How to Set Up a Pet Rat Cage

By eHow Pets Editor

Instructions

Step 1:
Choose a cage for your rat. Rats can grow rather large, so you will not want to get a small cage. The bigger the cage the better. Make sure the cage has a door and is an easy to clean cage. Most good rat cages have a removable top and bottom pan for easy cleaning.
Step 2:
Place wood shavings in the bottom pan of the cage. This will allow your rat to have something soft to walk on and something to use to make a nest or sleeping area. You only need enough shavings to cover the cage floor.
Step 3:
Add a water bottle and food bowls. The best type of water bottle for a rat is the type that hangs on the outside of the cage. You should put two or three different food bowls in the cage in different locations. This is especially necessary if you have more than one rat in the cage. Multiple bowls also allow you to put a variety of food inside the cage for your rats to enjoy.
Step 4:
Include a few hiding boxes. These can be homemade hiding boxes (for example, made from a tissue box) or a hiding box that you purchased at the pet store. Be sure that your hiding boxes are big enough for your rats to fit it. They will nibble and gnaw on the hiding box, so make sure they are either cardboard or wooden.
Step 5:
Throw in a few toys like hanging toys or small balls with bells in them (such as cat toys). Rats enjoy small toys that make a sound that they can move around.

Tips & Warnings

Clean out your rat's cage once a week.
Do not put too many things inside the cage. Your rats will need plenty of room to move around and stretch out.

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How to Set Up a Pet Rat Cage

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