Architectural Designs

What sort of cage can I keep my rat in?

A rabbit hutch? Fish tank? Massive ferret cage? I can't afford expensive cages so i've found two bird cages.. What do you think? http://www.cheapaschips.com.au/showproduct.asp?sk=BA7725 and http://www.cheapaschips.com.au/showproduct.asp?sk=BA049 The first one is small. I was planning on housing just one but thanks to Tessa i'm thinking about housing 2. My younger brother wants one anyway. Of a day they'll be pretty much free to roam. If I were to build a cage, how would I do it? Any sites with instructions etc? I may be able to ask for my rabbit hutch back but it's to big to be kept inside. But i'm worried that if it stays outside, an animal might get it.

Public Comments

1. I'm really glad to hear that you will be getting 2 rats, I know they will both be much happier!! You should not use bird cages for rats, and rabbit hutches are not tall enough. Here is a link that will get you started on building ideas, you can buy materials from Lowes or Home Depot pretty cheaply. Have fun and be creative! http://ratfanclub.org/cagepln3.html http://ratfanclub.org/cagepln.html http://ratfanclub.org/cagepln2.html
2. ehter cage should be just fine. if you plan on housing two you may want to get both for incase they either dontget along or need more space, rats do get to be about the size of a full grown rabbit or sometimes bigger, but to begin with they are rather small to make sure that ther is no way for them to squeeze thru the bars as mice and rats can become almot flat, these bars look close enough together that you should have no probllem :) i hope you enjoy you pet rats and have many happy memories with th.
3. well i think ratz are disusting but thx for the easy answer go waste your point somewhere else like in the food section they kill you or in the politics well any wayz anser my qustionz?
4. don't keep it in a rabbit hutch. that's what i have my dumbo rat in now and she escaped but i got her back. She did get far. i would recommend keeping it in a tank or just buy a Hamster/rat cage. they are only 10-20 dollars.
5. Rabbit hutch-if you cover it in mesh. fish tanks are big no-nos as rats will get URIs from the ammonia build-up. ferret cages are great if you cover them in mesh. None of those cages are big enough for two rats. The second one can hold one rat. Rats shouldnt be kept outside because they will be easy targets for predators and aren't good with extreme cold or heat, and could get diseases from wild animals. You can use a large bird cage as long as you make shelves.
6. If you can not afford a decent sized cage, then you probably really can't afford a rat. Vet care for rats is expensive and they are prone to respiratory illness, tumors, abscesses and that is run of the mill stuff and "pet store" advice is not a substitute for veterinary care. You can check www.martinscages.com and www.qualitycage.com. Martins are cheaper to ship, Quality Cages are made better, but most of their stuff ships fully assembled. If a ferret cage is cheaper but the bar spacing is too big, you can use wire mesh, hardware cloth, et cetera, and zip ties to cover the entire cage. It does make the cage rather heavy and cumbersome looking. Sometimes it's just better to buy a really good rat cage. Bird cages with plastic bases do not make good cages for rodents unless you are lucky enough to not have a rodent that chews. And if they do chew it, you then have to buy another cage. How much does that cage then cost you? At the bare minimum, check out the cage calculator for appropriate sizes for your rats. http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml I've made a decent cage out of an under bed storage container and two rolls of 2 feet x 5 feet vinyl covered 1/2" x 1/2" wire, I had spring hooks (you can order these from the aforementioned sites and it worked fine. And pet rats should NEVER be kept outside, unlike their wild counterparts, because you've caged them, they can't travel to where they need to be to take cover in harsh weather (too hot or too cold). If you are getting your rats from the same litter or ones that already reside together, you do not need 2 cages, rats should always be kept in same sex groups or in groups where at least one of the genders is altered (spayed or neutered). I strongly suggest reading a book about pet rats before getting any to make sure you can commit to the care they require. The site someone else pointed out www.ratfanclub.org has books listed on there. The book with "practical advice" is a good read and the health care guide is a MUST have. Visit http://www.dapper.com.au/ to order the health care guide. Additionally, I recommend joining a rat forum to meet up with more experienced rat owners rather than risk waiting to get answers here. Two such groups are: ratfanclub@yahoogroups.com and ratlist@yahoogroups.com. Good luck.