for toys and home accessories for their little darlings everywhere they go. Even better, your rabbits or rodents will find hours of fun with such simple objects as an empty bag or carton, your old clothes, and yesterday's newspaper.

But, of course, the best gift you can give your furry little companions won't cost you anything but the time you spend with them. It may be the best gift you can give yourself, too.