How To Set Up A Rat Cage
Rat cages are a blast to set up! There are so many things to think about that can both cover your rats’ basic needs and add enrichment to their days. We love to change things up from time to time so they have something new to explore.
Throughout this page will recommend DIY items as well as store-bought options. Many of the items are inexpensive, though we understand things can add up quickly. We love making things ourselves from things we have around the house. Without further delay, here is what we think every rat owner should know about setting up their rats’ enclosure!
Still deciding which cage to get? Check out our article: Rat Enclosure Basics: Choosing An Enclosure
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Cage Essentials: Food and Water
Of course, food and water should be first on your list. We use Mazuri rat block, but Oxbow is another popular quality brand more readily available in pet stores. While not all of our water bottles are glass, we do prefer them. It’s just a good idea to make anything up against the cage chew-proof!
This is one that has held up well over the years and has an adorable little duck inside to show the water level. It comes in various sizes, but I believe when it comes to water, bigger is better because you don’t want to run out!
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Litter Training Essentials
Rats do very well with litter training. These are the litter trays we have the clip to the bars of the cage and work very well. The idea is to keep the litter box dirty and the rest of the cage clean and the rats will catch on quickly where they are supposed to do their business.
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What Substrate Is Safe For My Rats?
The next thing every rat enclosure needs is substrate. Digging and nesting are natural rat behaviors so it’s important they have the right materials to do so safely. This can fill the bottom layer of your cage (if it has sides tall enough to hold it in!) or in a large bin.
There are a few ways to add proper substrate to your critter nation. The first is to use a large concrete mixing tub (can be purchased at Lowes or Home Depot) in the bottom on the cage. This may need trimmed a bit on the sides, but should have a snug fit and offer a deep base for substrate. We like to add Sterilite storage containers on the shelves instead of the shelves the CN comes with because they sit nicely on the metal frames and hold substrate in making it easier to keep things clean. The 28 quart tubs fit nicely with the frames for this purpose. We purchase ours at Walmart.
Safe Substrates:
Recycled paper bedding— common in pet stores and nice and fluffy for nesting
Kiln-dried pine– must specifically state kiln-dried! If it doesn’t say it, it’s not kiln-dried.
Hemp– this is gaining in popularity. It’s very absorbent!
Aspen– Watch for too much dust in this one. The material itself is safe, but too much dust can cause respiratory problems.
Shredded paper-We use this more for nesting than a full substrate. It’s not very good at odor control but is generally low-cost and the rats enjoy having it.
Unsafe Substrates:
White pine (unless kiln-dried)- Regular white pine has oils in it that give off phenols that are highly toxic to rats. The process of kiln-drying eliminates these phenols and studies show the product is then safe. If using any type of pine be very careful to check that it says kiln-dried. If it doesn’t say it, do not use it!
Cedar– This is another soft wood that gives off toxic phenols.
Cat litter (especially the clumping kind)- If ingested, the clumping can be very dangerous!
Corn cob bedding– This can have molding issues.
Rats love to nest (even males!). Suitable nesting materials to add to their enclosures are hay, shredded paper/cardboard, tissues, and shredded paper towels/toilet paper. Avoid cotton wool or anything that gets too stringy as rats can get tangled in them.
A little Extra: Nesting Materials
- Tissue Paper
- Toilet Paper
- Tissues
- Paper Towels
- Shredded Paper
- Hay
- Fabric strips
AVOID: Cotton, Wool, or anything that gets too stringy as rats can get tangled in them
Expect that your rats will shred whatever materials you give them. They will also likely pull it around the cage and pull it into any nook or corner they can fit in. These are all natural behaviors!
Cover Those Surfaces: Fleece Liners
Fleece liners for the shelves, ramps, or any flat surfaces that are not covered by bins or substrate can be a big help in keeping things clean. Any dribbles of urine are quickly absorbed by the fleece. It also looks super cute and allows you to personalize the cage! Pick your favorite color or pattern and go crazy. Don’t be surprised if the rats nibble on any corners or even find a way to sneak underneath. They love to snuggle into tight spaces!
