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Cages
There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a cage or enclosure for your rats. Rats get much bigger than a hamster and thus hamster cages are definitely not suitable for rats. Likewise rabbit and guinea pig cages aren't recommended seeing as they are only one level and often have wide bar spacing. It is possible to outfit or convert a large rabbit or guinea pig cage to something more suitable with enough effort, however it's much easier to just get a cage that is suitable for rats to begin with.
A common mistake is keeping rats in aquariums. The bare minimum size for a pair of rats would be a twenty gallon aquarium/tank. However, aquariums are not suitable enclosures for rats because they have poor ventilation (rats have enough respiratory problems!) even with a proper screen top and have no climbing room since they are only one level. The most common use of tanks in rat keeping would be a ten or twenty gallon tank used for a mother birthing and raising young. The only other somewhat "acceptable" way to use an aquarium is to use a cage topper with it. A cage topper is a cage part that fits on top of an aquarium, giving more ventilation and climbing room to the rats. While it's "acceptable" it's still not ideal and your best bet would be to get a proper rat cage instead of a tank.
When purchasing a cage you want to make sure that it has more than one level to it as rats are avid climbers and love to climb from level to level. Also always make sure that the bar spacing isn't too wide apart (such as in some ferret cages) as rats are masters at squeezing out. Many rats bulk up enough upon reaching adulthood to be kept in some of the cages with the wider bar spacing but some rats are just sleek by nature and of course babies and youngsters are just too small. Many people will solve the problem of wide bar spacing by covering the cage in hardware cloth so that the rats cannot get out (coated hardware cloth would probably be better than galvanized).
Make sure that the very bottom of the cage is not wire. The upper levels may be wire (assuming you provide things on each level for them to get off of it, such as hammocks and tubes) but your rats should have a nice solid bottom floor so that they are not always on wire. Many people will cover the wire floors and levels so it's more comfortable for the rats (wire probably isn't the most comfortable thing to be walking on!). Cages with solid flooring and levels are another option, though these need to be kept especially clean (the levels should be wiped down daily) so the rats aren't walking in their waste. I recommend making sure the cage is powder coated rather than galvanized, as powder coating better protects against rust, doesn't trap odors, and is easier to clean. (Some say bare galvanized wire can also cause zinc poisoning if chewed on).
A proper rat cage should provide a bare minimum of two cubic feet per rat. One should keep in mind that shelves and levels must be added into the equation as well. A lot of the rat cage calculators available for use do not calculate in shelves or levels and only look at the height, width, and depth of a cage.
Pet Store Rat Cages:
The most obvious place to get a rat cage would be a local pet store. Pet stores can stock many kinds of cages, some suitable and some downright horrible. A lot of the cages in pet stores marketed for an animal are too small. Here are some examples of suitable cages for rats that can be found in pet stores.
Deluxe My First Home Cage for Exotics:
Put out by: Super Pet
Size: 30"L x 18" W x 30"H
Layout: Includes 3 comfort shelves, 3 safety ramps, a cozy hammock, an 11" exercise wheel, and a pet name plate.
Rats held comfortably: 4 rats
Found at: This cage can be found at PetSmart.
Prevue Hendryx 4 Story Ferret Cage:
Though this is a ferret cage, the bar spacing (3/4") makes it pretty well suited to rats as well. The cage's bottom floor is grated however the grate is removable so that there is a nice solid bottom floor.
Put out by: Prevue Hendryx
Size: 24"L x 17 1/2"W x 36"H
Layout: Includes 3 platforms, 3 ladders, 2 LARGE front-opening doors, and a removable base and grille floor.
Rats held comfortably: 4 rats
Found at: I am not sure though I know there is also a five story version of this cage which according to a rat cage calculator can fit about 5 rats.
Super Pet Deluxe Critter Home:
If you look closely you can see the little rattie head poking out of the tissue box in the bottom of the picture!
