Rat Care Hints and Tips

Rat Cage Accessories - Making a Cage into a Home

Choosing rat cage accessories can be as important as picking the right rat cage. Rats are complex little creatures and they need a living space that can meet their varied needs. Offer them a choice of surroundings and give them somewhere to be alone if that is they want. Think of your rats cage as a house, it will help you create different rooms for your rat to live in.

Food bowls and water bottles - The kitchen

Food and water are the most important things you will need to provide for your rats. Water bottles designed for small animals are readily available in all sizes. If you have 3 or more rats it is worth getting two smaller water bottles rather than one large one. This will stop your rats squabbling if they want a drink at the same time, which does happen a lot.

Although there are lots of different food bowls available, always choose one that is either attached to the side of the cage or a heavy ceramic one. Rats will stand on their food bowls and if they are not sturdy or secured in some way they will tip them up.

Metal food bowls, which hang of the wire sides of the cage, are good for keeping the bowl up off the floor of the cage, but if your rat likes to dig through the contents of the food bowl the food may get thrown out of their cage.

Litter Trays - The lavatory

You may want to train your rats to use a litter tray. There are many on the market - in a whole range of sizes - that are designed to suit small animals. To litter train your rats you will need to only put your litter in this tray, otherwise rats will not know this is where they need to use the toilet.

Hammocks and igloos - Lots of bedrooms

Rats like different places to sleep, sometimes its a preference and sometimes they just want to be alone. If you provide them with a range of places to sleep and hang out, then you’ll be enriching their living environment.

Starting from the bottom of the cage I always like to give my rats a cosy dark place. This could be anything from a store bought rat igloo to a an old plastic ice cream container with holes cut in it for doors. Whatever you use, make sure it is big enough to house all of your rats, otherwise this could lead to squabbling and someone getting left out. Another thing my rats have taught me about enclosed bed boxes is they appreciate two exits. Not only does this make them happy, but it provides extra ventilation, which is always a good thing.

Up off the floor you can’t go wrong with a rat hammock, as long as you make sure it is large enough for all your rats to sleep in as they will try and squeeze themselves in and you don’t want anyone falling out and injuring themselves. Rat hammocks are easily bought, and are often described as ferret hammocks, or you may wish to make your own. Old towels, clothes or squares of fabric tied up with rope all work fine.

I would also recommend at least one more enclosed bed high up. This could be a fabric hanging bed, which again can be easily bought or made if you have access to a sewing machine.

Shelves and Tubes - Create some living space

Shelves can provide extra living space for your rats, as well as being used to break up long drops in high cages to help prevent a fall. They can be a great place for rats to sit and watch what is going on outside their cage. You can also train your rats to go to a particular shelf when it is time to come out, which can be useful if your cage has hard to reach areas.

Plastic rat tubes and tunnels also provide a great place to hang out, as well as somewhere to sleep. Several can be connected together to make longer tubes and combined with corner sections you can create a fun tunnel system for your rats to explore. Rats love running around in tunnels and wriggling past each other and if you take the time to change things around when you clean their cage out you can make their home an exciting place to be.

Furnishing tips

• Make sure any soft furnishings you buy are machine washable
• Give your rats plenty of choice where they sleep
• Check bedding everyday to make sure its clean and dry
• Provide some dust free nesting material so your rats can make themselves a little nest if they want