Make your own: rodent crackers

Small pets including rats, guinea pigs and rabbits love sniffing out tasty food to munch, especially when they have a fun activity to keep them busy too. This Christmas cracker is quick and easy to make and your small pets will love it! Better yet, it’s full of nutritious treats great for keeping them happy and healthy!

You only need three things to make one cracker, so if you need to rustle up a last-minute Christmas gift for your small pet, check out the instructions below.

What you need

• Rat, guinea pig or rabbit food mix (see below for recipes)
• Piece of A4 paper
• Cardboard tube

Rat mix

Combine rat nuggets, mealworms, sugar free cereal, rat muesli, selection of rat-friendly vegetables such as carrot slices, broccoli, mini corn on the cobs.

Guinea pig and rabbit mix

Combine hay and fresh forage such as rose, heather, sage, thyme and blackberry.

What to do

1. Take your empty cardboard tube and fill one end of the tube with a handful of mix. The best way to do this is to cup cup your hand over one end to ensure the mix doesn’t fall out the other side!
2. Place your cardboard tube on a piece of paper, and roll it up.
3. Twist the paper at both ends to secure. This will keep the mix inside.
4. You will now have a handmade enrichment feeder that resembles a Christmas cracker. All you need to do now is give it to your small pet to munch their way through!