Rat hammocks: why rats love them and what to look for

Why do rats love hammocks?

Rats are climbers that sleep in heaps. A hammock gives them a soft, warm bed off the floor, where they can curl up together and keep an eye on the room. PetMD notes that many rats enjoy lounging and sleeping in hammocks, and Woodgreen says rats like sleeping together in them. A hammock also makes use of the cage's height, softens the fall from a high shelf, and gives a group a spot to share body heat on a cool night.

Open hammocks suit nervous young rats too. One long-running UK rat-care site suggests open hammocks for skittish kittens instead of closed boxes, because the rats can rest without disappearing completely, so they get used to seeing you nearby.

What to look for in a rat hammock

• Tight-weave fabric: fleece, cotton or denim. RSPCA Australia warns against loose-weave, long-fibre fabrics, which catch claws and teeth.
• No loops or loose threads: check seams and edges; fraying strings can wrap round toes.
• Room for the whole group: rats tend to pile into one hammock, so buy big.
• Secure fixings at every corner: RSPCA Australia says any hammock must be fastened securely.
• Metal hooks or clips, not plastic: plastic gets chewed through.
• Machine washable at 60°C (140°F): so you can wash it properly every week.
• A matching spare: so a clean one goes straight in on wash day.

Types of rat hammock

How to hang a rat hammock

1. Pick the spot. Choose a corner or a gap between shelves where a rat can reach it from at least one side, away from the water bottle so it stays dry.
2. Set the height. Hang it no more than a short drop above a shelf or the floor. In a tall cage, add a hammock or net under the highest shelves to catch falls, as the UK rat-care site we checked recommends.
3. Fix every corner. Use metal hooks, clips, carabiners or curtain rings. Woodgreen suggests shower curtain hooks.
4. Pull it level. A slight sag makes a cosy bed. Too much sag and rats roll out or it drags on the shelf below.
5. Test it. Push down on the middle with your hand to check it takes the weight of the whole group.
6. Add nesting paper. A little plain white tissue in a pouch hammock gives the rats something to arrange.

How many hammocks do rats need?

We'd use at least one hammock per level, plus a clean spare set. The UK rat-care site we checked notes that rats tend to crowd into a single hammock whatever you provide, so extra hammocks are less about beds for everyone and more about soft landings, warm spots in different places, and somewhere for a shy or poorly rat to rest alone. In a big cage such as those in our guide to the best rat cages, three or four is normal.

Washing rat hammocks

Woodgreen suggests replacing hammocks weekly, or twice weekly when they start to smell, and washing them at 60°C (140°F) with non-bio detergent inside a pillowcase or laundry bag.

1. Swap in the spare. Hang the clean set first so the rats are never without a bed.
2. Shake off the worst. Shake droppings and bedding into the bin outside before washing.
3. Bag it. Put hammocks in a pillowcase or laundry bag to keep loose bits out of the machine.
4. Wash hot. Wash at 60°C (140°F) with non-bio detergent and skip fabric softener, which can leave a strong scent.
5. Check as you fold. Throw out any with holes big enough for a head or foot, or threads pulled into strings.

Hammock washing fits neatly into a weekly clean; our rat cage cleaning guide sets out the full routine.

Chewing and hammock safety

Some rats leave hammocks alone, others shred them for nesting. RSPCA Australia says fabric hammocks can work, but owners should watch for chewing and remove them before rats eat the fabric, which can cause a gut blockage.

• Check every hammock daily for new holes and loose threads.
• Replace chewed fabric with a woven grass hammock or a solid hanging hide.
• Give plenty of paper to shred, so fabric isn't the only nesting material.
• Avoid metal chains for hanging, which RSPCA Australia warns can catch claws and teeth.

Hammocks and rat cage bedding

Hammocks are one half of a rat's bedding; the other half is what goes on the floor. Rats sleep in hammocks and hides, and dig, forage and toilet in the bedding (substrate) below. Use a dust-free paper, card or hemp bedding on the floor and fleece or hammocks up high. Our guide to the best bedding for rats compares every type.

In winter, swap open hammocks for pouches and add extra fleece; in a heatwave, do the reverse. Our rat temperature guide has the numbers, and hairless rats need the cosier pouch style all year: see our hairless rat care guide.

Making your own rat hammock

Hammocks are easy to make. The UK rat-care site we checked suggests old clothes, baby grows, jeans and ferret hammocks, hung with garden wire or curtain rings.

1. Choose the fabric. Fleece, sweatshirt fabric or denim. Avoid towelling with loops, knitted jumpers and anything loose-weave.
2. Cut to size. Shop-bought hammocks are around 40 x 28 cm (16 x 11 in), which is a good starting size; go bigger for a large group. A pouch is two pieces stitched on three sides.
3. Finish the edges. Fleece doesn't fray, but hem woven fabric so it can't unravel into strings.
4. Add corner holes. Make a small reinforced hole or sew a loop of tape at each corner for the hook.
5. Make two. One to use and one in the wash.

Rat hammocks and hanging beds we'd look at

Our older hammock checking guide has more on spotting wear, and our pet rat care hub links to every other guide.