The Wooden Rat (2025)

12/10/2025

RAT FACT OF THE WEEK
Rats are prolific breeders that are polyestrous and breed year-round. The gestation period for a rat usually lasts about 21-23 days (approx 3 weeks). The resulting litters typically range from 6 to 20 babies. Having a short gestation period and larger litters increases the probability that more offspring will survive to carry on the parent rats’ genes which is a vital part of survival in the animal kingdom.
This fun rat fact is brought to you by The Wooden Rat.

The Wooden Rat is a small Canadian family business dedicated to providing great natural handmade products for small pets while being environmentally conscious. The Wooden Rat products are all made of biodegradable safe material. Check out our products on Etsy at The Wooden Rat. We have hammocks, hideaways and foraging toys and we ship internationally. https://thewoodenrat.etsy.com

Don't want to miss out on fun tips and facts? Follow us on our social media, on our fb page (www.facebook.com/thewoodenrat1) or on our instagram ()
PHOTO: Tochtli playing with The Wooden Rat Finders Keepers Foraging Toy.
FINDERS KEEPERS FORAGING TOY
This foraging toy will challenge your rat's olfactory and problem solving skills. Place food or treats in the holes of the foraging toy. Your rat will have to find which holes contain treats and retrieve them. This foraging toy adds additional complexity of movement as the toy will swing when they try to get the treat.

This foraging toy is made of 100% kiln dried wood and jute making it safe for your pet rats if they decide to give their toy a few nibbles.

Difficulty level: 4/10

21/09/2025

RAT FACT OF THE WEEK
Rats have an unusual approach to nausea. A rat will eat non-nutritive substance that can dilute the effects of something it should not have eaten. As examples, it may eat dirt or clay. This practice is known as pica.
This fun rat fact is brought to you by the Wooden Rat. The Wooden Rat is a small Canadian family business dedicated to providing great natural products for small pets while being environmentally conscious. The Wooden Rat products are all handmade of biodegradable rat safe material. Check out our products on Etsy at The Wooden Rat. We have hammocks, hides and foraging toys and we ship internationally. https://thewoodenrat.etsy.com

Don't want to miss out on our fun tips and facts, follow us on fb page (www.facebook.com/thewoodenrat1) or on our instagram ().
PICTURE: Coyotl having a nap inside her The Wooden Rat Wooden House.

THE WOODEN HOUSE
The Wooden House is available in 3 sizes (small, medium, large) and is made of 100% kiln dried wood making it safe for your pet rats. The Wooden house is constructed so that it can be easily taken apart for weekly cleaning or configuration changes.

The Wooden House is specially designed to be modular. Walls can be removed for rats post surgery to accommodate mobility and to ensure the surgery site is not aggravated. This is also recommended elderly rats or rats with mobility issues such as hind leg degeneration for easy access. The Wooden House is also suitable for other small pets like hamsters, gerbils, etc.

Size: Small, Medium, Large

14/09/2025

RAT FACT OF THE WEEK
Similar to horses, male rats do not have ni***es. Unlike humans and most mammals, pre-natal testosterone release in the fetal male rat happens before the stage of mammogenesis where the teat is formed. Other species halt that same process after the teat is formed.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/news990805-1
This fun rat fact is brought to you by The Wooden Rat.

The Wooden Rat is a small Canadian family business dedicated to providing great natural products for small pets while being environmentally conscious. Each Wooden Rat product is handmade with biodegradable safe material. Check out our products on Etsy at The Wooden Rat. We have hammocks, hideaways and foraging toys and we ship internationally. https://thewoodenrat.etsy.com

Don't want to miss out on fun tips and facts? Follow us on our fb page (www.facebook.com/thewoodenrat1) or on our instagram ()
PHOTO: Jabón playing with the Flip and Hide Foraging Toy.

FLIP AND HIDE FORAGING PUZZLE TOY

The Flip and Hide Foraging Puzzle toy is available in 4 sizes and is made of 100% kiln dried wood making it safe for your pet rats if they decide to give their toy a few nibbles. Rat teeth are constantly in growth and the foraging toy is 100% safe for gnawing.

