Need help! which is the best rat cage?

Question

Help! I'm getting two baby rats but I don't know what kind of cage to put them in. My parents are making my keep them outside so I don't want to have them in a bird cage because that exposes them to the weather to much. Should I get one that has all wooden sides except for a wire front? Anyone with any suggestions please come forward!!!

Answer 1

A plastic one with air holes on the top and a lid

Answer 2

If I were you, (just to not be mean to the rats), get a dog or something... because getting rats and keeping them outside is cruel... If you are going to get them I would suggest begging your mother to let you keep them in your room...

Also rats can breed at 5-6 weeks old... So even if they are brother and sister they will mate so make sure you are getting 2 of the same s*x (male or female not one of each)...

oh and AGAIN, do not get rats if you have to keep them outside... rats need a stable environment and the rainy cold at night weather is no place for a "pet rat" to be... sure millions of rats do it but domesticated rats are not used to such things...

So please do us and the rats a favor, either:

A. Get the rats, convince your mom to let you keep them indoors, in which case a nice large ferret cage would work... about 2 cubic feet per rat if what they like.

or

B. Get a dog or cat that doesnt mind the outside and let the baby rats go to a home that can take care of them properly.

Answer 3

I like chinchilla cages for rats. They are big and airy and often have more than one level. You just need to make sure they cannot escape. If you HAVE to keep them outdoors, look into Rabbit hutches that can be combined with a chinchilla cage. You may have to do some modifications tho. The rabbit hutch will give them protection from the elements but they should still be able to walk out into a normal cage area that gives them access to lots of fresh air. By the way, pet rats will probably not do well outside. They are just not bred that way.

Answer 4

You do know they'll most likely DIE outside, right? So the cage is neither here nor there.

Answer 5

Firstly, the rats wont die if you have them in the right enclosure so dont worry.

dont buy plastic or glass cages, it makes them smell!

I suggest a DIY job. you can make yourself a simple but nice double story rat cage out of wood and chicken wire and it wont cost much. have the main part completely enclosed with only a small hole for the rats to get out of and make the roof hinged so cleaning will be easier. Where the hole is, lead it out to a courtyard type place , completely enclosed with chicken wire and a wooden base. make sure the inside is filled with lotsa toilet paper and uncoloured newspaper!

This way, your rats will stay happy and healthy and will be able to be inside or outside as they please!

hope this helps

Answer 6

Okay first of all - you really cannot keep rats outside. They are very susceptible to colds and pneumonia and are likely to get sick if kept out doors as rats are NOT like wild rats, they are domesticated and as such cannot cope with the unstable outside environment - they will most likely die. Rats are also very social and need to be talked to throughout the day, whereas they are likely to get ignored outside. Their small size means that they are at risk of being terrorized by cats and other predators and also rats have very sensitive hearing - fireworks and thunderstorms will terrify them. Please don't keep your rats outside - if your parents insist on an outside animal, then I would urge you to consider a pet more suited to an outdoor life such as a ferret or rabbits.

A hutch like you've described is unsuitable for rats - rats are constant chewers and their teeth are so strong that they can chew through metal. Your rats would quickly eat their way out of a wooden hutch. Also, rat urine is likely to soak into the wood and become uncleanable which will make them smelly and the acid will eventually burn their stomachs.

Please do not keep your rats in an outside cage or hutch - explain to your parents that rats are not suited to live outdoors and that when kept in the right sized cage, cleaned fully once a week and with little spot cleanings every day, rats don't smell one bit - and it's true! Particularly if you get female rats, as they don't tend to mark as much as males.

If you decide to keep your rats inside, you need a wire cage of at least 4 cubic feet - anything else and it's too small for a pair of rats. Wire cages with plastic bases are best and the easiest to keep clean but you can also use mesh chinchilla cages, provided you cover the mesh floors with wipable lino to protect your rats feet. You cannot keep rats in an aquarium, tank or gerbilarium because the bad ventilation causes high levels of ammonia that will irritate your rat, make them ill and make them constantly smell. An ideal cage for 2 rats is the Savic Freddy 2 - http://www.petcentreonline.co.uk/ecommer... it may look huge when the babies first go in it, but rats grow quickly so it is usually pointless and expensive to buy them a *baby cage* only to upgrade in the next few months.

Please do not keep rats outside - if your parents insist, then choose another pet.

Hope this helps.