Pet rat enclosures are a massive topic – with so many options available, it’s hard to know where to start. Choosing and setting up the right enclosure with an optimal environment is really important for the health and welfare of your pet rat. 

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Rat enclosures – the different options

There are lots of different shapes and sizes of enclosure available advertised for pet rats. A few key points to remember when choosing an enclosure are:

No glass! 

Glass tanks are poorly ventilated and as rats are prone to breathing issues are not ideal houses for pet rats

Lots of levels

Pet rats love to climb and explore so they need an enclosure with multiple levels to facilitate this climbing behaviour. A one level enclosure will not provide them with enough useable space and can lead to poor welfare as they are unable to exhibit natural behaviours

Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation! 

We can’t stress this point enough. As already mentioned, pet rats are prone to breathing issues so it is really important that the enclosure we use is well ventilated allowing air to move freely around the enclosure and not become trapped in one area

A solid floor

Lots of rodent cages will come with a wire floor, especially on the higher levels. This is OK, but it needs to be covered with an easily disinfectable material so your pet rat has a solid surface to walk on, and minimise any risk to their legs and feet from getting caught in the bars. Bars along the side and top of the cage are ideal as they allow good ventilation. And your rats can use them to climb around the enclosure

If you would like to read more about the ideal enclosure for your pet rate the PDSA have put together a very useful guide here.

Sleeping boxes, do they need one?

Yes – a warm space to curl up at night is essential for your pet rat and encourages normal nesting behaviour which they would naturally exhibit. The ideal sleeping box will be secure and able to be disinfected easily with pet rat safe disinfectant. The space should be kept dark and out of the path of direct sunlight or internal lights. 

Bedding material will be needed in here. Remember, rats love to chew and shred material and in the PDSA guide above you will read how clean white kitchen roll is ideal for this purpose in the sleeping box, as the rats can shred it themselves and use it as nesting material. 

Bedding material, is it all the same?

The short answer is no. The longer answer is there are many different types and its important when picking a bedding material for your pet rat you consider the following things:

Is it dusty?

Dusty bedding is not ideal for pet rats as it can irritate their airways which can increase the risk of them suffering with breathing problems, it is important to always avoid using dusty bedding material

Is it toxic? 

Certain bedding material can be toxic for pet rats, it would be impossible to list every item here but a few examples include; newspaper – as the ink on the paper can occasionally be toxic, and cedar and pine wood chips. All of these items should be avoided as they can sometimes make your rat very unwell if used. It is important to always check with your pet wholesaler that the bedding material you are purchasing is non-toxic before using it, or if you are unsure speak to your local veterinarian before using the material

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Or is it a cotton wool-like material?

Avoid materials such as cotton wool or similar in consistency to cotton wool as these can get caught tightly around your pet rats legs causing injuries and if eaten can lead to blockages which can be life threatening

Rat specific non-toxic paper based bedding is normally a good start and available in most local pet stores. You can also use non-toxic wood chips as long as they are not dusty and safe for pet rats.

What size enclosure? Is bigger better?

Yes! The bigger the enclosure you can provide for your pet rat the better. They love to explore and climb and it is important for their health that they get this physical exercise, so having a large enclosure is vital.

Remember vertical use of space is important too. Our pet rats love to climb and being able to climb up multiple levels and use different layers of the enclosure adds significant surface area to our rats environment. If you are short of space in your home consider a taller enclosure with multiple areas to maximise on this.

Summary:

  • The bigger the enclosure you can provide for your pet rat the better 
  • Remember that useable space includes levels in enclosures, so having tall enclosures with multiple levels to explore is a good option if you are short on space 
  • Always make sure the enclosure you choose is well ventilated and safe for your pet rat, this includes making sure it has solid floors, is secure and is able to be cleaned easily
  • Always check bedding material is safe for use with pet rats before using, remember some items can be toxic; and always avoid dusty material

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