Mary Allen
Rats are beautiful, intelligent, and exciting animals. No wonder, then, that more and more people are deciding to keep these little rodents as pets. However, before the new pets can move in, it is important to always think about whether you can really do justice to the new family member or whether problems might arise here. This includes not only optimal nutrition but daily fresh water and sufficient affection. One of the most important aspects is the rat cage, which will of course be the new home for the rats. This article is about the perfect rat cage, its size, and the different models as well as the right cage equipment.
The size of the rat cage
Many ask themselves the question “How big does a rat cage have to be?”. This question is not always easy to answer. However, it is important to know that rats should not be kept as solitary animals. It is important that there are at least two of them, whereby several animals or smaller groups represent a better husbandry option and the animals are not alone if a rat should die. Accordingly, the cage should of course be larger. In addition, rats are active climbers who need several floors, who want to play and romp around. So they need a lot of exercise and, accordingly, a lot of space. So, as with most animals, this means the bigger the cage, the better for the pet.
We have created the following cage dimensions for three animals, whereby of course there are no upper limits. However, the cages for a group of three rats should not be smaller. Experts recommend a minimum size of 100 x 60 x 200 cm. This ensures that the rats can take several steps at a time even inside the cage, in which they will spend most of their time.
In addition to the floor space, the height of the rat cage is also very important and plays a greater role here than with many other caged animals. Rats tend to hang out in the higher tiers of a cage, so make sure the cage is really high enough to include multiple tiers with the ability to climb. Because here too, the higher the rat cage, the better off the animals are in their new home. For example, aquariums and terrariums are not suitable for keeping rats because they are not high enough and have poor air circulation. On the other hand, chinchilla cages or cages for chipmunks are quite suitable.
The material for the rat cage
In addition to the cage size, the material from which the rat cage was built also plays a very important role. Since rats are rodents, the name alone says that these cute little animals also like to gnaw on something. They don’t stop at the cage itself or the interior design. Cages made of wood with a grid and wire are therefore ideal for using as a home for the rats.
However, since the small rats like to make themselves even smaller, it is important to ensure that the grid spacing is no more than 1.2 cm. It is important that the rat’s head does not fit through here. In the case of young animals, the distance should not be more than 1 cm, while in the case of adult bucks, 2 cm is often sufficient. This way you can be sure that they cannot escape. For the rest, it is very practical to note that the rat cage has several doors, which makes cleaning and removing the animals much easier. While a few years ago colored bars were discouraged because they could be toxic, this is no longer the case today. In the meantime, only non-toxic and durable paint is used, i.e. completely harmless for the animals themselves. However, dark bars are more suitable for a rat cage than light bars. Bright bars could possibly dazzle and limit the observation of the animals.
The perfect bedding for the rat cage
After the cage, the next step is to set it up, including the bedding. However, you should not use the typical small animal litter products. The fine sand creates too much dust, which can quickly put a strain on the rats’ sensitive lungs. As an alternative, hemp litter or corn litter is recommended. Fine beech wood granules are also ideal for keeping rats. Many rat keepers line the bottom of the cage with newspaper or fleece blankets. Rats love hay and accept it very well, although only high-quality products should be used here, such as hay from organic farmers. In addition, it is always possible to switch between the respective variants or to combine them with one another.
The floors in the rat cage
As already mentioned, floors are extremely important in a rat cage and should therefore not be missing under any circumstances. You should provide your darlings with at least three floors, although you can also build two full floors and one narrower or only half a floor. However, the distance between the floors should be taken into account, which should be at least 20 cm but should not be more than 50 cm. This is because the animals should already be able to stretch. However, a fall from a height of more than 50 cm can also quickly become dangerous, so that the rats could break a bone, for example.
In addition, the floors themselves should not be built on lattices. This is not only very uncomfortable for the rats when climbing, but can also quickly become dangerous. Wood is best suited for building floors in a rat cage, although hard plastic can also be used. Furthermore, the floors should be connected differently. Whether it’s ramps, tubes or sisal posts, ropes, and other creative ideas, the rats won’t get bored with a little variety.
