How to pick your first rat cage

Since your pet rat (s) will be spending most of its time in its cage, finding the appropriate cage for it should be of utmost importance

The type of rat cage you require for your pet is determined by how many rats you intend to keep in the cage, your rat's age, whether you want your rat's cage to be mobile or stationary, and how many levels you want in your rat's cage.

Below are questions you need to answer to successfully create a conducive first home for your rat

How big should your rat's cage be?

As the general rule for keeping one rat states, your cage should be no smaller than 1.5 to 2.5 cubic feet. This is an ideal size and works out to two cubic feet.

The more rats you have, the bigger the size of the cage increases by another 2 cubic feet. The size of the cage should be increased any time you bring in a new rat to help minimize the threat of fighting and to give your rats enough space for exercising, playing, sleeping and eating.

Cage Height

Naturally, you would want the height of the cage to be tall enough for your rat to be able to stand up to her full size without touching the cage top. However, get something taller than this. This would mean there would be enough room for your rat to be able to climb around.  In conclusion, ensure the cage isn't lower than 20 inches or is 1.6 feet in height

Do you need a cage with different levels?

Buying a cage with different levels will depend on your rat. There are different levels of cages depending on the number of rats you are keeping.

• One Level Cage

Cages that have a single level work best when you are keeping a litter of baby rats or if you keep a disabled or older rat that will have some difficulty accessing higher levels.

• Two Levels Cage

A two-level cage could be used to house one or two rats. For this, you can use a variety of items such as tubes, climbing ropes, or ramps to help your rats to get around.

• Three or More Levels Cage

This is the largest and recommended when you have three or more rats. Like the two-level cage, you can provide a combination of toys, hammocks, ladders to keep your rats entertained.

Access to Cleaning

Another thing to consider before you purchase any cage is how easy it is to access for cleaning. You should ensure the cage has a front door that is large enough to fit both of your hands while holding a rat. There should also be doors on each level if you have a multi-level cage.

Be prepared to clean out the cage at least once a week (even though it is preferable you clean it twice a week)

Finally, ensure you get a cage that can be lifted off of the base for easy access.

Cage Material

Some common cage materials being sold include plastic, galvanized wire, wood, and powdered wire or metal. Avoid anything that your rat can chew holes in, particularly plastic and wood. Also, stay away from wire cages that are not coated as you’ll be dealing with rust and corrosion.

You can consider galvanized or enamelled metal cages, but they won’t be as easy to clean.

Where can I buy cages for my pet rat?

At Scarlett Rat Essentials we have cages that suit your needs. Click here to check them out