Housing Pet Rats - Rat Cage
83Housing Rats
Housing a pet rat can be simple, but you will need to consider the type of cage that you want to invest in. Your options range from aquariums, wire cages, and plastic cages. Once, you've decided upon a cage, you will need to find houses, toys, bowls, and bedding.
But, housing is not just a cage and toys. You must, also, consider where you will be putting the cage. Rats like your attention, so you may consider putting the cage in a room with high movement.
You want to keep the cage away from direct lighting and drafts.
Ratty Cage Options
Cages
Whichever type of cage you choose, it needs to have at least two square feet of surface area. Now, as for the dimensions of the cage, for one to two rats I would go no smaller than a 24"L x 12"W x 24"T. NEVER house rats in a small hamster habitat, solid plastic cage, 10 gallon aquariums, or ventilated storage bins.
Top Pros and Cons:
Aquariums:
Pros: Litter cannot be kicked out onto the floor.
Cons: No ventilation calling for more frequent cleanings. Spend more money in order to get the same space as a wire cage. Build up heat. Hold in stale air.
Wire:
Pros: Ventilation. Toys can be attached to walls and tend to have multiple levels, providing ample entertainment
Cons: Litter can be kicked onto the floor.
Plastic:
Pros: Wire walls with plastic levels are easier on ratty feets.
Cons: Litter can be kicked onto the floor. Rats can and will chew the plastic.
NEVER house a rat in a cage that has a wire bottom. Having wire levels and walls are great, but there needs to be some solid surfaces in the cage to prevent bumblefoot.
Bedding
Bedding can be an important part of a rat's housing. The wrong bedding can cause respiratory illnesses, as some beddings have excess oils and aromas, that rat's, and all other small animals, cannot be exposed to for long periods of time (being more than one or two cleanings).
Safe:
- Aspen wood shavings
- Carefresh
- Lifemate- Hemp bedding
- Kaytee- Soft Sorbent
- Aspen pellets
Harmful:
- Pine wood shavings
- Cedar wood shavings
- Kaytee- Total Comfort (too dusty)
Stay away from beddings that are dusty, oily, and have aromas.
Clean the cage at least once a week. This will keep down any ratty smells that have accumulated. It will, also, rid the cage of ammonia, which if allowed to build up can become very harmful to your rats.
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Super Pet Ferret Simple Sleeper, Hammock, Colors Vary
Price: $4.42
List Price: $7.99 |
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Super Pet Simple Sleeper Play Tunnel
Price: $4.20
List Price: $8.49 |
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Looney Loops Cat Toy 3pk (Petmate)
Price:
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Prevue Pet Products Tropical Teasers Mai Tai 12in Medium Bird Toy
Price: $5.46
List Price: $10.98 |
Toys
Rats are very intelligent creatures that do get bored easily. They need toys and ledges in the cage to keep them busy until you are able to spend time with them. Because a rat's favorite experience is playing with you!
But, anyway...
Inside the cage you can add various toys such as:
- Ropes
- Ladders
- Hammocks
- Hanging wood toys
- Tunnels
- Cardboard tubes (toilet paper and paper towel rolls work great)
- Cardboard boxes
- Silent wheels
- Ferret toys
- Cat toys (NO cat nip!)
- Ledges (attach to the walls of wire cages)
Get creative when thinking of toys you can make or toys you can buy for your rats. They'll appreciate it, and you'll have fun watching them play with their new toys.
Try to switch out the toys every other week or so. This will keep your rats entertained as they got a "new" toy. But, it's a recycled old one.
I prefer Martin's Cages. They are easy to put together, and easy to clean. There are a variety of cages to choose from, ranging from chinchilla cages, ferret cages, and rat cages. All are acceptable for housing rats, as long as you can guarantee that your rats cannot slip through the outer wires.
My three female rats are housed in the chinchilla highrise (FC-430HR).
It includes:
- 30" x 18" x 48"
- Four levels
- Full middle floor
- Three ramps
- Two balconies
- Your choice of a drop-in 3½" plastic pan
Rat Information
- Rat Munchies
Proper treats for your pet rat(s). - Games and Toys for Rats
Find fun games for you and your pet rat(s). - Signs of Illness in Pet Rats
Make sure that you are aware of the signs of illness in your pet rat(s). - Rats Vs Mice
When deciding upon a pet rodent, make the proper decision between rats and mice. Make sure to know the true differences. - Homemade Rat Diets
Make a healthy, homemade rat diet for your favorit pet. Find out about proper nutrition. What you can and can't feed your rats. - Homemade Rat Recipes
Find out more fun and yummy recipes that you can make for your pet rat(s). - Homemade Rat Treats
Make yummy homemade treats for your beloved pet rat(s). - How to Train Pet Rats
Tips to training pet rats.
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Comments
Thankyou Whitney,
I just got a "Martin's cage" for the new rat on Sunday.
I love Martin's Cages! Congrats on the purchase. Which one did you get?
