Getting a Rat Cage
August 4th, 2010
When you decide to bring a pet rat home to join your family you will need to cover the basics to make sure he or she is taken care of. One of the first things to get for your rat is a cage. Rat’s should be let out of their cage to play on a daily basis but can make a mess quickly if they aren’t supervised. For this reason, a pet rat cage is a necessity.
Rat’s teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. They chew on things to keep these teeth from getting too long. Because of this, it is not a good idea to use a plastic cage for your pet rat. He will gnaw right through it. You will need at least two square feet of surface area for each rat you own. If you have room for more cage space then pamper your little friend and get a bigger cage.
Aquariums can be used for a home for your rat. The advantage of an aquarium is that there won’t be any litter or droppings kicked out and making a mess on your floor. The disadvantage of aquariums is there is very little ventilation in them. This will require more frequent cleaning to keep the odor in check and they hold in heat. This can be dangerous for your rat if you live in a warm environment.
Wire mesh cages are the most popular choice and for good reason. They are cheaper than aquariums to get the same amount of space. They can’t be chewed through and they offer optimum ventilation. You will probably want to do a quick, daily sweep or vacuum around the cage to clean up any litter that escaped the cage but cleaning the cage itself is very simple if you find a rat cage with a slide out pan. These rat homes are also great for hanging toys and hammocks. If you do go with a wire cage, it is best practice to get one that has a solid floor on it. A wire mesh floor can be hard for your pet to walk around on and can cause injury during play.
Posted in Pets Info