Make sure the cage is big enough. Rats get considerably bigger than mice or hamsters, even if they are very little and cute when they are babies. It pays off to get a big enough cage right from the beginning. Since it is also more rat-friendly to get two of those sociable pets, the dimensions should be at least 30"L x 18" W x 30"H. The thumb-rule is two square feet, or better two cubic feet, per rat.
Multiple Levels are a Must
Rats like to climb. In fact they probably will amaze you with their monkey like abilities. Provide your rats with a multilevel cage. If the store-bought cage does not offer different levels, add balconies, hammocks and ladders. Use cardboard-boxes, wooden shelves or even old trouser-legs.
For a trouser-leg hammock pull two strings through the tunnel and attach it at four different spots at the top of the cage. For a wooden balcony screw two bolts into a thick enough board. Screwing on the nut-bolt from outside the wire-cage will hold the board up. For a cardboard-box house just cut a door and some windows in the box, add paper-towels or some old clothes to provide bedding-material.
Phenols Cause Health Problems
Never use cedar- or pine-shaving, since the aromatic oils used in those most popular pet-store bought bedding, are toxic for rats. Phenols used as an odor-reducer in the wood shavings might cause asthma and other allergic responses. Since rats are prone to respiratory problems also never place their cage in a drafty area.
Provide aspen shaving for bedding, which does not smell as good, but prevents health problems. Most paper-based, anti allergic bedding is okay too, but a bit costly. It is also okay to use clothes which otherwise would go into the garbage bag, newspaper and paper-towels.
Due to the respiratory problem do not house your rat in a fish-tank. If you have to do so, put an animal high-raise on top of it, to provide enough ventilation. Also do not forget to offer some climbing possibilities.
Use Narrow Wire Spacing For Baby Rats
Another important factor to watch out for is the wire spacing. Rats are able to squeeze through the smallest holes. Wherever the head can fit, the whole rat can fit. The minimum spacing therefore should be no bigger than one inch, for babies even half an inch. Store bought ferret cages are therefore no alternative for baby rats. For grown up pet-rats, those will be okay.
Make sure there is no wire-meshed floor on the bottom of your cage. Little rat feet might get stuck. Also the rats might develop bumble-foot, a very painful disease. If you offer a running wheel it also should sport a hard surface.
Ideas for Self Made Cages
There are also great self-made cages. Old cupboards or cheap office-shelves are a great choice if you have the spare space and the time to build it. Make sure there are no openings bigger than one inch for the rat to escape and enough ventilation to prevent respiratory diseases. Add some playtime equipment, like bells, ladders tubes, shelves and hiding-places to give the customized rat-cage the happy finish. But no matter how good the cage, make sure to take your rats out often to enjoy a tame and playful pet.
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