Cages

Home
Cages

Cages

Written by Rachelle Bish, Jellybean Rattery

The TLDR:

Specific cage models are listed below along with details and necessary modifications!
3+ sq ft cage recommended
1-2sq ft per rat
1/2" bar spacing + cross ventilation
Deep base for 3-4" of bedding
No barred or grate flooring/shelves
A secure door
A cluttered and fall-proof enrichment layout
Plastic and metal materials only, NO wood
Consider how easy the cage is to clean and how easy it is to add/remove enrichment

The Details:

It is important to recognize what actual scientific minimums are so we know what we need to meet, and what is better. Many pet groups are pushing arbitrary minimums and guilting people for not meeting these excessive sizes, when science points to rats needing much smaller spaces. We already enrich our rats with lots of toys, accessories, treats, and love. It is wonderful if you can also provide a large cage, but people shouldn't feel guilty for not having as big of a cage as other people can get, as long as that cage isn't harmful to the rats.

At a minimum for the largest sized rats, studies recommend a floor space of 1.6sq ft and 7" in height. Each individual rat needs 0.65sq ft, meaning if you have more than 2 rats you need to start increasing the cage size to accommodate. To strike a good balance between the scientific minimums and reasonable pet standards, I recommend a floor space of at least 3sq ft total with 1-2sq ft per rat and 14" in height. In large cages, expanding the useable vertical space by providing plenty of hammocks, baskets, and other places to be can increase the population cap somewhat.

Cages should have ½” or smaller bar spacing if you have females or ever plan to add young rats to the group. Adult males can be held by 1" bar spacing, but I do not recommend it in case you'd ever like to add babies. Cages should have cross ventilation across the majority of the walls to disperse ammonia.

Our domestic rats are fossorial animals and need floor space over height. Lots of space to run and play is ideal, while height is filled with hammocks, bridges, ropes, baskets, and more to mimic a dense tunnel complex. Height is additionally enriching but not as necessary as floor space.

Cages need to have the ability to hold at least 3-4" of bedding across the entire floor. Rats also should not walk on grates or bars much, so any grate floors or shelves should be removed. In general, shelves aren't recommended anyway except as litter boxes - they will mostly be used as litter boxes by the rats and take up room that could otherwise be filled with better enrichment.

Rats can figure out how to push open doors and sometimes unlock simple push locks, so you'll want to be sure the doors are secure.

When choosing a cage, please imagine and keep in mind how easy it will be for you to deep clean the cage and add/remove enrichment. Consider if you need to disassemble the entire cage for deep cleans, if it has hollow bars, if the doors are small and hard to hang enrichment through. All of these should be considered before deciding on your perfect cage.

Wood should not be used in the construction of your cage. It is easily chewable, absorbs odors, and cannot be properly cleaned.

Cage Recommendations:

Prevue 528

Also called: Prevue Cottage, Prevue Small Animal Home, Prevue Deluxe Hamster Home, Caspian Weather Resistant Cage
Size: 19" W x 32.5" L x 17.5" H
Floor Space: 4.3sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-4
Modifications Needed: None; Recommend taking out the shelf and ramp to fill the space with more enriching hammocks, nets, baskets, etc.
Places to Buy:
Amazon (affiliate link)
Chewy
Walmart
Wayfair

Prevue 5528

Also called: Prevue Suburban
Size: 19" W x 32.5" L x 23" H
Floor Space: 4.3sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-5
Modifications Needed: None; Recommend taking out the shelves to fill the space with more enriching hammocks, nets, baskets, etc.
Places to Buy:
Walmart

Prevue 5524

Also called: Prevue Ranch
Size: 22.25" W x 39" L x 18.5" H
Floor Space: 6sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-7
Modifications Needed: None; Recommend taking out the shelves to fill the space with more enriching hammocks, nets, baskets, etc.
Places to Buy:
Amazon (affiliate link)
Walmart

Prevue 5529

Also called: Prevue Bungalow
Size: 17.5" W x 27" L x 23" H
Floor Space: 3.3sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-4
Modifications Needed: None; Recommend taking out the shelves to fill the space with more enriching hammocks, nets, baskets, etc.
Places to Buy:
Amazon (affiliate link)
Walmart

MidWest Critter Nation

Also called: CN, SCN, DCN
Size: 24" W x 36" L x 24" H / Double: 24" W x 36" L x 48" H
Floor Space: 6sq ft / Approx 11.5sq ft with the second level
Recommended Population: 3-8 / Double: 3-15
Modifications Needed: Some way of holding 3-4" of bedding in the entire bottom is required. There are multiple options including getting a 36" large cement mixing bin from Lowe's, Home Depot, or Menards, getting stainless steel pans from Bass Equipment, getting a custom plexiglass base, or making your own base out of acrylic or coroplast. This cage has hollow frames and requires disassembling to deep clean at least twice a year to prevent the buildup of waste, gunk, and odors inside the bars. I also recommend replacing the shelf tray with a 28qt storage bin from Walmart and putting bedding in that too. It's much easier to clean than the tray and the rats enjoy it much more. Alternatively, you can get rid of the shelf altogether and fill the space with other enrichment. If you get a Double, you can get a second cement mixing bin and cut out a corner similar to the corner pocket in a pool table so the rats can move between levels.
Places to Buy:
Amazon (affiliate link)
Chewy
Walmart

