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| Rope Walkway |
| This unique bridge is made up of loops of rope strung from the top of a wire cage, but is more fun than functional: your hamster is more likely to use it as monkey bars than a way to get from one platform to another! It is meant to be fairly high off the ground, though not high enough to be a potential hazard. Materials: - rope: approximately 1 cm in diameter; each loop in the walkway consists of a 30 cm (12 in) piece of rope. The rope should be non-toxic (preferably organic, like hemp) and should allow your hamster to play on it without getting its claws snared. - scissors Procedure: 1. Decide where you want the walkway to be, and how many loops you will need: there should be about 5 cm (2 in) between each loop. Make sure the start and end points are above a platform. 2. Cut the rope into the desired amount of 30 cm (12 in) pieces. 3. Take one piece of rope and tie it to the bar above starting point. Make the knot extra tight to prevent the loop from sliding along the bar. 4. Let the loop hang about 10 cm (4 in) into the cage. Tie the other end of the rope 6 cm (2.5 in) away from the first knot, forming a ring facing the end point. (Use another bar of the cage if necessary) 5. Cut off any excess rope after making sure the knots are tight and secure. 6. Take another piece of rope and tie both ends in the same manner 5 cm (2 in) away from the previous loop. 7. Repeat step 6 for remaining loops. Your hamster now has a new way to get around and a new toy to play with! Starting from one platform, your hamster should be able to crawl through all of the loops and arrive (with some amazing balance) to the end platform. You will eventually need to replace the ropes when they are chewed through or as the knots break. Don't leave broken ropes on the floor of the cage. |