* Disclaimer their are many other right ways to care for rats and that doesn't mean one way is the only proper way.
This is our personal preference*
This is our personal preference*
Cage Enrichment
We house our rats in the Midwest Double Critter Nation. We strive to make sure our rats have a large clean, stimulating and active layout! Although rats should at least be offered some sort of supervised free roam not every rat is going to take you up on that offer. That is okay, when a cage is properly packed, sized and stimulating they can get all the exercise and stimulation they need. A cage is a home not a “prison” this is why it is important to make sure their cages are stimulating as this is their home. Rats are highly intelligent animals and strive in groups so you want to make sure their primary home is large enough to house your mischief. Rats are “floor” animals. Meaning height does not equal “more space for more rats”. You should expand out not up.
When setting up their cage you want to add elements that encourage natural behaviour. Rodent's are active animals and having an empty non engaging cage can cause issues. This can lead to hurting cage mates and themselves, bar chewing and ripping apart anything and everything that may be placed in the cage. Rodent's are also very susceptible to URI and having an empty underestimating cage can cause them to become stressed which can cause flare ups of mycoplasma (URI). Here are some ways to help ensure your rats will thrive.
Digging; Rats are fossorial animals meaning a good amount of floorspace and a deep layer of absorbent substrate is important. Digging is very stimulating for rats so ensuring this will help encourage natural behaviors as they burrow naturally. We use Kiln Dried Aspen which we freeze and shake out excess dust with a mesh laundry bag. This is to ensure there are no bugs in the bedding from being transported from stores and to rid the excess dust as rats have very sensitive noses.
Foraging; We scatter feed our rats as this is much more stimulating for the rats than a bowl. Bowl feeding can lead/ increase chances of obesity in rats. Once again scatter feeding encourages natural behaviors. Working for their food by scattering food in their bedding makes them shovel and dig through the bedding which helps keep them fit and active. Fleece is NOT AN ACCEPTABLE form of liner of a cage as this offers no enrichment.
Chewing; Chewing is very important for rats; this helps keep their teeth at a reasonable length they may also do that themselves by Bruxing. Overall chewing is a natural behavior and providing chews is important as it helps with boredom and they enjoy doing it. There are tons of ways you can offer chews such as shelled nuts and raw pasta noodles. They should have some chew accessible to them within their cage like parrot toys , wooden chews, branches and lava ledges. Lava ledges are great for helping cut down nails as well.
Overall Cage layout; We don't use any shelves or middle pieces in our cages. So making sure there are tons of ropes, branches, bins, wooden wine racks, Ikea scarf hangers and other various items for them to climb is important. They are very capable climbers and offering's climbing opportunities is important as it helps increase their muscle tone and overall fitness. It's important they have an active layout as not only does it help with the above it is over all stimulating for their brain. Helps them come up with ways and different routes to get around the cage. You want to offer tons of variety as well. Cages should not be stuffed with fleece and fabric. This is very boring! Plastics , fabrics, natural ropes and wood, nesting material create much more variety. They are very smart and need proper stimulation.
When setting up their cage you want to add elements that encourage natural behaviour. Rodent's are active animals and having an empty non engaging cage can cause issues. This can lead to hurting cage mates and themselves, bar chewing and ripping apart anything and everything that may be placed in the cage. Rodent's are also very susceptible to URI and having an empty underestimating cage can cause them to become stressed which can cause flare ups of mycoplasma (URI). Here are some ways to help ensure your rats will thrive.
Digging; Rats are fossorial animals meaning a good amount of floorspace and a deep layer of absorbent substrate is important. Digging is very stimulating for rats so ensuring this will help encourage natural behaviors as they burrow naturally. We use Kiln Dried Aspen which we freeze and shake out excess dust with a mesh laundry bag. This is to ensure there are no bugs in the bedding from being transported from stores and to rid the excess dust as rats have very sensitive noses.
Foraging; We scatter feed our rats as this is much more stimulating for the rats than a bowl. Bowl feeding can lead/ increase chances of obesity in rats. Once again scatter feeding encourages natural behaviors. Working for their food by scattering food in their bedding makes them shovel and dig through the bedding which helps keep them fit and active. Fleece is NOT AN ACCEPTABLE form of liner of a cage as this offers no enrichment.
Chewing; Chewing is very important for rats; this helps keep their teeth at a reasonable length they may also do that themselves by Bruxing. Overall chewing is a natural behavior and providing chews is important as it helps with boredom and they enjoy doing it. There are tons of ways you can offer chews such as shelled nuts and raw pasta noodles. They should have some chew accessible to them within their cage like parrot toys , wooden chews, branches and lava ledges. Lava ledges are great for helping cut down nails as well.
Overall Cage layout; We don't use any shelves or middle pieces in our cages. So making sure there are tons of ropes, branches, bins, wooden wine racks, Ikea scarf hangers and other various items for them to climb is important. They are very capable climbers and offering's climbing opportunities is important as it helps increase their muscle tone and overall fitness. It's important they have an active layout as not only does it help with the above it is over all stimulating for their brain. Helps them come up with ways and different routes to get around the cage. You want to offer tons of variety as well. Cages should not be stuffed with fleece and fabric. This is very boring! Plastics , fabrics, natural ropes and wood, nesting material create much more variety. They are very smart and need proper stimulation.