CHOOSING A RAT CAGE

There are many cage manufacturers out there that claim their cages are suitable for rats. Yet I look at their designs and wonder - "have these cage designers ever owned rats?" I think NOT.

FIRST YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW RATS MOVE AROUND A CAGE
Rats are not ground dwellers, their bodies are designed to climb and maneuver through and over obstacles. This is why wild rats are often found in attics. And our domestic rats are no different.

They also use their long rough textured tail to help them balance as they maneuver through the cage on ledges and narrow ramps.

So what do you want to look for when considering a store bought or homemade cage?
  • A lot of space with multiple levels. The size of the cage is to be determined by how many rats you want to live in it.
  • Horizontal bars spaced approximately 1/2 inch apart and coated with a hard epoxy enamel or powder coated paint.
  • Upper platforms and base tray that are a solid surface - not wire mesh.
  • Large doors for easy access to the rats and for cleaning.
  • A sturdy cage with metal framing on all sides so rats can't escape. This includes the bottom, under the base tray.

the cages below are the most common cages used

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MIDWEST DELUXE DOUBLE CRITTER NATION

Midwest Deluxe DOUBLE Critter Nation

  • 36"L x 24"W x 48"H
  • Cage Stand: 15"H with wheels
  • Horizontal bars spaced 1/2" apart.
  • Plastic surfaces on upper levels and base of the cage
  • Double Doors that securely lock and open up to the entire length of the cage
  • Rolling casters for adjusting and moving easily
  • Holds 10 rats comfortably if hammocks and/or baskets are added.
My Opinion of this cage:
I own 3 of these cages and I love them. The only downfall is the shallow plastic trays. They don't hold in wood or paper bedding and rats love to chew on the edges, soon creating holes.

Most people use fleece fabric to cover the plastic trays instead of loose bedding. I use urine guards in most of my cages to keep the bedding in.

The good news is that Bass Equipment Company makes metal replacement trays that fit Critter Nation.
(they refer to them as Ferret Nation pans, but they do fit Critter Nations too).
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MIDWEST DELUXE SINGLE CRITTER NATION

MIDWEST DELUXE SINGLE CRITTER NATION

  • 36"L x 24"W x 24"H
  • Cage Stand: 15"H with wheels
  • Horizontal bars spaced 1/2" apart.
  • Plastic surfaces on upper level and the base of the cage
  • Double Doors that securely lock and open up to the entire length of the cage
  • Rolling casters for adjusting and moving easily
  • Holds 5 males or 6 female rats comfortably if hammocks and/or baskets are added.
My Opinion of this cage:
I love this cage. The only downfall is the shallow plastic trays. They don't hold in wood or paper bedding and rats love to chew on the edges, soon creating holes.

Most people use fleece fabric to cover the plastic trays instead of loose bedding. I use urine guards in most of my cages to keep the bedding in.

The good news is that Bass Equipment Company makes metal replacement trays that fit Critter Nation.
(they refer to them as Ferret Nation pans, but they do fit Critter Nations too).
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PREVUE 3 LEVEL SMALL ANIMAL CAGE

PREVUE 3 LEVEL SMALL ANIMAL CAGE

  • 31"L x 20.5"W x 40"H (part of this height is the stand)
  • Vertical bars with wire spacing 3/8"
  • ramps and levels are solid metal
  • Base of cage is wire mesh with plastic tray underneath
  • One large door on front of cage and one smaller door on top of cage
  • Rolling casters for adjusting and moving easily
  • Available in multiple colors
  • Holds 4 males or 5 female rats comfortably if hammocks or baskets are added.
My Opinion of this cage:
I've never personally seen this cage. It appears to be a sturdy with the square tubing frame.

The doors are an okay size though it could make cleaning a bit more difficult.

I like that the upper levels are a solid metal making them easy to clean.

The bottom of the cage is wire which I'm not a fan of. Wire mesh floors are not good for a rat's feet and also can cause injury if legs were to get caught between bars. Unfortunately if the wire floor is removed rats can quickly chew through the plastic tray and escape.
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MCAGE 3 LEVEL SMALL ANIMAL CAGE

MCAGE 3 LEVEL SMALL ANIMAL CAGE

  • 24"L x 16"W x 24"H
  • Epoxy enamel paint that comes in black or white
  • Vertical bars spaced 3/8" apart
  • Upper levels are wire mesh
  • Base of cage is wire mesh with plastic tray underneath
  • Two descent size doors on front of cage
  • Holds 2 males or 3 female rats comfortably
My Opinion of this cage:
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KAYTEE MY FIRST HOME MULTI LEVEL HABITAT

KAYTEE MY FIRST HOME MULTI LEVEL HABITAT

  • 30.5”L x 18”W x 30”H
  • Horizontal bars spaced 1/2" apart
  • three plastic levels, ramps
  • Plastic base of cage.
  • Two small doors on front of cage
  • Holds 2 males or 3 female rats comfortably.
My Opinion of this cage:
Plastic? Why?

I've not personally seen this cage though I will tell you now. RATS CHEW PLASTIC! And everything in this cage is plastic.

As far as the wire mesh, I don't know. If anyone has this cage, please contact me via email or through my Facebook Rattery page and let me know your thoughts on the durability of the wire panels.

The doors on this cage are small, though the ramps and levels are also small, so getting them in and out should be fairly easy.

If you should be lucky enough to have rats that aren't chewers, then this cage should last a while. But if your rats love to chew, and most do, then this cage wont last long.
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YOU & ME RAT MANOR

YOU & ME RAT MANOR

  • 22.5"L x 16.5W x 32"H
  • Horizontal bars spaced
  • Wire mesh on upper levels
  • Solid metal base
  • Two small doors on front of cage
  • Holds 2 males or 3 female rats comfortably
My Opinion of this cage:
The Rat Manor seems to be a popular cage due to it affordability.

I was given a Rat Manor and quickly gave it away.

The doors are small making it difficult to clean and to access food dishes, cage accessories and the rats.

This cage is built with a small gauge wire that gets misshapen easily and the paint seems to peel fairly quickly, causing rusty areas.

Another issue with the smaller gauge wire on levels and ramps is that it can cause sores and damage the rat's feet.

The Rat Manor does have a metal base with sides which helps hold in loose bedding.

Finding a way to cover the levels and ramps is a must with this cage.

CAGES THAT ARE TOO SMALL for rats to live in full time

EVEN THOUGH THESE CAGES ARE TOO SMALL FOR RATS TO LIVE IN FULL TIME, THEY CAN STILL BE USEFUL AS TEMPORARY CAGES FOR:
  • A TEMPORARY CAGE FOR BABIES
  • AS A QUARANTINE CAGE FOR SICK OR INJURED RATS
  • AS A TEMPORARY ENCLOSURE FOR RATS WHILE YOU'RE DEEP CLEANING THEIR BIG CAGE
  • AS A TRANSPORT CAGE.
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WARE CHEW PROOF CAGE
25" x 12.5" x 12.5"
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ALL LIVING THINGS SMALL ANIMAL CAGE
24"L x 14"W x 15"H
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KAYTEE MY FIRST HOME RAT HABITAT
24.5"L x 12.5"W x 14.5"H
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