Pillowcases work great. Shelves can be slipped into pillowcases and set them in place. Blankets can be used to line any bottom pans that aren’t already covered. Be sure everything fits snuggly or is clipped in place otherwise, they will chew and burrow underneath! We use these binder clips to secure everything and they have held up well. We also use them to clip our bins to the walls of the cage so they don’t slide around.
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These are great inexpensive blankets to use for liners. The 28×41 size gives a few extra inches all the way around for tucking underneath and securing.
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Hammocks
Hammocks are a very popular choice by rat owners and rats alike. There is not a time where I walk up to our rats enclosure and don’t see rats snuggled up in a hammock. Below is one of our rats enjoying the top part of the cloth diaper. It’s not uncommon to fine them on top of inside the diaper part.
Hammocks can be homemade or store-bought. We have used clothes my kids have outgrown or worn out, old blankets, cloth diapers, etc. Our rat’s current favorite hammocks are ones I made from old flannel pajama pants. We add clips to the corners and hang ’em up! Sometimes the rats even make their own by burrowing into the bottom of pillowcases I use to cover shelves. They are always so happy with themselves, I can’t even be mad.
If you’re looking to buy new, we really like these. They come in lots of different colors and patterns, are super soft, and hold up well. Be sure to buy extra as they will need to be rotated and washed to keep things smelling nicely.
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Tunnels
Tunnels are a great way to add interest to your cage. These can be temporary and made of toilet paper rolls, pringles can, or oat cartons. Large PCV pipes can be used and wiped clean or they can be made of fabric and washed when soiled. We have used my kids’ old leggings or shirt sleeves to cut up and make tunnels. There are some great fabric tunnels on the market!
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Ropes
Most ropes are marketed as being for birds, but they offer great exercise and stimulation for rats! They can of course be purchased and cut as individual ropes, but there are some great ones if you’re looking to purchase.
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Another style that clips to the walls of the cage and will be well-loved by your rats!
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Baskets
Baskets offer a great place for multiple rats to snuggle together. We line the bottom of ours with either a blanket or a cloth diaper insert to keep things easy to clean. When they get stinky we just put them in the wash and replace with a fresh one.
I’m not sure exactly where we got our baskets, but these look very similar in style. I look for handles or holes big enough to put clips or straps through to secure it to the wires of the cage.
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CLICK HERE to view on Amazon
Hides
The first place I like to look for hides is our recycle bin. Empty tissue boxes, oat containers, small boxes all work wonderful for temporary rat hides. We like to give a small blanket or cloth diaper insert to soak up any urine that may be dribbled while they nap in their new little home. Over time they will get soiled and chewed, but since they were destined for the trash anyway, we just replace them. Here are three of our sweet babies snuggled up in an old tissue box! The green igloo is one we purchased and it definitely a favorite. You can see how many babies are crammed inside it to snuggle! They come in multiple sizes and are easy to clean.
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Chews
I know, I know, this list is getting long. The last thing I believe is essential to place in your rats’ cage is something to chew. Let’s face it, they are going to chew on something whether you give them something or not, but if you provide good chewing enrichment, they are more likely to chew what you want them to! lava ledges or lava rocks are always well-received by my rats. Apple sticks are always a hit as well!
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Here are some of our rats enjoying a nibble on the lava chews listed above. I like to tie some cut-up t-shirt to them and hang them from the bars for the rats to pull around and play with. They last some time but do get nibbled down over time. Our rats love them!
Phew! That’s a lot!
Remember, you don’t have to buy everything you put in the cage! There are lots of things you can find around the house that can be used to enrich your rats’ lives. One of our kids’ favorite activities is making new toys or enrichment items for the rats. They get rather creative and the items are always a hit!
See something we missed? Share your rats’ favorite items in the comments!
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