Hand Made with Rat safe material (100% kiln dried pine); 4 size options available: 5x, 4x, 3x, 2x

Difficulty level: 2/10 whiskers

07/09/2025

RAT FACT OF THE WEEK
There are 56 known species of rats in the world. The most well known rat species are the black rat (Rattus Rattus) and the brown rat (Rattus Norvegicus). Fancy rats and laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus domestica) are both domesticated subspecies of the Rattus Norvegicus bred through selective breeding.
This fun rat fact is brought to you by the Wooden Rat. The Wooden Rat is a small Canadian family business dedicated to providing great natural products for small pets while being environmentally conscious. The Wooden Rat products are all handmade of biodegradable rat safe material. Check out our products on Etsy at The Wooden Rat. We have hammocks, hides and foraging toys and we ship internationally. https://thewoodenrat.etsy.com

Don't want to miss out on our fun tips and facts, follow us on fb page (www.facebook.com/thewoodenrat1) or on our instagram ().
PICTURE: Mocha having a snack besides her The Wooden Rat Wooden House.

THE WOODEN HOUSE
The Wooden House is available in 3 sizes (small, medium, large) and is made of 100% kiln dried wood making it safe for your pet rats. The Wooden house is constructed so that it can be easily taken apart for weekly cleaning or configuration changes.

The Wooden House is specially designed to be modular. Walls can be removed for rats post surgery to accommodate mobility and to ensure the surgery site is not aggravated. This is also recommended elderly rats or rats with mobility issues such as hind leg degeneration for easy access. The Wooden House is also suitable for other small pets like hamsters, gerbils, etc.

Size: Small, Medium, Large

07/09/2025

Our sincere apologies to our US neighbours...

Due to the U.S. Executive Order 14324, multiple shipping services in Canada have restricted deliveries to the US while they resolve how to process deliveries with the removal of the de minimis exemption which will effectively add ~35% tariff on all deliveries as of Aug 29, 2025.

As a small business, this change in policy will have a huge impact. We are looking into various options on how to navigate this situation and have unfortunately had to temporarily suspend accepting any new orders from the US. Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience as we try to find the best way forward to address this issue.

24/08/2025

RAT FACT OF THE WEEK
There is specific terminology used to differentiate between gender and roles in rat families. Male rats are called Bucks. Unmated female rats are called Does. Pregnant or parent female rats are called Dams. Baby rats are called Kittens or Pups. A group of rats is referred to as a mischief.
This fun rat fact is brought to you by The Wooden Rat.

The Wooden Rat is a small Canadian family business dedicated to providing great natural products for small pets while being environmentally conscious. Each Wooden Rat product is handmade with biodegradable safe material. Check out our products on Etsy at The Wooden Rat. We have hammocks, hideaways and foraging toys and we ship internationally. https://thewoodenrat.etsy.com

Don't want to miss out on fun tips and facts? Follow us on our fb page (www.facebook.com/thewoodenrat1) or on our instagram ()
PHOTO: Cookie playing with the Flip and Hide Foraging Toy.

FLIP AND HIDE FORAGING PUZZLE TOY
The Flip and Hide Foraging Puzzle toy is available in 4 sizes and is made of 100% kiln dried wood making it safe for your pet rats if they decide to give their toy a few nibbles. Rat teeth are constantly in growth and the foraging toy is 100% safe for gnawing. Hand Made with Rat safe material (100% kiln dried pine)

4 size options available: 5x, 4x, 3x, 2x

Difficulty level: 2/10 whiskers

17/08/2025

RAT FACT OF THE WEEK
In 2009, a wildlife documentary film crew with the Natural HIstory Unit of the British Broadcasting Corp. discovered a previously unknown rat species in the extinct volcanic crater of Mount Bosavi in Papau New Guinea, the Bosavi Woolly Rat. The Bosavi Woolly rat species is one of the largest known rat species weighing around 3.5lbs with a length of 32in from nose to tail and silvery gray thick wooly fur.

Source (includes photos): https://www.si.edu/stories/new-species-giant-rat-discovered
This fun rat fact is brought to you by the Wooden Rat. The Wooden Rat is a small Canadian family business dedicated to providing great natural products for small pets while being environmentally conscious. The Wooden Rat products are all handmade of biodegradable rat safe material. Check out our products on Etsy at The Wooden Rat. We have hammocks, hides and foraging toys and we ship internationally. https://thewoodenrat.etsy.com

Don't want to miss out on our fun tips and facts, follow us on fb page (www.facebook.com/thewoodenrat1) or on our instagram ().
PICTURE: Coyotl checking for snacks from her Wooden Rat Wooden House.

