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Anonymous
I'm wanting to make some toys for my rats. Wanting to get some cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, things like that, and attach them together....with duct tape.

If they did by chance chew into the duct tape, could it make them sick?
>> Anonymous
I also ask this question, extending it to masking tape and/or sellotape.
>> Anonymous
Make sure all materials you are using are non-toxic, becauase it's not a matter of IF they're going to chew it, but WHEN.

Honestly, though, just give them plenty of places to hide and climb on and whatnot. They'll probably get more exercise and stimulation chewing up strips of paper or tissue and making a bed out of it than anything else.
>> Anonymous
>>320038
Well would duct tape be toxic to them?
>> Anonymous
>>320039
Generally speaking, no. Most glue is non-toxic because kids could eat it and get sick. I'd avoid duct tape though because it's fairly stretchy and it might cause an intestinal blockage. I've never heard of such a thing happening really but it's better to keep them away from plastic. I'd say stick with masking tape since it's made of paper and it's cheaper anyway. The things you're holding together probably won't last more than a few weeks to begin with, so don't worry about making them sturdy.
>> Anonymous
>>320046
So in general, I can use any basic tape and they'll be fine?

Good to know...now I can make them some toys to hold them out until we get them their bigger cage.
>> Anonymous
>>320047
As I said, stick with masking tape just to minimize the risk of impaction or any other such health issues. Paper generally poses no threat to the health of a rat and cardboard can be good for them to chew on.
>> Anonymous
Rats like chewing on everything. Mine had some plastic pipes which they chewed to bits. They still managed to live to a pretty old age though, but for safety just give em wooden stuff to chew and play on.
You can use kid-friendly glue to stick stuff together. Or give em some chickenfence (not sure if thats the correct word, but its the honeycomb steel-wire stuff) to climb in if you dont mind the noise.


You can make getting food a bit of an exercise too. For example, give em a boiled egg with a little crack in it and leave them to figure out how to open it. They will most likely eat the shell as well.