I got THE RUUD CAGE (R-699) it's under rats.It cost me 167.00plus 10.00 extra!
Did I go a little crazy?
I hpoe she likes it!
Wow you really went all out! My girls are in the FC-430HR, it's in the Chinchilla section. You have plenty of room to add hammock, ropes, ladders, and tons of toys! They'll love it. Just make sure to swap out the toys every now and then, otherwise they'll get bored. Don't throw them out because you can swap back, and they'll think they're new toys (add at least 1 new one though). ;-) Money saving trick, well not really a trick, but maybe it'll help, as toys and such are sometimes pricey.
Yup , now I'm broke! ;-) Okay I'll thry that ! Should I put 2 hammocks in there?
Aww! That's a nice one ! does she like it ?
You could try a regular hammock and a cloth tunnel, since there are to full floors. My girls loved them both. I bought ferret ones. I tend to buy a lot of ferret things for my rats.
There are 3 rats in the cage, and they love it! Larger than the R-685 that I initially bought for 2.
Okay should I buy two hammocks or do you think they would share it ?What about a rope with knots way they could climb? I've heard rats love to climb.
I just sent away for the ferret play tunnel! I went to Amazon . Do you think they will like the Petmate looney loops cat toy?
Sorry, one more thing do you have any ideas for the new rat? She is a girl. I'm thinking about Razzle .
Once they get used to eat other, they will share. So you should be fine with just one.
Also, yes, i think that ropes with notes are great. they can chew them and climb them.
I think Razzle is a cute name. You may want to wait for a decision once you've met the rat's personality.
Oh and as for the pet-looney cat toys, some rats love them. They'll carry them around and throw them. But, some rats don't really care for them.
Oh okay! :)Oh dear, Ihope they like them. =/
This is kinda weird, I think Martin's Cages are one of the' best! lol well, what do ya know?! lol again great hub!
I love Martin's Cages! I have 2 of them, only 1 set up currently. If I had the room, I'd set up the other and add a few more ratties. They're nothing but a bundle of joy.
Can anyone helpHi there i bought a use cage for my 2 female rats....It was very dirty with urine i mean it was bad the guy that sold it to me had 6 male rats in it..its a big 3story cage... So i cleaned it with my hose and javex i got all the urine out... But about 3weeks after my babys were in the cage it started to really stink...So i painted it... Now heres whats happening i clean the cage top to bottom every 2days.....My rats are liter trained and they only poo at the bottom...But they pee on the bars.... As soon as they pee even if i just cleaned it the smell is so bad...And i know its not just their pee cause my one female pees on my arm when she is excited and it doesnt smell the same... Could the male pee smell be coming from the bars when my females pee?And what do i do to get rid of the smell?Do i need to get a new cage?
What kind of cage is it? Wooden, plastic, or wire?
I would try cleaning with vinegar and peroxide. The mixture is GREAT to remove smells. Although, your room may smell like vinegar for a little bit, it's always worked great for my full cage cleanings. I'm not sure what kind of cage it is or why you painted it, but try the vinegar and peroxide mix to clean the cage top to bottom. Use a sponge and just scrub basically.
If that doesn't work, you may want to try a pet odor and ammonia eliminator. You can find them in the dog house training isle usually.
And, maybe consider bleach, but make sure to thoroughly rinse the cage before putting your girls back in it.
And, if that doesn't work, I'd suggest a new cage. Try Martin's Cages, as they have GREAT rat cages that leave the decoration up to you. Just make sure to purchase one that does NOT have a wire bottom with slide out tray.
Thanks ill try all that.. its a wire cage but not wire at the bottom... i painted it cause of the smell.
I wouldn't paint a pet cage or the bottom. Rats chew, and if they ingest the paint, it could be toxic. Just a heads up.
Just to mention... you don't need to 'buy' hammocks and tunnels. Just take an old shirt and cut it up. From one shirt I get 4 hammocks (I cut the front and back panels in half) and 2 tunnels (the sleeves). You can use either paperclips bent open a bit, or safety pins to clip them up. Twist ties work too if you've rained them not to chew the twists.
Cheap and a great way to reuse instead of throwing out. (and it ensures you've lots to swap with so you can just do one laundry trip!)
ok so i have a blue rat(1) and i just bought him and i had bought this thing where you put it ontop of the 10 gallon tank its wire and has two tiers and ladders is that good or do i need to go bigger it stands about 22 in high and the area of a 10 gal tank all together
That's going to be WAY too small for an adult rat. You need to get a proper cage.
Hi I was wondering if the the wired ramps and balconies will be ok for my girls feet?
As long as the bottom of the cage is not wired, the wired ramps should be fine. Just try to offer as many solid surfaces as you can.













tiffany says:
2 years ago
I have a cage with plastic levels . And have 2 hammocks and a rope with knots that way she gets exercise when she goes to get water ! And she also has a little buddy named Peckit a dove ! I let them out together and they walk around every where ! Peckit has a hurt wing so she cant fly right now ! :-(