How to find the perfect location for your rat cage
Not only the cage itself should meet the needs of the animals and make them happy. It is also important that the perfect location is chosen in order to pay attention to the preferences of the rodents. The rat cage is definitely not in good hands in your own bedroom or in the children’s room, as rats also like to be active at night and your own sleep quality is guaranteed to suffer in the long run. Furthermore, it is important to choose a room where the little ones are not exposed to noise pollution, but can have their peace. Furthermore, drafts are not particularly good, which also applies to direct sunlight. The animals themselves feel most comfortable at temperatures between 18 and 22 degrees, which can of course help when choosing the right location. If possible, the humidity should be between 40 and 70 percent. However, please keep your rats inside the apartment, because unlike rabbits, the cute pet rats cannot be kept in an outdoor enclosure. This is due to their high sensitivity, because the rats would not be able to cope with the changing weather conditions and could freeze to death, especially in winter.
The setup of the rat cage
Furnishing the new rat home is almost as important as the rat cage itself. Let’s start with the most important things. The rats need a feeding bowl that should be as stable as possible, otherwise the animals could knock it over, which incidentally also applies to the drinking bowl. Also make sure that the respective bowls are large enough to give all animals the opportunity to eat at the same time. When keeping larger groups, several bowls are also suitable at the same time.
For this reason, many rat keepers opt for the nipple drinkers, which are simply hung on the grid. You have a free hand with the rest of the setup and can get really creative. It is important to provide a good variety so that the animals do not get bored so quickly, because rats love to romp and do gymnastics. In addition, it is not wrong if the facility is changed or rearranged from time to time. In this way you can ensure that the animals can discover their rat cage over and over again. Furthermore, it is also possible to bring objects from nature for the animals, whereby these must be free of any pesticides and stones should under no circumstances have sharp edges and corners on which the rats could possibly injure themselves.
Even the best rat cage does not replace the outlet
Of course, the rat cage is the place where the animals will spend the most time in the future. It must therefore inevitably be species-appropriate, exciting, and safe. But even the largest and most beautiful rat cage cannot replace an outlet. The animals should ideally have the opportunity to run around freely every day. They like to explore, like to hide, and look forward to more space. But here too, of course, there are a few things to consider so that the animals are not exposed to any danger.
The run in the apartment – safety is important
Safety at the outlet is the most important thing of all. It is therefore important to make the corresponding room safe before opening the cage doors. First and foremost, it is particularly important not to let the rats out of your sight for too long when they run out. So even the little rodents come up with a lot of nonsense, although of course they can’t assess when it might become dangerous. Since rats often become very trusting and tame, supervision is often not a problem. Of course, it is important to keep the windows and doors to the outside closed. It is also necessary to remove any exposed cables, since the small rodents do not stop here either and might gnaw on the cable. This can not only lead to damage to the cable, but could also result in an electric shock and thus death for the animals.
Furthermore, care must be taken to ensure that plants are also brought to safety, especially if they are poisonous. Also watch out for fallen leaves. Rats can spoil their stomachs even with very small amounts of plants. Furthermore, of course, small objects have to be picked up from the ground and tobacco must also be placed in a place that the rats can’t reach under any circumstances.
If the floor is tiled or if you have a parcel or any other smooth surface, you should possibly lay out a carpet, at least as long as the little animals enjoy their run. On a slippery surface, rats can quickly slip while running, which unfortunately can also lead to injuries. Doors should either be completely closed or secured, because it can happen quickly and you close the door yourself or it is slammed shut by a draft. You don’t want to imagine what happens when the rat is just around the corner.
Our conclusion on the subject of rat cages
Whether you build it yourself or buy it, the rat cage should always be carefully selected and then equipped wisely. So you have to tell yourself again and again that this is the home of the animals, where they will spend most of their lives in the future. In addition to the cage itself, it should of course always be built in such a way that it can be cleaned easily, whereby a simple cleaning should ideally take place every day, with the major cleaning once a week being sufficient. If you observe a few rules here in the future, you will have great fun with the cute and intelligent rodents.