Guide For Choosing A Rat Cage
You may find many animal enthusiasts around the world who home their loved creatures just like their own baby. Dogs and cats are a popular choice to bring home as pets. But, nowadays rat aficionados, who keep and breed these little creatures is also on the go. The reason for the popularity of these little fleecy creatures is that they are quite easy to keep and take care (as rats generally take care of themselves).
Still you need to do bare minimum from your side to make them happy. Rats probably are more happy when left free but it doesn’t mean you should let them roam about anywhere all the time and create mess all over the place. But, what you can do is provide a comfortable house (cage) for your pet rat.
Here are some basic guidelines for choosing a rat cage, which surely will prove helpful to make you and your rat happy.
1. Number of rats: The foremost important point before buying a rat cage is decide what is the maximum number of rats you will house in that cage. It is because number of pets decides the size of cage and other factors. Cages generally come at price around £30 to £40. A wrong choice in deciding the no. can incur upon a loss in the near future.
2. Size of cage: Roughly a 2 sq. feet area is recommended for a single rat. But if you have planned to keep more than one rat then you are surely going to need a cage of bigger size. To calculate the size of cage simply use a rat cage calculator to find out how many rats can your cage hold.
3. Material of cage: Wire mesh cages are the most popular one as they are bite resistant and secondly they don’t have any problem of ventilation. But, you will have to regularly give a sweep to clean away the mess of food and droppings around the cage. Another type of rat cages is Plastic Cages which are a cheap option but they are prone to bites by the rats. Aquariums are also a good choice to house your rat and it neither needs to be cleaned on regular basis. But they have problem of ventilation. Cages come in more than one level as well.
4. Bedding: It is a basic requirement which your pet needs. Don’t put dusty or oily beddings as they can create problems like respiratory problems and others for your rats. Bedding should also be changed at least once a week.
5. Toys: Definitely, your rat can’t just sit in the cage all the time. Rat toys are good means to take away their boredom. Ladders and ropes are some common toys. Things to crawl through are also popular. But remember, your pet won’t be happier than being left free outdoors. So, give some time to them for an outdoor stroll as well.
You will find a whole range of cages in the market. Everyone has its pros and cons . So, choose from one that suits your requirement the most.