Put out by: Super Pet
Size: 24.5"L x 12.5"W x 24.5"H
Layout: Includes two solid comfort shelves, two solid safety ramps, a solid surface workout wheel, and a feeding dish.
Rats held comfortably: 2 rats
Found at: This cage can be found at PetSmart.
Note: Information on the above cages was found online and a rat cage calculator was used to estimate the number of rats they could comfortably hold.
Martin's Cages:
A Guide To Choosing A Martin's Cage:
Martin's Cages Inc. is pretty well known for their cages. I've heard them recommended for ferret cages, and sugar glider cages, as well as rat cages. But obviously we will be talking about their rat cages! Martin's rat cages are often recommended because of how roomy and well built they are. This is not to say there aren't any cons to these cages.
One popular complaint is a difficulty in cleaning. Between being large and wire, cleaning these cages is not always an easy task. Another occasional complaint is assembly. Martin's Cages do not come pre-assembled. You are given all the parts along with C rings (quick clips) and ring closing pliers. Though it might take a bit of time (and some muscle) to get it all together, in all honesty most people do not have much trouble with this part. Some people will use zip ties in the place of C rings which makes the cage far easier to disassemble if necessary. They are fairly easy to replace if chewed on. Though the instructions tend to be vague, it is not that difficult to simply print a picture of the cage and go off of that.
One more complaint that some people have is the wire floors. Some people believe this causes bumblefoot to occur in rats. Honestly it has not been proven that this is true, in fact even rats on solid floors are known to get bumblefoot. Not only this but it is not difficult to provide areas in the cage where they can get off the wire, and also the bottom floor (the drop in pan) is not wire, thus they have the option of hanging out on the bottom floor if the wire gets bothersome. You can even cut linoleum or something similar to fit over the wire floors and just wipe it down a few times daily. Hopefully this has helped you make your choice on whether you wish to purchase a Martin's Cage. If you have decided you would like one, here is my writeup about each of the cages, but first... a tip:
Tip: When buying a Martin's Cage you'll want to choose the powder coated option. More expensive? Yes. But worth it. A powder coated cage is better protected from rusting and is less likely to absorb odors. A galvanized cage is more likely to rust and smell quickly. Also galvanized cages might be capable of causing zinc poisoning if chewed on enough. It is recommended to clean (neutralize) any new galvanized cage with a 50% vinegar/50% water solution.
The Cages
The Rat Den (H-600)
Size: 18" x 11" x 12"
Layout: One ramp & balcony
Pan: Drop in 2 1/2" plastic pan
Additional options: A flip-top lid can be added for an extra $10.00
Galvanized price: $29.00
Powder coated price: $35.00
Rats held comfortably: 0 rats
The Rat Cubbyhole (R-660)
Size: 24" x 14" x 16"
Layout: One ramp & balcony
Pan: Drop in 3" plastic pan
Additional options: A flip-top lid can be added for an extra $10.00
Galvanized price: $40.00
Powder coated price: $50.00
Rats held comfortably: 0 rats
The Rat Carriage House (R-640)
Size: 18" x 11" x 16"
Layout: Two ramps, two balconies
Pan: Drop in 2 1/2" plastic pan
Additional options: A flip-top lid can be added for an extra $10.00
Galvanized price: $35.00
Powder coated price: $43.00
Rats held comfortably: 0 rats
The Rat Cabin (R-670)
Size: 24" x 14" x 24"
Layout: Two ramps, two balconies
Pan: Drop in 3" plastic pan
Additional options: A flip-top lid can be added for an extra $10.00
Galvanized price: $52.00
Powder coated price: $64.00
Rats held comfortably: 2 rats
The Rat Lodge (R-680)
Size: 30" x 18" x 24"
Layout: Two ramps, two balconies
Pan: Drop in 3 1/2" plastic pan
Additional options: A flip-top lid can be added for an extra $10.00
Galvanized price: $69.00
Powder coated price: $86.00
Rats held comfortably: 3 rats
The Rat Retreat (R-685)
Size: 30" x 18" x 24"
Layout: Two levels (including bottom), two ramps, a small landing
Pan: Drop in 3" plastic pan
Additional features: A flip-top lid is automatically included
Galvanized price: $86.00
Powder coated price: $104.00
Rats held comfortably: 4 rats
The Rat Highrise (H-600HR)
Size: 18" x 11" x 24"
Layout: Two levels (including bottom), three ramps, two balconies
Pan: Drop in 2 1/2" plastic pan
Additional options: A flip-top lid can be added for an extra $10.00
Galvanized price: $46.00
Powder coated price: $58.00
Rats held comfortably: 0 rats (makes a good mouse cage though!)
