Caging

The generally accepted minimum size for rat cages is 2 cubic feet per rat for two or more rats, which gives results that generally coincide with the number of rats which the experienced keeper is happy to house in a cage. The minimum cage footprint should be 30 inches by 18 inches. The simplest way to check the cage size is using an online calculator, such as the Ratty Corner calculator.

It's best to research well before buying a cage, as they are expensive items and there are a wide range to choose from. Useful sources of information are cage reviews and web forums. The things to look out for are good access, ease of cleaning, small bar spacing for young rats, versatility in placement of cage furniture, and corrosion resistance.

Some otherwise lovely cages have abysmal access to your rat. This isn't so much of a problem if your rat is friendly and eager to come out, but if it is nervous you will have difficulty getting it out of the cage; if it is ill you may have to partially disassemble the cage. One solution is to make a bigger door yourself.

This will become very important to you as time goes on. If your cage needs to be taken apart every time you clean it, or has corners which trap dirt, you will soon come to regret the purchase. If a lot of the fittings are made of uncoated wood, the cage will begin to smell fairly soon.

Bar spacing needs to be considered with not only your present rats in mind, but also future youngsters. Spacing of 1 to 1.5cm is fine for young rats by the age they leave their breeder, but ferret cages with spacing of 2 to 2.5cm may present problems with young rats and small does.

It's good to rearrange your rats' cage every so often, but if the shelter will only fit in one particular corner, and the hammock will only fix in a certain place, it becomes very limiting. Some cages make it difficult to hang hammocks from the corner, as they have a thick corner rod.

Chromed cages often fall down on this as rat urine is extremely corrosive, and the chromed surface will soon discolour and start to hold unpleasant odours. Cages can be painted with child safe metal paint, but this can have problems with chipping and being chewed off in places.

If you want to have your pets at your wedding or other formal function, bird cages are often much more decorative, with elegant flourishes in the metal construction and tall vertical space that makes them seem more elegant than the more functional cages suited for regular use. Bird cages are also available in bright colors or white, which allows you to choose something that matches the event.

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2009-12-16 09:33:17   To avoid corrosion of the cage, if you use old placemats it also prevents bumblefoot. —Tams