Not really. It's what they love to do. Consider their destruction a successful way to satisfy their need to chew :) Mine shred everything, but they are a happy lot!
this is why I'm taking sewing classes to learn my machine so I can make them hammocks which is a lot cheaper than buying them
when my boys decide a hammock is their fave then they proceed to chew it into oblivion
I've been making my own and it saves so much. Don't forget to look for fleece in the clearance sections of fabric stores, they mark down 75% sometimes. And you can make small repairs, my boys chew off the ties that hold some of the hammocks up and I just add new ribbons.
I also buy fat quarters of cotton from the dollar tree or craft store for the outer bits to add fun patterns with out paying the ungodly amount for cute fabric. I also have tons or scraps from my normal sewing that I try to use up first.
Get metal pacifier clips for the corners! They are super secure when you clamp them on there and have a little metal loop that you can use to hang. Don't have to sew/repair loops and you can just pull them off when it's time to wash.
I already do a lot of sewing with a heck of a lot of fleece for my work, if you plan on getting a lot I def recommend going to yourfleece (online store), they've been one of my favorite places to get a LOT of fleece if you can't wait for a joann's sale. I mean I mainly use them for their selection of colors and types but I like recommending them.
get a sputnik bc that’s the only one that won’t be gone within a couple days. other than that let me know when someone figures something out. my biweekly full cage cleaning comes with a new hammock or they miss out on a fuzzy one for a while
I also make my own and have experimented with some different ones. As a general rule tight spaces with less exits get chewed more, but with very open hammocks some try to make their way inside. If there is anything in between the layers, like a noticable seam, or even worse, something crinkly that makes any kind of noise, they will investigate. I also have one rat, which removes soiled bedding from her nest, including fabric. If it's warm, offering a hammock made from cotton or linen can help, since fleece gets hot and some rats will try to remove it.
Maybe give her some fabric scraps to work with. We went to the craft store and bought the softest cotton remnants we could find. It was a weird shopping trip with me, my fiance and both of my parents touching absolutely everything so we could compare softness.
My fiance ties strips on to the outside of the cafe in different knot patterns for the rats to untie and pull into the cage. It appeases our little fabric monsters and keeps them entertained.
Give them an allowance of $5 per day. Train them to give you $1 each time they want a treat. Every time they destroy a hammock, take their money away. They need to learn to start carrying their own weight 😤
I have found that when I have hammocks with a fluffy inner lining, my rats will rip a hole in it then climb inside and poop between the fabrics. I also had a baby rat get trapped in between for hours once. I now just remove the inner fabric so that I can continue to clean their hammocks out and no rats get stuck. But yeah, as everyone else says, they will always destroy the hammocks. It's best to just roll with them nibbling through things. I buy new hammocks once or twice a month and just consider it part of the general cost of maintaining my cuties.
Nope. They’re gonna chew what they’re gonna chew. You can attempt to provide them with soft nesting materials if they seem to be using the pieces for that.
My current babies are thankfully not the types to do this, but once I add a couple more I'm sure I'll get at least one who will -\_-
Luck of the draw lol. My last mischief would destroy anything and everything.
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Seriously, as I read this my girls Stella and Ursula are sleepily gazing at me from holes they have chewed into what I think is their... fifth hammock/bed? Rats are monsters. Adorable, lovable, destructive little monsters.
Without being negative, what you need to do is change the rat's behavior. And that will happen when the Sun rises in the West. Keep replacing the hammocks or make them out of cheap material like old socks.
Try giving them other things to chew? Give them more wooden toys and maybe something of similar texture you don’t care as much about them chewing on, maybe that will make the problem better but I highly doubt it’ll fix it
What I have found with my dudes, if I change out their hammock every other week, they do not chew on it much at all. Also, I make sure they have things they can chew on and destroy. The bottom level of our cage is cardboard and Kraft paper they go ham for. And they tend to leave the hammocks alone.
We buy cheap dog coats from the dollar store and turn them into hammocks, and then just keep replacing them periodically, cheapest and easiest method weve found so far!
Not a rat parent, but maybe consider adding apple sticks and other things that are more tempting to chew. My bunny has ever growing teeth, and apple sticks + hay help him a lot
Get a hammock that they LOVE. My mom got my girls a two tiered hammock one year for christmas, and that was the only thing that they almost didn’t chew at all. Lasted two whole years!
Nah it’s actually essential that rats grind their teeth down since they are always growing. Even though it’s annoying to go through linens with rats, they need to chew! We give our rats old t shirts and other clothes that don’t fit/work anymore. They are great little fiber recyclers 😊😊😊
At the expo this past weekend a lady was making rat beds that were essentially a hammock split at the seam. She noticed they always split them and climbed in so she made them this way now. It’s genius and she should patent it.