The Rat Tower (R-690)
Size: 24" x 14" x 36"
Layout: Two levels (including bottom), three ramps, two balconies
Pan: Drop in 2 1/2" plastic pan
Additional options: A flip-top lid can be added for an extra $10.00
Galvanized price: $71.00
Powder coated price: $88.00
Rats held comfortably: 5 rats
Possible problems: This cage has steep ramps, which may not be good for older rats. However, there is a way
to modify them.
The Rat Skyscraper (R-695)
Size: 30" x 18" x 36"
Layout: Two levels (including bottom), three ramps, two balconies
Pan: Drop in 3 1/2" plastic pan
Additional options: A flip-top lid can be added for an extra $10.00
Galvanized price: $92.00
Powder coated price: $114.00
Rats held comfortably: 6 rats
Note: Picture depicted is of an older version of the cage. In the newer version the ramps are all located
at the back of the cage, leaving room for much larger doors.
The Ruud Cage (R-699)
Size: 30" x 18" x 60"
Layout: Three levels (including bottom), six ramps, four balconies
Pan: Drop in 3 1/2" plastic pan
Galvanized price: $167.00
Powder coated price: $195.00
Rats held comfortably: 10 rats
The Rat Playpen (RPP-24 or RPP-44)
Small size: 44" x 24" x 24"M
Small price: $52.00
Additional features: A flip-top lid, collapsible
Large size: 44" x 44" x 24"Large price: $64.00
Additional features: A flip-top lid, collapsible
Note: Please note that this is a playpen not a cage, though I'm sure with enough effort it can be made into one.
Tools used: Please note that I used a cage calculator to estimate how many rats could be kept comfortably in the cages. The numbers the calculator gives out tend to be a bit on the low side (probably isn't factoring in the levels and balconies) so I may have bumped the number of rats held comfortably up a rat in some (and down to 0 in some that equalled out to 1 but weren't really suitable even for a single rat). The cage calculator I used can be found here.
Conclusion:
All in all there are quite a few caging options available to a rat owner. You can purchase suitable cages from pet stores, buy good cages online, or even build your own cage. Please visit the Martin's Cages website for more pictures of their cages and to order the cage you desire. Also please note that the pictures on the website aren't terribly good depictions of the cages. Not only are they galvanized in most of the pictures (they're silver, powder coated ones are black) but it's very difficult to visualize the actual size of the cages.
- Martin's Cages (Choose powder coated!)
- Ferret Nation
- Info on the Ferret Nation as a rat cage
- Rat housing options
- Top 10 Rat Cages
- Fancy Rats rat cage calculator (How many rats can fit in a cage comfortably.)
- KMW's rat cage calculator
- Rats R Us rat cage calculator
- Ratty Corner rat cage calculator
- The Grotto (Cage example.)
- Build your own Grotto-style cage
- How to build your own rat cage
- Building rattie cages
- Info on and examples of cages
- The Great Cage Page
- Cage Cleaning
- How Clean is Clean
* I clean my Martin's Rat Skyscraper cage (containing four rats) once a week. I change the bedding and scrub the cage and all of the accessories in the bathtub with hot water and a children's foaming hand soap and rinse thoroughly.