Setting up your cage
When setting up your cage it is important that it is big enough for the amount of rats you are housing. To find out how many rats your cage can hold go here. The distance between bars should not be more than 1cm if you are housing baby rats as they are very good at escaping. Setting up your rat's cage should be fun as you get to decorate it with hammocks and colourful toys. On this page I will show you a few different things that you can add to your cage to make it more interesting for your rat.
Choosing a cage
When it comes to rat cages there are a few different common cages that people tend to use. The most common cage type is referred to as a rsk (rat starter kit). This fits 2-3 rats depending on their gender. These cages can be attached together either side by side or above each other to create a double rsk which houses more rats.
Another option is a 603 bird cage (3-5 rats), 604 bird cage (5-7 rats) or 604T bird cage (holds 9-13 rats). These are a lot more sturdy than the standard rsk cage and come with a base that means the cage is at eye-level. The doors are also much bigger and more sturdy. The only issue with these cages is that since they are bird cages, they do not come with levels. These can be made with a bit of work by either cutting up old bird or rodent cages into platforms or using cake cooler racks and attaching them to the sides with wire, metal clips or cable ties.
(My girls use a 603)
(My girls use a 603)
Another cage is a small rodent cage available for purchase at most pet stores at the moment. I have one of these and although I really like the width of it, you have to be super careful that you don't drop the doors on anyone's toes as they slide upwards as opposed to opening outwards like in the previous cages mentioned. This cage houses 2-3 rats.
Setting up your cage - Basics
Now that you have your cage, you need to start setting it up so that it is suitable for your new furry friends to live in. The most important things in the cage are food, water and somewhere to sleep. The most hygienic way to store water in the cage is in a bottle. Every pet store will sell small animal bottles in many different varieties, I would recommend the SuperPet chew-proof glass bottle found here or the Critter canteen blue plastic bottle sold in almost every pet shop. I like these ones personally as many bottles get jammed or stuck and stop working as they get older whereas I have never had any problems with either of these. If you have quite a few rats in the same cage I would advise getting more than one water bottle in the cage as that way they will have a spare even if one stops working.
Any bowl will do for food however I would advise you get a heavier bowl or one that attaches to the side of the cage such as the one found here. This is because rats often dig through their food to scoop out their favourite bits and can easily tip over a lighter bowl, flinging the food all over the place. You may prefer to get a bowl with a higher back if your rat particularly likes to dig to try and stop the dry food being flicked out of the cage. I prefer heavier bowls as my rats have learned how to dig so hard that the bowl unhooks itself from the cage.
The next most important thing is a place for your rat to sleep where it is warm at night. The most common type of bed is the rody igloo. I have one of these in each of my cages, they can be found here but you can get similar igloos from pet stores. The rody igloo is really easy to clean as it has a base that can be unclipped from the roof so that you can easily wipe it out. Whichever type of bed you end up using, fill it with newspaper or fleece (depending on what your rat prefers) so that your rat can make a nest where it can stay nice and warm at night.
In addition to this proper sleeping spot you can also add ice-cream containers with a door cut into them which you can either sit on the ground or hang from the roof of the cage for an added hidey hole.
In addition to this proper sleeping spot you can also add ice-cream containers with a door cut into them which you can either sit on the ground or hang from the roof of the cage for an added hidey hole.
Getting a wheel
Having a wheel in your rat's cage decreases the chance of them becoming overweight and means they build more muscle. This results in them becoming healthier and living for a longer time. I would not recommend using wheels from pet shops as even the large ones are too small for adult rats. Rats can develop health problems such as a 'wheely tail' or spine problems from wheels that are too small for them. The only safe wheels available for purchase in NZ are Wodent wheels. These can be bought off the New Zealand Rat Rescue. Adult girls are better suited to the 'Senior' wheel found here and males are suited to the 'Wobust' wheel found here.
Extras
Once you have the basics set up in your cage it's time to add more objects to make it interesting for your rats. Another awesome sleep spot that you can add is a Sputnik. These are very easy to clean and rats love them. You can find a Sputnik available for purchase here. (Note- You may see sputniks in pet stores but they tend to only sell the small mouse ones, rats need the XL size).
Hammocks are a big hit with every rat. You can either buy them from pet stores or make them yourself. I also sell hammocks here. An easy hammock idea is to get a fluffy winter hat and hang it by the cords from the roof of your cage. You can make really simple flat hammocks by sewing a square of pretty cotton material to the same sized square of fleece and hang it in your cage by cord or strips of material. (Note - Depending on how much your rats like to chew, hammocks generally don't last for ages as the cords get chewed and some rats like to chew holes through them). You can make these hammocks fancier by adding pockets or a loose flap of material underneath to form a tube. If you are keen to make your own hammocks have a look online at the different patterns and instructions.
For more accessories and toys to add to your cage go here.
Hammocks are a big hit with every rat. You can either buy them from pet stores or make them yourself. I also sell hammocks here. An easy hammock idea is to get a fluffy winter hat and hang it by the cords from the roof of your cage. You can make really simple flat hammocks by sewing a square of pretty cotton material to the same sized square of fleece and hang it in your cage by cord or strips of material. (Note - Depending on how much your rats like to chew, hammocks generally don't last for ages as the cords get chewed and some rats like to chew holes through them). You can make these hammocks fancier by adding pockets or a loose flap of material underneath to form a tube. If you are keen to make your own hammocks have a look online at the different patterns and instructions.
For more accessories and toys to add to your cage go here.