🐀 How to Set Up the Best Rat Cage
Rats are smart, athletic climbers, so height and levels matter as much as floor space. A tall multi-level wire cage with horizontal bars and 1/2-inch or smaller spacing is ideal. Skip aquariums — they trap stale, ammonia-heavy air that harms rats sensitive lungs.
Fill the space with things to do. Hammocks, ropes, ladders, hides, and a large solid wheel turn a cage into a playground. Line solid shelves over any wire floors, since wire hurts their feet, and use unscented paper bedding.
Never keep a single rat. Rats are deeply social and should live in same-sex pairs or groups, plus daily out-of-cage time with you. They are one of the friendliest small pets around — see best pets for kids and best pets for apartments.
🛒 Recommended supplies
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🧽 Cleaning & maintenance
Spot-clean every day by scooping out soiled bedding, droppings, and leftover fresh food, and rinse the water bottle or bowl. Once a week do a bigger clean: change most or all of the bedding, wipe down the rat cage or tank, and scrub the hideouts, dishes, and wheel. Use warm soapy water or a pet-safe small-animal cage cleaner and dry everything before adding fresh bedding — harsh household cleaners and strong scents irritate small lungs. Litter-trained pets make this quick if you scoop the litter box each day.
Cleaning supplies for this habitat. Affiliate links — we may earn a commission. The $/$$/$$$ badges are a rough budget guide, not live prices.