Gnagarna Nature Rack

Gnagarna Nature Rack is made out of cardboard. The cardboard is made direct from the trees and is manufactured with the least amount of stress to nature. To use any type of cardboard wont simply do. It looks to the eye like any other cardboard out there but it is what you can’t see that is the difference. Our type of cardboard does not contain any amount of grinded bones, plastic nor any other residue that is not supposed to be there. Our cardboard also has qualities that give it low dust emitting and extra strength. Not only does the cardboard have extra strength in it self. We also added an extra bottom to make it even more durable. This gives it the unique durability to withstand a bunny of 10 kg (22 pounds) jumping up and down on it. As normal cardboard ours are made up of several layers. This gives your rodent the opportunity to peel which is one of their natural instincts. Rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, deguses and other rodents in the wild frequently pull their food out of the ground. It is speculated why but one theory that makes sense is that it strengthen their teeth. For those rodents that dig burrows in the wild they are also made for tangle roots and rocks. For you it means another thing. The several layers means that it will last longer.

When will I know that it is time to replace the rack?

Of course you can replace Gnagarna Nature Rack as often as you like but if you want to keep it as long as possible you can watch for it to start giving way to the weight in the middle. Ones it has dropped about 2 – 3 cm (1-1,5 inch) it is normally time to replace it depending on the weight and number of animals you got in the cage.

So what do we treat our cardboard with?

Gnagarna treats the cardboard in several ways to make as many choices available as possible. We want to give you, our customer, the opportunity to choose your favourite. We make the rack in untreated, treated and 3 different colours. The mixture of oils and colours is free from any chemicals that in any way can harm rodents. Further more they are not affected by each other nor anything that we normally keep anywhere near their environments. It goes without saying that no substances used affects nature in a bad way regardless it you recycle it, put it in your compost or throw it with your other garbage.

What are the benefits and why was it developed?

Gnagarna Nature Rack was developed to give the rodent the shelter from above that it instinctively is searching for. It also gives the rodent the opportunity to observe what is happening in the cage while feeling secure. When you come to pick your pet up it is already aware that you are coming and is not caused unnecessary stress. The rack also gives your pet a better view of what is happening outside the cage. Most rodents are social animals that wants to participate and interact with its environment. The rack gives it the comfort and means to do so from its own cage. Of cause this does not in any way mean that it should be confined to its cage 24/7. The added level in the cage is also good for the social structure amongst a group of rodents and gives the opportunity to space themselves out and get a little time alone but with the comfort of their friend nearby. A completely other benefit from adding the Gnagarna Nature Rack to your pets cage is that the exercise it gets from jumping up and down strengthen the bones and heart. An active pet has a better immune system and is less likely to get sick not to mention that you, its owner, gets more fun out of a pet that can exercise more of the instincts and needs it was born with.

Gnagarna Nature Rack is sold flat and is available in yellow, red, green, oiled and natural. You fold and assemble it yourself before putting it into the cage. Every rack is accompanied by a instruction that, step by step, shows you how to get it done. A more complete and elaborated instruction can be found right here on our website. If the rack is not intended to be used immediately or you have purchased more than one it is advisable to store them flat.

There are 3 preconstructed methods for attaching the Gnagarna Nature Rack to the cage. The rack is provided with ears that can sustain weights of up to 1,5 kg (3,5 pounds). We have also developed a consol in metal, Gnagarna Quick Clips, that sustains weight of at least 10 kg (22 pounds). Gnagarna Quick Clips is also sold separately for those of you that wants to make your own creations. The ears of the rack also have a hole in them so that you can fit a wooden spindle through them. This feature makes it possible for the rack to endure even higher weights depending on the quality of the spindle. The hole also makes it possible to fit the rack into any cage that is at least 49 cm (19 inches). When you want to clean the cage the Gnagarna Nature Rack is easy to remove. It is very light weight (around 350 grams or 0,7 pounds) and when you no longer want to use it, it is completely safe to discard whichever way you see fit. You can toss it in with your other recyclables or in the compost. It is easily converted back to nature. It is completely safe to burn even though it is not suited for lighting the grill since it don’t burn very well. If you don’t have access to either compost or recycling facilities it is also safe to discard it with the rest of your trash.

