FAQ: Toys for small pets

Spread tunnels, hideouts and piles of hay around different parts of the enclosure so the guinea pigs move between them, and scatter some of their food. A roomy enclosure and time in a larger area encourage them to run and even jump for joy.

Guinea pigs are naturally less playful and more cautious, so they rarely toss or push objects. Hideouts, tunnels, foraging and company keep them busy more than balls do.

Yes, degus chew a great deal, so their cage should always have wooden chews, twigs and other safe items to gnaw. Without them degus soon start chewing the cage and fittings, so chews need topping up often.

Yes, gerbils and hamsters love shredding cardboard and paper and use the pieces for nesting. This is normal, healthy behaviour, so treat cardboard toys as consumables and give new ones regularly.

Many hamsters, especially dwarf ones, enjoy rolling and digging in a sand bath, which helps with coat care and keeps them busy. Use dust-free sand made for small pets, not chinchilla dust or builder’s sand.

Bark from safe trees such as apple or willow is a natural chewing activity. It should be clean, free of mould, lichen and chemicals, and garden bark mulch is unsuitable as it may be treated.

Yes, hay and grass houses are made both for hiding in and for eating, so eating them is completely normal. When the house falls apart, replace it, and while it stands, check that it has not soaked up urine.

Woven grass or hay mats suit rabbits and guinea pigs for lying on, digging and chewing. They give a softer surface for the feet, but wear out quickly and absorb urine, so they need replacing regularly.

In the first days, several hideouts, a tunnel and a handful of familiar bedding matter most, so the animal has places to hide. Do not add lots of new toys then, and let the animal settle in peace.

Small houses, narrow cardboard tubes, thin twigs, a sand bath and deep bedding for digging suit dwarf hamsters. Openings should let the hamster through without getting stuck, and toys should be light and low.

Yes, a companion is the most important thing, but rabbits still need to dig, chew and forage. Toys and foraging help a pair avoid boredom, especially when they are home alone for long periods.

Rats are very intelligent and curious, so they get bored of the same cage faster. They benefit from more frequent toy swaps, cage rearranging, puzzles and daily exploring in a safe space outside the cage.

Low jumps, tunnels and ramps can be fun for active, healthy rabbits if they are trained willingly with treats. Obstacles must be low and stable, on a non-slip surface, and older rabbits or those with joint problems should avoid jumping.

Mice are nimble climbers, so thin twigs, ropes, wooden bridges and ladders suit them. Heights should not be great, and there should be soft bedding beneath climbing toys so a mouse that falls does not get hurt.

Rough surfaces such as stone tiles, wooden bridges or a dig box can help nails wear down naturally a little. Even so, many rabbits and guinea pigs need their nails trimmed regularly, and if you are unsure how, ask a vet to show you.

Yes, hamsters like several hideouts: one for the nest and others for food stores or resting in different parts of the cage. Several hideouts help a hamster feel safe as it moves around the enclosure.

Compressed hay or grass cubes are a natural chewing activity for rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas. They do not replace free-access hay and should contain no sugar, grain or colourings.

In most cases yes, as both species chew hard and like to jump, so wooden houses, ledges, pumice and twigs suit them. Chinchillas need larger ledges and openings, while degus need more room to dig.

Rats, like many rodents, naturally hoard and carry valued items to a safe spot. This is normal, but check the house regularly and remove fresh food that is going off.

Rabbits often dig at and shred these mats, and loose coarse fibres can be swallowed. If you use one, watch that the rabbit is not eating the fibres; hay or seagrass mats are safer for digging and chewing.