THE WOODEN HOUSE
The Wooden House is available in 3 sizes (small, medium, large) and is made of 100% kiln dried wood making it safe for your pet rats. The Wooden house is constructed so that it can be easily taken apart for weekly cleaning or configuration changes.

The Wooden House is specially designed to be modular. Walls can be removed for rats post surgery to accommodate mobility and to ensure the surgery site is not aggravated. This is also recommended elderly rats or rats with mobility issues such as hind leg degeneration for easy access. The Wooden House is also suitable for other small pets like hamsters, gerbils, etc.

Size: Small, Medium, Large

10/08/2025

RAT FACT OF THE WEEK
Scientists at the Indiana University have determined that rats have episodic memories. Episodic memory is the ability to recall a memory's context; to remember where and when you saw a familiar face or event. Previously rats were thought to have limited capabilities remembering only 2-3 events however this new study has determined rats can remember the context of at least 30 events and potentially more. This research has implications on research on human diseases that affect memory including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. Rats have been shown to recognize humans and other rats and the context in which they have seen them before as well as remembering previously learnt routes and their context (has food, does not have food).

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/10/161003145616.htm
This fun rat fact is brought to you by The Wooden Rat.

The Wooden Rat is a small Canadian family business dedicated to providing great natural handmade products for small pets while being environmentally conscious. The Wooden Rat products are all made of biodegradable safe material. Check out our products on Etsy at The Wooden Rat. We have hammocks, hideaways and foraging toys and we ship internationally. https://thewoodenrat.etsy.com

Don't want to miss out on fun tips and facts? Follow us on our social media, on our fb page (www.facebook.com/thewoodenrat1) or on our instagram ()
VIDEO: Tochtli playing with The Wooden Rat Finders Keepers Foraging Toy.
FINDERS KEEPERS FORAGING TOY
This foraging toy will challenge your rat's olfactory and problem solving skills. Place food or treats in the holes of the foraging toy. Your rat will have to find which holes contain treats and retrieve them. This foraging toy adds additional complexity of movement as the toy will swing when they try to get the treat.

This foraging toy is made of 100% kiln dried wood and jute making it safe for your pet rats if they decide to give their toy a few nibbles.

Difficulty level: 4/10

03/08/2025

RAT FACT OF THE WEEK

Rats are highly social animals that live in hierarchical colonies in the wild. A wild rat colony on average generally consists of around 40-50 rats however it can range from as small as 3 rats to 50+. Within a colony, there are multiple nests averaging 5-10 rats per nest. Rats within a colony generally travel in small herds in a radius of approx 90 metres from their nests to forage and to teach younger generations successful feeding paths. Solitary wandering rats are often rats that have been displaced from their burrows.
This fun rat fact is brought to you by The Wooden Rat.

The Wooden Rat is a small Canadian family business dedicated to providing great natural products for small pets while being environmentally conscious. Each Wooden Rat product is handmade with biodegradable safe material. Check out our products on Etsy at The Wooden Rat. We have hammocks, hideaways and foraging toys and we ship internationally. https://thewoodenrat.etsy.com

Don't want to miss out on fun tips and facts? Follow us on our fb page (www.facebook.com/thewoodenrat1) or on our instagram ()
PHOTO: Mocha playing with the Flip and Hide Foraging Toy.

FLIP AND HIDE FORAGING PUZZLE TOY
The Flip and Hide Foraging Puzzle toy is available in 4 sizes and is made of 100% kiln dried wood making it safe for your pet rats if they decide to give their toy a few nibbles. Rat teeth are constantly in growth and the foraging toy is 100% safe for gnawing. Hand Made with Rat safe material (100% kiln dried pine)

4 size options available: 5x, 4x, 3x, 2x

Difficulty level: 2/10 whiskers

27/07/2025

RAT FACT OF THE WEEK
Unlike humans, rats do not perspire. While rats do have sweat glands, they are concentrated only in their footpads where their primary function is to increase friction and enhance grip rather than cool body temperature. When a rat needs to regulate its body temperature, it does so through heat released from blood passing through the naked tail.
This fun rat fact is brought to you by The Wooden Rat. The Wooden Rat is a small Canadian family business dedicated to providing great natural products for small pets while being environmentally conscious. All The Wooden Rat products are handmade using biodegradable safe material. We have hammocks, hideaways and foraging toys and we ship internationally.

