Best Cages for your Rat
For people looking for a cool pet, a pair of fancy rats may fit the bill perfectly. When raised properly, they can grow up to be friendly and develop great personalities. In most cases, they have a life expectancy of 2-3 years, but depending on the environment you create, they may end up living much longer than this. That's exactly when you have to consider what to feed your rats and where to keep them. Finding the best rat cage may require some time and effort, but you can do it with some knowledge. The following options may help you make a good choice when buying one of the best rat cages:
The Best Rat Cage: Our Top Picks
Midwest 162 Critter Nation Double Unit with Stand
BEST for portability
Rated by: Amber
Prevue Hendryx Feisty Ferret Cage
BEST OVERALL
Rated by: Amber
Midwest 161 Critter Nation with Stand
Best bristly brush
Rated by: Amber
1. Midwest 162 Critter Nation Double Unit with Stand
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
If you're looking for one of the best rat cages, you can always trust what the Midwest has to offer. You'll like the way they've calibrated it for smaller pets. Depending on the number of rats, you can opt for multi-storied cage as well.
The width of the cage is 24 inches, whereas the length is around 36 inches, so it's spacious enough to keep your rat happy. You'll have enough space available to add a hammock, some decorations, and toys. You can change the height, but the hutch stands around 5.2 inches. The adjustable shelves also make it easier to change the setting to create more room. You'll also find non-skid ramps, which are strong and allow for easy climbing.
There's no need to worry about your pet escaping the cage because the space between the wire bars is narrow. So, overall, it's a high durable, chew-proof, and stain-resistant cage, but you may find it to be a bit on the expensive side.
PROS
CONS
2. Prevue Hendryx Feisty Ferret Cage
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
If you're looking for a cage that offers the best value for your money, don't look any further than this Prevue Hendryx cage. Mainly designed for ferrets, you'll love it as a rat cage for its amazing features. The best part is that it comes with a large compartment, so your rat will have ample space to move around and have enough physical satisfaction.
It's easy to add toys to this rat cage because it's quite large and comes with a nicely built hammock. In terms of durability, you won't find much to complain about because it uses a plastic tray to stand on and has sturdy plastic made ramps. There are also a couple of metal grillers, which, along with other parts, can be removed easily for cleaning.
It has two large doors, which are escape proof and the perfect bar spacing makes it even more secure for your beloved pet. The only issue is that the ground base is wired and you'll have to find something to cover it up.
PROS
CONS
3. Midwest 161 Critter Nation with Stand
Quick Summary
Rated by: Amber
If you're not primarily interested in a double unit, you may want to consider buying the Critter Nation from Midwest. The Critter Nation double door is something that makes is a great choice for most rat owners. Interestingly, there are 2 double doors and it's possible to open all four doors at the same time for easy cleaning and add accessories or supplies.
The Critter Nation Double door cage features shelves made from durable plastic, so you don't need to worry about hurting your pet's tiny feet. The shelves come equipped with bars ,which allow you to hang toys as well as a hammock. In terms of durability, there won’t be a complain either. The bar spacing seems just perfect too. But, because of its sturdy construction, it may feel a bit heavier to move around.
PROS
CONS
FAQ - A Buyer's Guide
What is a Good Size Cage for 2 Rats?
Finding the best rat cage often comes down to how many rats you're going to keep in it. Obviously, you should provide rats enough space to move around, and that's why you need a bigger cage anyway if you want to accommodate more than one rate.
In most cases, you can keep your fancy rats happy by going for a cage with specifications no smaller than 72cm x 36cm x 44cm. Remember, it's the minimum requirement, as your fancy rats are going to feel happier in a cage larger than these specifications. It's also important to bear in mind that you'll have to provide your rats with enough opportunities to keep them entertained, and that's when you need space to introduce toys. You also need space for different accessories that would help provide your rats with a chance to climb and exercise.
In order to find the right cage size for your pets, you may want to use online help and try a cage calculator if you like. You may find a cage and put its dimensions into a calculator to see if it's enough to accommodate the number of rats you're going to adopt. Again, keep in mind that even a calculator will offer info about the minimum suitable size for your rats, so you can always go with a bigger one, if you can afford it.
While a larger cage is usually the better choice, you need to consider the space between the bars. If it's more than 17mm, you may notice your rats try to escape and get stuck in the process. If the bars are too far apart, you're likely to lose your rats. Therefore, you should consider these points when selecting a right sized cage for more than one rat.
How Big Should a Rat Cage Be?