This is how you fold your Gnagarna Nature Rack and attach it to the cage with the preconstructed methods.

We are aware of the fact that the instruction that comes with the rack is attached to the bottom. The instruction is placed there since you shall remove it before assemble the rack. The animals don’t care if there is a small tare. Unfortunately we have not been able to find an ink that is rodent safe. Nature safe is no problem, but they all contain one or more substances that is not suitable for our pets to consume. It goes without saying that we continue to monitor the market in search for an ink that is friendly. Until we succeed it is best if you remove the instruction and the bag of Gnagarna Quick Clips.

You can almost assemble the rack in which order you like, but it has proven to be easiest to begin with what is to be the reeling at the back.

Put the Gnagarna Nature Rack as pic 1 shows.

Fold the rectangular pieces at the edge as shown on pic 2. To prevent unnecessary stress it is advised that you fold them slightly over 90 degrees but not all the way to 180. Stop at about 100, 110 degrees. When we tell you to fold this is the angle we mean.

Now you fold that which is going to be the reeling. You should be able to hold the reeling and the rectangles as shown in pic 3.

Now it is time to fold the sides of the reeling. Se pic 4. This is a crucial point in the assembling. The sides is the piece that keeps everything in place and gives that incredible ability to withstand weight. Place the rack whit the short end towards you. You start folding at the line furthest away from you at the short end closest to you and work your way outwards. As mentioned before it is important to fold about 100-110 degrees. Ones this is done on one side you shall do the same on the opposite side.

It is now time to fold everything in place. Fold the reeling and rectangle back in place. Fold the short side over the rectangle and down on the other side. In the floor we have cut away rectangular pieces and at the short end you have elevated areas at the rim. These should fit together to keep the side and the back in place. Now you have probably guessed what you should do to the other short end? Correct – exactly the same. If done correctly the Gnagarna Nature Rack now looks a lot like pic 5

Before we do anything else to the rack we now remove the cage bars from the bottom of the cage. This have proven easiest with most brands of cages on the market today. If you remove the cage bars or not is entirely up to you but the rest of our instruction is based on removing it.

If the cage is 80, 90 or 100 cm (31, 35, 39 inches) long the rack will fit most of the cages you will find in the pet store.

You start attaching the rack to the bars by putting it underneath the cage bars at the short side you want to attach it to. Now press the rack up through the wires. Pay extra attention NOT to fold the ears upwards. If you fold the ears upward they will lose all their weight carrying capabilities. The ears must therefore always be folded downwards.

If the cage bars are to far apart for the rack to fit or it must sustain greater weights you first fold the ears downwards. Then you take a spindle of wood (round or square has no relevance) and press/put through the holes in the ears. This makes it fit all cages from 49 cm (19 inches) wide up to any wide manufactured. To help the spindle stay in place you can jagg it where the spindle meets the bars.

If the rack fits the cage but is required to sustain greater weights than 1,5 kg (3,5 pounds) you need to use the Gnagarna Quick Clips that came in the bag attached next to the instruction on the rack. (Gnagarna Quick Clips is also sold separately and will increase the weight that can be sustained to at least 10 kg or 22 pounds.). Every bag contains 4 clips. To attach the clips at the right level you first decide where you want the bottom of the rack to bee. After that you take the clips and attach it as shown on the pictures 1 to 3 below. Fit the clip over the bar above the one where you want the bottom to be. Slide it back and click it into place. This one is done and you can proceed with the other 3.

1 2 3

Gnagarna Quick Clips is designed with a small nail at the tip of the leaver. This is for pressing into the rack and will prevent your pet from pulling the rack down should they decide to chew on it.

Last but not least it is now time to reassemble the cage bars with the bottom and watch your pet investigate what it is you have been doing.