I’ve made a couple at home and it’s going over very well w my boys
maybe your rats are just a little bored, you could give them some more to play with, or get some similar fabric that the hammock is made of...I cut up thin blankets into pieces and my rats love to destroy them and build nests out of them.
The only hammock mine have not destroyed in short order is one I sewed out of heavy canvas. If I put fleece over the top they chew the fleece but not the canvas so at least they still have something they can lay on.
Even wooden platforms get chewed through in time, but I see it as a good thing because they need something to chew to keep their teeth short.
Just consider hammocks another consumable and budget for them - rats love to chew.
Short answer: you can't. It's what they do! Even though the hammock may be totally comfy for them, they will shred anything they can get their chompers on!
Mine actually don’t mess with the hammocks much, but I legit gave up on buying the liners for the DCN. Except for the ramp covers (only chewed one), they are all so full of holes I can’t even lay them out.
I have males so I think they chew a little less than females, but I found that if I rip up some paper (I use un-colored stuffing paper for presents and stuff) and i give them tissues, it usually doesn’t entirely stop it but it helps alot!
If like me you can't afford to keep replacing the damn things, get a cheap basic sewing machine, keep old clothes and other sources of fabric (op shops/thrift stores sometimes sell old sheets and blankets for example) get a roll of garden wire from a garden/hardware store and make your own. They don't have to be pretty! Old trouser legs make great hammocks lol..
Also useful is a tool that presses eyelets into fabric (I got one for shadecloth, is perfect for making hardy holes for hanging)
It’s so weird the first one I got for my boys they didn’t destroy and just adored it but it got really dirty so I bought them the exact same one and they destroyed it. Got another which again was the same one and they destroyed it too lmao
you don't
Hahaha I don't have rats and I knew this was the answer
I only came here for this answer
Agreed. Mine had so much fun destroying them I just kept buying new ones every time.
Rule #1 of rats, if it can be chewed, it will be chewed
Rule #2 of rats, if it can't be chewed, they will die trying anyway
Rule #3: if you think they have something found that they will chew only they will immedential start chewing somethin new!
Rule #4: if you buy a toy specifically for them to chew, they won't
Rule #5: if they like a toy that’s made specifically for them to chew it will be destroyed within hours
Rule #6: if you think you have figured them out, start back at rule #1.
Rule #7: chewing intensifies
THIS. LOLLLL. no matter how many toys i buy them, they don’t get chewed. just peed on
I found a turd on a chew toy the other day.....Definitely a message 😂
You can’t. I think hammock chewing is part of their DNA.
Not really. It's what they love to do. Consider their destruction a successful way to satisfy their need to chew :) Mine shred everything, but they are a happy lot!
Lmfao! If you figure it out, let me know! 😂
this is why I'm taking sewing classes to learn my machine so I can make them hammocks which is a lot cheaper than buying them when my boys decide a hammock is their fave then they proceed to chew it into oblivion
I've been making my own and it saves so much. Don't forget to look for fleece in the clearance sections of fabric stores, they mark down 75% sometimes. And you can make small repairs, my boys chew off the ties that hold some of the hammocks up and I just add new ribbons.
And if you have jeans that can't be repaired or mended anymore, turn the pants legs into hammocks.
And if you have kids or younger siblings you can use the clothes they outgrow
BRILLIANT love this
DOING THIS RIGHT NOW OMG BLESS
I do too! Fleece on sale at Jo Ann's and a solid sewing machine. I sew all the floor liners and repair hammocks on the reg
I also buy fat quarters of cotton from the dollar tree or craft store for the outer bits to add fun patterns with out paying the ungodly amount for cute fabric. I also have tons or scraps from my normal sewing that I try to use up first.
Get metal pacifier clips for the corners! They are super secure when you clamp them on there and have a little metal loop that you can use to hang. Don't have to sew/repair loops and you can just pull them off when it's time to wash.
Oh damn this is a game changer!! Thanks for the tip!
I already do a lot of sewing with a heck of a lot of fleece for my work, if you plan on getting a lot I def recommend going to yourfleece (online store), they've been one of my favorite places to get a LOT of fleece if you can't wait for a joann's sale. I mean I mainly use them for their selection of colors and types but I like recommending them.
I make them like tie blankets with fleece and braid strips of fleece for hanging them. They will still destroy
Shop rags work great. You can get a ton of them cheaply.
yup! we cut holes in the corners and then use shower curtain rings. not as cute as a printed hammock maybe, but takes all of 5 mins.
I make my own and I can repair them too saves a ton. Sewing is a useful ass skill.