Again, depending on the number of rats you're going to have, you may find it easier to choose a cage. Remember, the larger the cage, the happier the rats will be. Ideally, you should not go with anything smaller than 2 cubic feet for a single rat.
Similarly, you need to pay special attention to wire spacing in relation to the size of your rats. For adult and smaller babies, the wire spacing should never exceed 1-inch by 2-inch. Another good idea is to stay away from wire-bottomed cages, as many cages now come with wire balconies or wire second floors. If you really want to go with one of these, you may want to utilize some solid material to ensure that it's easy on your rat's feet. Not taking these steps would increase the risk of hurting your rat and causing problems, like bumblefoot.
In terms of size, a large and long cage is just perfect for your fancy rats. However, you need to pay attention to several other points along with considering the size of a cage. For instance:
The best rats cage is easy to clean and highly accessible. You need to check the doors of a cage before buying. The wider the doors, the easier it will be to access your pets. You won’t have to squeeze yourself when interacting with your beloved rats. Similarly, it'll be a lot easier to clean your cage with large, full-width doors.
The best rat cages will be visible and offer good ventilation. In most cases, you should avoid plastic enclosures and stay away from fish tanks because they give rise to air contamination. Also, ammonia can build up easily in these enclosures and affect your pet's respirator system. Going for a glass cage with proper ventilation is a better alternative though.
The best cage for rats will be easy to assemble and offer a degree of portability. While a rat cage needs to be large, you should still consider finding a cage that's relatively easier to move. If you're buying a large cage for multiple rats, you may want to put your money on a cage that is easy to assemble. Carrying such a cage while traveling will become easy. If you don't want to go with such cages, ensure that the cage you buy comes with wheels. Again, a cage with wheels is easier to move around, even if it's a large cage.
The best rat cage will have a stylish yet practical design. It needs to offer the maximum comfort to your pet. Go for a cage with a hard flooring system, as it helps to hold paper better. You may be better off going with a cage with durable PVC – some with plastic covered metal may also work well. You can also find various nice options from top brands, such as the Midwest Ferret Nation, etc.
How Big of a Cage Do You Need for 3 Rats?
The larger the cage, the better it is for your fancy rats, and that rule applies even when you're going for 3 rats. Using a rat cage calculator will again help you get a better idea of how large a cage should be to accommodate 3 rats at a time. Nevertheless, you should not go with a cage that is smaller than 31 inches in length and 20 inches in width. The height of the cage for 3 rats should at least be 54 inches.
Now, there are many cages available to accommodate multiple rats, but you should avoid buying anything that is advertised for mice. The reason is that a cage suitable for mice is always going to be a bit small for your rats. Similarly, you may want to avoid wooden hutches as well as converted wooden cabinets mainly because wood is never a great material choice for rat cages. Remember, you're keeping rats in it, and rats love chewing, which means you'll soon have a hole in your wooden cage.
Moreover, wood can absorb rat wee, which makes it harder to clean and leaves you with a stinky cage. And of course, you need to avoid any enclosure with poor ventilation or you rats will develop respirator problems soon. Thankfully, many brands like the Kaytee My First Home and the Ferret Nation can help you find a better option.
Can You Keep Rats in Aquarium?
You may be thinking that you should keep your rats in a place that offers an unobstructed view of your beloved pets, and what could be better than a fish aquarium. Well, that's not the case actually, and you should avoid fish aquariums as much as you can.
If you really want to go with an aquarium, you need to ensure that it's long, wide, and shallow. It means you'll have to go for special aquariums usually designed for reptiles, such as snakes. These aquariums ensure proper airflow, but the problem is that they're usually on the smaller side and not perfect for your rats. You need ample floor space to keep your rats happy, especially if you're keeping multiple rats. The humidity in the aquarium will make things difficult and leave you with a foul, humid odor in no time. The rats won't like it either.
You can consider using reptile aquariums as a temporary housing though. It may work if you have a sick rat who needs to be isolated or you have a female rate who is birthing. Other than these situations, aquarium cages won't work, even if you try to use small wire add-ons to increase the space.
The Best Rat Cage to Buy
The best rate cage is spacious, offers proper airflow, and is safe for your rats to walk on, but you'll have to do your research to find the right solution for the number of rats you're going to keep. Many brands can help, like the Kaytee My First Home and the Critter Nation Double door, but if confused, you may want to try the Prevue Hendryx ferret cage for its amazing size, durability, and large doors. Give it a shot!
About the Author Steven
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