Posted June 24, 200916 yr As some of you might be aware, I have two rats as pets... I'm looking at expanding my family to four and decided to build them a 'home'. I haven't built anything since I built my niece(god daughter) her Doll's house which was nearly two years ago. (Doll's House) I'm trying to keep my mind off other things in my life at the moment, so building keeps me busy... I got this cupboard from work... It is a sturdy base and a great size. I'll use the cupboard on the right to store things, and the rest for the cage. The whole thing was covered in that iron on wood laminate. Most of it had been exposed to sunlight etc... so it came off pretty easy... Except for this side GRRRRR: Once all removed, The whole thing was given several coats of a waterbased sealer/primer. I have done more since the last pictures... but left my camera at work :hmm:
June 24, 200916 yr hay darl why dont you seperate the cubard bit and make the top half a bed box by drilling a round saw drill whole cleaning would be good and so would acsses to your babys thats a great rat cage lots of potentiall some them rat tubes you can buy could easyly be intwined with that making tunnels every way they could have a blast
June 25, 200916 yr Author Thanks guys... GB, The cupboard on the right is for food and bedding etc... but the main part is going to be divided with a full shelf and a half shelf... with plenty of tubes, hammocks etc... hard to explain, but you'll see it soon enough. So, some more update photos... Here's the inside and outside all painted: I then covered the inside with laminate tiles. They should make it eaiser to wipe down/keep clean. I also made up the doors today. Next they need to be painted, the shelves need to go in, and lots of sealent is needed.
June 27, 200915 yr Author Some fittings are now in and I'm on the home stretch. Here are some more photos:
June 28, 200915 yr That is sooo cool! When you said you were going to make a rat home out of wood, all I could think about was the smell. The laminate tiles are the work of a genius.
July 3, 200915 yr Author I finished of the cage tonight, and the girls are now in it. Milli and Jemima have finially settled down for a nap after extensive exploring, but Daisy is still checking things out. Here are some photos:
July 3, 200915 yr WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a fantastic job!!!!!!!! im still in shock as to how good it is, It's fit for a king & a half!!!!
July 4, 200915 yr Author Thanks Matt. Thanks guys... I'm thinking of giving it another name. I thought of a few ideas... including 'Rat-alto' (like the Rialto in Melbourne) or 'Illawing' after the property my Grandparents used to live on and farm. My grandpa passed away last year and my grandma is currently unwell. I was also thinking of looking up different meanings etc... so still undecided. I'm pleased to announce the first night for the girls in the new cage went well. I slept on the couch next to them just to keep an ear open... sad I know. I was just a litlle worried as it was the first night Jemima was caged with Daisy and Milli too, and although their intros went fine, you still worry. I awoke this morning to three happy little campers. Jemima wasn't sleeping with the others, but everything was fine. Doogie on the otherhand... arrrrr!!! After checking on the others, I went over to the big cage which sits on the cupboard and called him... I couldn't see any movement from the cage, but he's not big on greetings anyway, esp when he's asleep... So, I went through all the hiding places... nothing!!! Then I start to panic... I call him again and the see out the corner of my eye, a towel I had left on the cupboard moving... YEP... he got out and spent who knows how long out of the cage!!! Now the big cages bars are the same as the new cage, but when I had it attached to the old cage, I pulled it apart and then when I re-made it, it didn't go back completey. Daisy and Milli never seemed to worry, but they are three times the size... So, I have fixed it best I can with cable ties, and added a few strategic bricks... Will be keeping a close eye on him today!!!
July 4, 200915 yr What a sneaky little one Doggie is :question: The cage is so awesome, you did a great job!!!
July 4, 200915 yr Author What a sneaky little one Doggie is The cage is so awesome, you did a great job!!! Thanks Birdluv... Sneaky... that was NOT the word I used to describe him this morning when I found him outside the cage... but hey, if the shoe fits! Edited July 4, 200915 yr by maesie
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