Housing Your Rats

When it comes to your rat’s home - nothing can be too large. You should only have to buy one cage/tank, so try to get the biggest you can afford. On the left are 2 Terenziani cages I use in the bedroom. There is a three level cage, and a four level, which is perfect for housing 4 rats for the whole of their lives. 

An aquarium should be of no less than 20 gallons. A tank will allow you a good view of your rat and will also keep litter and bedding inside - not on the surrounding floor. Tanks can overheat very quickly as they have little ventilation. They could shatter should an accident arise, and they are difficult to attach frames and toys to. On the whole, a cage is usually a better option.

A cage has good ventilation and also doubles as climbing frame. The absolute minimum size should be no smaller than 80 x 50 x 50cms - but that is still too small in our opinion! There should be room enough to allow free running, and height enough for your rats to climb. The bars or mesh of any cage need to be around 1.5cms apart, to prevent small, and baby rats from escaping. Hamster and gerbil cages are far too small, so don’t even consider them! Rat Starter Kits are available in many pet shops, but again - they tend to be too small for adult rats and, as your rats grow you’ll need to find a larger cage. With a little imagination, however, you can add to the cage, and construct an interesting rattery. A ferret or chinchilla cage will comfortably hold a pair of rats through the whole of their lives. Probably the best on the market at present are by Savic or Ferplast. The Critter line appears to be direct copies of the Terenziani cages we still love. Unfortunately, they don't seem to be available anymore in the UK. These cages are not cheap - around £60 to £90, depending where you buy it - but they’re well worth the investment. They fold flat for traveling, and can be stacked one on top of the other to create a 4 storey Rat Palace. They come with a wire floor, which can simply be lifted out. Make sure you do remove the wire floor in any cage - this is the main cause of a nasty condition called bumblefoot (Ulcerative pododermatitis). If you can’t lift the floor out, cover it with vinyl, cardboard or wood, which will need to be replaced regularly. Whichever cage or aquarium you decide on, make sure that it is secure. Rats are remarkable escape artists!

Above, you will see the red and white lino used as flooring. 

Great for cleaning and it looks nice too!

The cage/tank should be out of drafts and direct sunlight, and away from radiators or fires. Think about where you are going to put a sleeping and eating area. Your rat would probably prefer to sleep on one of the higher levels, and a dark nest is essential, as rats are nocturnal creatures, and you could cover the nest area with a towel or throw. A plastic flower pot or igloo, or even a cardboard box makes a good nest, but make sure to cover the sleeping area (see left) at all times. Hammocks are fun for your rats to snooze in but unless you keep the area dark at all times it won't be a good bedroom.

All types of nesting materials are available from pet shops, and the soft paper varieties are ideal. Avoid the fine cotton wool type of hamster bedding, which could choke your rat, or become tangled around its neck and body. Alternatively, you could use strips of kitchen roll or J-Cloths. Young rats especially, cannot hold their water for long, so you’ll need to check the nest daily for any wetness or soiling.

Rats love to be clean, and they will usually use one corner of their home as a toilet area. If the cage is large enough, you could place a small cat litter tray, filled with paper cat litter, in that particular corner. Your rat will let you know which corner he intends to use.

Avoid cedar and wood litter, and the scented varieties. They may disguise any odors, but they can also be harmful to your rat’s coat and health. If you change the litter regularly, there should be no odor to disguise!  Paper cat litter is a far better choice (Smart Cat or Bio-cato-let)

Toys can be placed in the cage, but make quite sure they are safe, and have no small bits that could be swallowed. As a rule, hamster toys are not suitable. Ferret and parrot toys, ladders, swings and hammocks are usually a better bet. Cardboard tubes and boxes can be used as hidey-holes, and cost nothing.

You will need to clean the cage/tank thoroughly once a week, and tidy up the nests and dining areas daily. Remove any left over wet foods, and change any soiled bedding and litter. Bowls and bottles will need to be cleaned regularly, and replaced if they become chipped or damaged.

Some of the best mail-order cages are available from: Acrorats. They supply Critter, Savic and other good makes. Pet Cages Ltd.   stock 3 sizes of Critter cages and you can order and pay online. The prices are very competitive and delivery to the UK is included in their prices.