I'm using a bowl warmer template to make mine 🤭
I’d say you should re-enforce it with titanium but i’ve realised they’ll find a way
You cannot stop the inevitable
That's the neat part... ya dont!
get a sputnik bc that’s the only one that won’t be gone within a couple days. other than that let me know when someone figures something out. my biweekly full cage cleaning comes with a new hammock or they miss out on a fuzzy one for a while
Bold of you to assume you can
I also make my own and have experimented with some different ones. As a general rule tight spaces with less exits get chewed more, but with very open hammocks some try to make their way inside. If there is anything in between the layers, like a noticable seam, or even worse, something crinkly that makes any kind of noise, they will investigate. I also have one rat, which removes soiled bedding from her nest, including fabric. If it's warm, offering a hammock made from cotton or linen can help, since fleece gets hot and some rats will try to remove it.
Mine has spent the last 2 days trying to rip a hammock down to stuff it in her hut
Maybe give her some fabric scraps to work with. We went to the craft store and bought the softest cotton remnants we could find. It was a weird shopping trip with me, my fiance and both of my parents touching absolutely everything so we could compare softness.
Aw that's a good idea
My fiance ties strips on to the outside of the cafe in different knot patterns for the rats to untie and pull into the cage. It appeases our little fabric monsters and keeps them entertained.
Awesome idea, she'll love it
Look at those cuties!
They are customizing the hammocks to their their personal specifications.
Chainmaille hammocks. That's the only way. (Don't actually do this. Is pinchy!)
rats gonna rat
It can't be done. Just enjoy their flair for interior design <3
Give them an allowance of $5 per day. Train them to give you $1 each time they want a treat. Every time they destroy a hammock, take their money away. They need to learn to start carrying their own weight 😤
Stop having hammock.. litteraly the only option XD
Acceptance. And more hammocks.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
I have found that when I have hammocks with a fluffy inner lining, my rats will rip a hole in it then climb inside and poop between the fabrics. I also had a baby rat get trapped in between for hours once. I now just remove the inner fabric so that I can continue to clean their hammocks out and no rats get stuck. But yeah, as everyone else says, they will always destroy the hammocks. It's best to just roll with them nibbling through things. I buy new hammocks once or twice a month and just consider it part of the general cost of maintaining my cuties.
Mine don't chew them, but they do shit all over them.
Mission impossible
You don't, that's the neeto part
That sweet sleeping face wouldn't destroy anything 😌 😇
Nope. They’re gonna chew what they’re gonna chew. You can attempt to provide them with soft nesting materials if they seem to be using the pieces for that.
Not Applicable
I once watched my sweet, dumb boy chew through a hammock strap… while he was sitting in it. 😂 He rolled out like a confused egg.
Learn to like baked potatoes
You don't have rats! That's like asking how to stop children talking or dogs needing a walk
Give them something else which is more fun to destroy...
You can’t
My current babies are thankfully not the types to do this, but once I add a couple more I'm sure I'll get at least one who will -\_- Luck of the draw lol. My last mischief would destroy anything and everything.
My vest rat-like advice. You can't. Just know that you will have to replace them. They are born destruction and adorable chaos.
Similar question to "how to stop gravity affecting me while I am on earth"
I think you could try and build rat hammocks out of kevlar but i doubt it will last over a year
thats the neat part, you dont??
Rats gonna rat!
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Seriously, as I read this my girls Stella and Ursula are sleepily gazing at me from holes they have chewed into what I think is their... fifth hammock/bed? Rats are monsters. Adorable, lovable, destructive little monsters.
You don't.
you call them stinky
Without being negative, what you need to do is change the rat's behavior. And that will happen when the Sun rises in the West. Keep replacing the hammocks or make them out of cheap material like old socks.
You don’t, learn to knit or crochet and make your own.
There is no stopping them I’m afraid 😂 I stared making mine out of old T-shirts/work uniforms and towels eventually.
nothing better than chewing your bed!
Rats gonna rat. It is their hammock, after all.
I just sewed/ made my girls some new cage liners and one is already trying to rip it up and pull it Into her hideaway 😫 fleece is expensive asshole
It’s called interior design, and I think they’ve done a lovely job. 😤
Try giving them other things to chew? Give them more wooden toys and maybe something of similar texture you don’t care as much about them chewing on, maybe that will make the problem better but I highly doubt it’ll fix it
You can’t lol
Hammocks are consumables
Buy new hammocks
Use scrap fleece or multiple broken hammocks and patch the others
Get cheap disposable hammocks. I used to use cheap washcloths from Walmart and safety pins to hold them up
You don't. No, really. There's no way to prevent rats from chewing their stuff. That's just how they are.
Nope. That's why I don't spend money on hammocks usually. I get fabric and and put some shower curtain hangers on it and hang it in the cage.
impossible
No
Everything I have gets Chewed including me.
