Rat hammocks: your companions’ favourite place to sleep
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
The rat hammock is far more than a cute accessory: it is the favourite bed of the vast majority of pet rats, who sleep piled up in it for hours on end. Hung up high, it offers warmth, security and a lookout point, for a modest budget of 5 to 20 € — or nothing at all if you sew one yourself.
Contents · 5 sections
Why do rats love hammocks so much?
Rats seek out raised, enveloping beds they can share: the hammock ticks every box. It also frees up floor space and cushions falls between levels when placed beneath climbing areas. In a well-designed tall cage — see our guide what cage for a rat — plan on at least one hammock per rat, plus one, at different heights.
Which fabric and shape should you choose?
- Fleece: the go-to — soft, warm, with no pulled threads to trap a toe.
- Thick cotton such as denim: sturdy for dedicated fabric-chewers.
- Shapes: flat hammock (summer), closed pocket or hanging cube (winter), hanging tube.
- To avoid: loose-weave fabrics, knits, elastic threads — risk of a limb getting strangled.
How do you hang a hammock safely?
Four anchor points with solid fasteners: carabiners, snap-fastened straps or purpose-made reinforced clips. Check the seams and fasteners every week: a hammock hanging askew eventually falls, occupants included. Place the largest hammock at the top of the cage — the favourite spot — and a corner hammock beneath the bridges and levels.
What upkeep is needed?
Machine wash at 40 °C every one to two weeks, without scented fabric softener, with two sets in rotation. A rat that urinates a lot in its hammock may be scent-marking… or suffering from a urinary problem if the smell becomes strong: when in doubt, consult an exotics vet. Find our other sleeping guides in the bedding and habitat category.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a hammock yourself?
Yes, very easily: a rectangle of fleece around 30 × 30 cm, four eyelets or corner seams and some fasteners. Near-zero cost with an old blanket.
My rat chews its hammocks — what should I do?
Switch to thicker fabrics (lined denim), add more chew toys and accept a certain rate of wear and tear: it is normal behaviour.
Do hammocks suit other rodents?
Ferrets and rats, yes. Hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs prefer ground-level hideouts; chinchillas sometimes use a sturdy hammock hung low.
In our shop, for this use: Double-layer plush hammock for rats, squirrels or ferrets (€18.90) · the whole shop
In our shop, for this use: Electric pet heating pad 45 × 45 cm (17.7 in) with chew-resistant cord ($48.90, ships from the US) · the US shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Rodents universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