Check out our products on Etsy at The Wooden Rat. https://thewoodenrat.etsy.com

Don't want to miss out on fun tips and facts? Follow us on our fb page (www.facebook.com/thewoodenrat1) or on our instagram ().
PHOTO : Jabón getting a snack from the Wooden Rat Peekaboo Foraging Toy.

PEEKABOO FORAGING PUZZLE TOY
This foraging toy will challenge your rats cognitive and balance skills. Place food and treats between the wooden holders. The foraging toy adds the additional complexity of movement as the toy will swing when they try to get the treat.

The foraging Puzzle toy is made of 100% kiln dried wood, apple tree wood and jute making it safe for your pet rats if they decide to give their toy a few nibbles.

Difficulty level: 4/10 whiskers

20/07/2025

RAT FACT OF THE WEEK
People who are not familiar with rats believe wrongly that rats are dirty. Rats in fact spend a large majority of their waking hours grooming themselves and each other. Rats groom themselves to maintain hygiene to ensure their fur is free of dirt and parasites. They also groom to help thermoregulation and as part of social behaviour. Rats engage in social grooming called allogrooming where they groom each other. This social grooming helps strengthen bonds between members in a colony and establishes hierarchy. Pet rats will also groom their humans as a sign of trust and affection indicating that they consider their human as part of their family.
This fun rat fact is brought to you by the Wooden Rat. The Wooden Rat is a small Canadian family business dedicated to providing great natural products for small pets while being environmentally conscious. The Wooden Rat products are all handmade of biodegradable rat safe material. Check out our products on Etsy at The Wooden Rat. We have hammocks, hides and foraging toys and we ship internationally. https://thewoodenrat.etsy.com

Don't want to miss out on our fun tips and facts, follow us on fb page (www.facebook.com/thewoodenrat1) or on our instagram ().
PICTURE: Coyotl having her nightly snack in her Wooden Rat Wooden House.

THE WOODEN HOUSE
The Wooden House is available in 3 sizes (small, medium, large) and is made of 100% kiln dried wood making it safe for your pet rats. The Wooden house is constructed so that it can be easily taken apart for weekly cleaning or configuration changes.

The Wooden House is specially designed to be modular. Walls can be removed for rats post surgery to accommodate mobility and to ensure the surgery site is not aggravated. This is also recommended elderly rats or rats with mobility issues such as hind leg degeneration for easy access. The Wooden House is also suitable for other small pets like hamsters, gerbils, etc.

Size: Small, Medium, Large

12/07/2025

RAT FACT OF THE WEEK

In Sub-Saharan Africa, a continent with high rates of Tuberculosis (TB), researchers are using Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) to help identify TB patients. By smelling patient sputum (mucus), the rats are able to recognise TB-specific Volatile Organic Compound profile at a higher efficiency rate of success than the commonly used basic microscopy test. Training the captive-bred rats to detect TB takes about 5-6 mths. The rats are exposed to sputum samples through holes in the floor of a cage. Correctly pausing for 5 secs to smell a TB sample generates a reward (banana) while stopping at a non TB sample results in no reward.

Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7820466
This fun rat fact is brought to you by The Wooden Rat.

The Wooden Rat is a small Canadian family business dedicated to providing great natural handmade products for small pets while being environmentally conscious. The Wooden Rat products are all made of biodegradable safe material. Check out our products on Etsy at The Wooden Rat. We have hammocks, hideaways and foraging toys and we ship internationally. https://thewoodenrat.etsy.com

Don't want to miss out on fun tips and facts? Follow us on our social media, on our fb page (www.facebook.com/thewoodenrat1) or on our instagram ()
PHOTO: Mocha playing with The Wooden Rat Finders Keepers Foraging Toy.
FINDERS KEEPERS FORAGING TOY

This foraging toy will challenge your rat's olfactory and problem solving skills. Place food or treats in the holes of the foraging toy. Your rat will have to find which holes contain treats and retrieve them. This foraging toy adds additional complexity of movement as the toy will swing when they try to get the treat.

This foraging toy is made of 100% kiln dried wood and jute making it safe for your pet rats if they decide to give their toy a few nibbles.

Difficulty level: 4/10

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