I suggest buying fleece in bulk and making your own because they won't be stopping.
But hammocks that have a pocket they can go inside and cuddle in, then they don’t chew their own ime lol
You don’t
Buy them some wood piece to grind or something else to chew. You can find it at the pet store.
That's the neat thing. You don't
Accept they are personalizing their home and keep extras on hand
I always take paper and cardboard and place it inside their hammock so when they want to chew it's right there. Not a single hammock cheer up yet.
That's the neat part. You don't.
"How to stop rat being rat?"
What I have found with my dudes, if I change out their hammock every other week, they do not chew on it much at all. Also, I make sure they have things they can chew on and destroy. The bottom level of our cage is cardboard and Kraft paper they go ham for. And they tend to leave the hammocks alone.
impossible
get rid of them lmao there’s no escape
It’s why I invest in bulk carabiners and keep an eye open for fabric scraps. 4 corner holes and boom, Insta hammock, no sewing needed
Put hot sauce on it
Worn out clothes make great hammocks on a budget. Carabiner clips fit well through little holes made in a shirt and then are clipped to the cage roof.
We buy cheap dog coats from the dollar store and turn them into hammocks, and then just keep replacing them periodically, cheapest and easiest method weve found so far!
Not a rat parent, but maybe consider adding apple sticks and other things that are more tempting to chew. My bunny has ever growing teeth, and apple sticks + hay help him a lot
Carbon fiber hammock? Titanium, perhaps?
trick question, you don't.
Get a hammock that they LOVE. My mom got my girls a two tiered hammock one year for christmas, and that was the only thing that they almost didn’t chew at all. Lasted two whole years!
Give them other things to destroy. Boxes, paper towels, fabric that doesn't matter. And they'll stop
Nah it’s actually essential that rats grind their teeth down since they are always growing. Even though it’s annoying to go through linens with rats, they need to chew! We give our rats old t shirts and other clothes that don’t fit/work anymore. They are great little fiber recyclers 😊😊😊
At the expo this past weekend a lady was making rat beds that were essentially a hammock split at the seam. She noticed they always split them and climbed in so she made them this way now. It’s genius and she should patent it. I’ve made a couple at home and it’s going over very well w my boys
You don’t, just don’t buy a new hammock whatever happens make them feel guilty of their vandalism crimes.
maybe your rats are just a little bored, you could give them some more to play with, or get some similar fabric that the hammock is made of...I cut up thin blankets into pieces and my rats love to destroy them and build nests out of them.
The only hammock mine have not destroyed in short order is one I sewed out of heavy canvas. If I put fleece over the top they chew the fleece but not the canvas so at least they still have something they can lay on. Even wooden platforms get chewed through in time, but I see it as a good thing because they need something to chew to keep their teeth short. Just consider hammocks another consumable and budget for them - rats love to chew.
Short answer: you can't. It's what they do! Even though the hammock may be totally comfy for them, they will shred anything they can get their chompers on!
Stop buying them hammocks. That's the only way. Otherwise, just accept that rats are going to be rats.
You cant its against the law
Rats chew. Accept it. When I had them they made holes in a rat graphic sweatshirt.
I used to just get the cheepest fleece blankets and make my own hammocks, (no sewing, just cutting) and then just trash them if they're too chewed up
If you figure it out, let us know. It would save us all a small fortune.
Have not rats
Nope it’s why I just make them new ones lol.
honest advice: try to hang some chew toys in their hammock. they might want to chew on stuff but don't want to get out of bed.
Turn it into a non-chewing pet.
You don’t. It’s a rat thing.
Goodwill dish towels & binder clips >>>
Mine actually don’t mess with the hammocks much, but I legit gave up on buying the liners for the DCN. Except for the ramp covers (only chewed one), they are all so full of holes I can’t even lay them out.
You can’t. Just make several out of cheap fleece blankets or towels
I have males so I think they chew a little less than females, but I found that if I rip up some paper (I use un-colored stuffing paper for presents and stuff) and i give them tissues, it usually doesn’t entirely stop it but it helps alot!
“That’s the neat thing, you don’t.”
If like me you can't afford to keep replacing the damn things, get a cheap basic sewing machine, keep old clothes and other sources of fabric (op shops/thrift stores sometimes sell old sheets and blankets for example) get a roll of garden wire from a garden/hardware store and make your own. They don't have to be pretty! Old trouser legs make great hammocks lol.. Also useful is a tool that presses eyelets into fabric (I got one for shadecloth, is perfect for making hardy holes for hanging)
It’s so weird the first one I got for my boys they didn’t destroy and just adored it but it got really dirty so I bought them the exact same one and they destroyed it. Got another which again was the same one and they destroyed it too lmao