Rats are smart and will get bored without stimulation. You're their best toy, but there are lots of things you can do to make their cage an exciting, fun, comfortable place to be.

Most rats love hammocks. You can buy hammocks at the store or online (ahem) or you can make your own. Hammocks can be found (or made) in a variety of different designs, using a variety of fabrics.

If you make your own, avoid terrycloth because the little loops tend to snag ratty toenails. Also, avoid fabrics that fray a lot because rats can get caught up and stuck in the threads. Ratty Corner has a good page on making your own hammock in the Make & Do section.

It's a good idea to have multiple hammocks for variety and also so you can put more than one in the cage at a time. And so your rats don't get peeved at you when it's laundry time.

Another big hit with some rats is a wheel. You have to be careful when buying one however, because many aren't a good match for rats. They need a wheel with solid floors so as not to injur their tails. And they need a wheel that is actually big enough for them. The Wodent Wheel is a popular one.

Some rats also appreciate having a little home inside their home. You can find a variety of them at the pet store. But know that if you buy a wooden one, it probably isn't going to last very long before it gets totally pee-soaked and has to be thrown out. Plastic igloos are easy to find and very easy to clean.

You can also make your own houses out of various food containers like oatmeal canisters, cereal boxes, 12 pack soda fridge boxes, 12 pack beer boxes, etc. Just toss 'em when they get dirty (it won't take long).

Some other things rats often enjoy playing with are bird toys that can be hung from the cage bars, cat balls with the bells in them, cotton batting (which can be bought in rope form and hung in the cage) and treat dispensing toys. You can even make your own treat toy by putting a treat inside an empty toilet paper roll and either stuffing the ends with tissue or just folding them over.

The Dapper Rat has a great page with rat toy ideas.

 

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