I am always looking to improve the setup of my cages and like to try different things to see if the rats love or hate it. I change things around weekly and my rats love it although I have heard that some rats dont!!
Here you will find various pictures of cages both old and new and an idea of how cages can be altered with just a couple of bonnets and tubes.
There were 4 big bucks living quite happily in this cage. Over time the shelves have been replaced with plant pots, tubes and hammocks as they just got used as toilets and then the boys laid on them!!! YUK!!
This is Moose when he is just a little baby but now he has grown into a fine strapping buck he fights with the others for the space. The tube bulges and the rats squeak when 4 try to sleep in this position and no one is prepared to give an ince!!
A tall cage can have lots of things placed around it to allow the rats to have 'shelves'. I use plant pots, bonnets, wine rack, empty cardboard tubes (which they love to shred and use for bedding as well as for climbing) small wooden shelves which can be purchased from most pet shops, plastic tubes which can also be found relatively cheaply and a variety of other things which I come across and look interesting. Just try things out and if they dont like it then dont use it again, variety is the spice of life!!
Here are just a few of my old cages. I have tried just about everything and as you can see, when using tanks I have added levels. I think rats like to climb and run about and without bars of any description (tanks) I think that they become bored and a lot less agile. To see a rat run full speed up the side of a cage is amazing.
Nice and clean after a good scrub.
Spud & Co lived in this cage and they loved sleeping in their toilet most of all!! Obviously they used the toilet first or there would be no point kicking it all over the place...the effect just wouldnt be the same!!!
A variation on the theme using wine rack and bits of plastic tube keep the girls amused for hours.
During the summer I spent a small fortune turning the garage into a rat haven and although it is far from finished with all my bits and bobs the rats seem happy and I love to sit out there with them and read in peace and quiet. It is my sanctuary.
During the really hot weather the best place to be was with the rats as the insulation kept it nice and cool.
