Rat Enclosure Basics: Choosing An Enclosure

Choosing a rat enclosure can seem overwhelming at first. We will go over some key features to look for and then make our recommendation for our favorite rat cage!

Ensure your rat enclosure has adequate space

Rats may be small animals, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need adequate space to thrive. They are very active and need to be able to climb and jump and move to stay healthy. The recommended amount is two cubic feet per rat, with an additional two cubic feet per additional rat. Rats are great climbers and jumpers so they love vertical space! Hammocks, tunnels, ropes, ladders, and hides are all great ways to make use of all the space and offer lots of interesting activities for them.

Keep Enclosures Chew Proof

Rats are amazing chewers so the cage must be sturdy and chew-proof. Wire cages are best as they cannot be chewed through! Just be sure the flooring isn’t wire as it can hurt their feet to always be walking on bars. This goes for shelving too. If the cage has wire shelves, I recommend covering them with felt to create a washable flat surface. Many cages are made of metal wiring with a solid metal drop pan for the flooring. These work really well!

A rat enclosure needs proper ventilation

Rats have sensitive respiratory systems. Insufficient ventilation can create a dangerous environment that can build up ammonia and trigger an infection. Wire cages are great for ventilation. Aquariums and plastic tupperwares are not. The glass or plastic siding prevents airflow and can quickly put your pet rats’ health at risk.

Cleanliness is key

Rat enclosure cleaning

One of the most important things to keep your rats healthy is keeping their enclosure clean. As mentioned above, rats have very sensitive respiratory systems. If you can smell them, it’s not clean enough!

One way to help cut down on constant scrubbing is to litter box train your rats. This keeps the mess in a contained area and makes cleaning more efficient.

Covering flooring surfaces with fleece can also allow you to pull the fleece up and wash it. The substrate needs to be completely cleaned out and replaced with fresh regularly. We spot clean every couple of days and do a full clean complete with disinfectant at least once a week. The only exception is when a mother rat has just given birth. We will clean around her nest to minimize stress and allow her more undisturbed time with her babies. We clean with F10 (a veterinary-grade disinfectant), but soap and water is also effective. When we only had one cage to clean we used soap and water and followed up with hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant. We’d allow it to air dry in the sun to ensure there wen’t any drips left. Whatever disinfectant you use, be sure to rinse it well!

Our Top Rat Enclosure Recommendation

If you’re looking to invest in a new cage, our top recommendation is the Critter Nation Cage. They can be a bit pricey, but can sometimes be found used for a lower price. A single critter nation can house up to 4-6 rats and a double critter nation can house up to 10-12! It’s also possible to purchase a single and buy an add on at a later date to create a double.

They are nice and roomy and offer large doors for easy cleaning access. The wire bars offer fantastic ventilation and they are quite versatile with the ability to move shelves around and separate the levels if necessary. It’s even possible to have an additional add-on, creating a triple critter nation! Lots of space for climbing, playing, and snoozing.

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Sometimes you can find great deals on used Critter Nations online. They are built of high-quality materials and hold up very well over time. We may at times have used cages for sale, so feel free to reach out and ask if we have any available.

Our Triple Critter Nation:

We are always adding and moving their enrichment items, but here is our triple critter nation, currently set up as a single and a double with a divider in between the two. Our rats love the space and it is so easy to clean and accessorize!

Single on bottom
Two add ons to make a double on top
All three levels together!

Have fun setting up your new rat enclosure!

Setting up a new cage can be lots of fun! Check out some of our ideas or get creative with some of your own! Feel free to share your photos or ideas in the comments. We are always looking for new ways to enrich our rats’ lives!