Frisco Small Animal Cage

Also called: N/A
Size: 24" W x 36" L x 24" H / Double: 24" W x 36" L x 48" H
Floor Space: 6sq ft / Approx 11.5sq ft with the second level
Recommended Population: 3-8 / Double: 3-15
Modifications Needed: This cage has hollow frames and requires disassembling to deep clean at least twice a year to prevent the buildup of waste, gunk, and odors inside the bars; Recommend an interior base because bedding will fall out of the doors when they're opened. See options for the Critter Nation for ideas. I also recommend replacing the shelf tray with a 28qt storage bin from Walmart and putting bedding in that too. It's much easier to clean than the tray and the rats enjoy it much more. Alternatively, you can get rid of the shelf altogether and fill the space with other enrichment.
Places to Buy:
Chewy

Prevue Rat & Chinchilla Cage

Also called: Khaleesi Small Animal Cage
Size: 21.5" W x 31" L x 27" H
Floor Space: 4.6sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-5
Modifications Needed: The bottom grate must be removed to protect your rats' feet. Some way of holding 3-4" of bedding in the entire bottom is required. There are multiple options including finding a storage bin of the correct size, getting a custom plexiglass base, or making your own base out of acrylic or coroplast. I also recommend putting storage bins of bedding on the shelves or removing them to make room for more enrichment.
Places to Buy:
Amazon (affiliate link)
Walmart
Tractor Supply
Wayfair

Chinchilla Cage & Starter Pack

Also called: Khaleesi Small Animal Cage
Size: 20" W x 32" L x 23" H
Floor Space: 4.4sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-5
Modifications Needed: None; Recommend taking out the shelves to fill the space with more enriching hammocks, nets, baskets, etc.
Places to Buy:
Exotic Nutrition

MidWest Hamster Cage Large/Jumbo

Also called: Hamster Nation Cage
Size: Large - 19.1" W x 31.5" L x 15.4" H / Jumbo - 22.6" W x 38.2" L x 19.8" H
Floor Space: 4.2sq ft / 6sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-4 / 3-6
Modifications Needed: Remove the wheel and hide, they are too small for rats; Recommend taking out the shelves to fill the space with more enriching hammocks, nets, baskets, etc.
Places to Buy:
Amazon (affiliate link)
Chewy
Walmart

Living World Ferret Habitat

Also called: N/A
Size: 18.9" W x 30.7" L x 27.6" H
Floor Space: 4sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-5
Modifications Needed: None; Recommend taking out the shelves to fill the space with more enriching hammocks, nets, baskets, etc.
Places to Buy:
Amazon (affiliate link)

Zeno 3 Empire Small Animal Habitat

Also called: N/A
Size: 18.9" W x 30.7" L x 27.6" H
Floor Space: 4sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-5
Modifications Needed: None; Recommend taking out the shelves to fill the space with more enriching hammocks, nets, baskets, etc.
Places to Buy:
Pet Supermarket

Hilson Small Animal Portable Cage

Also called: Mamble 100
Size: 21" W x 39" L x 25" H
Floor Space: 5.7sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-6
Modifications Needed: Remove tubes; Recommend taking out the shelves to fill the space with more enriching hammocks, nets, baskets, etc.
Places to Buy:
Wayfair

Full Cheeks Rat Starter Kit

Also called: N/A
Size: 17.75" W x 35.5" L x 21.25" H
Floor Space: 4.4sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-4
Modifications Needed: Move saucer to play area, do not allow constant access; Recommend taking out the shelves to fill the space with more enriching hammocks, nets, baskets, etc.
Places to Buy:
PetSmart

MidWest Wabbitat / Wabbitat Deluxe

Also called: MidWest Deluxe Rabbit Cage, XL Rabbit Cage, XXL Rabbit Cage
Size: 23.75" W x 39.5" L x 19.75" H | 23.62" W x 47.16" L x 19.68" H | 24.69" W x 64.25" L x ~19.5" H
Floor Space: 6.5sq ft | 7.7sq ft | 11sq ft
Recommended Population: 3-7 | 3-8 | 3-12
Modifications Needed: This cage has large bar spacing and needs to be covered in 1/2" hardware cloth to prevent escapes; Recommend taking out the shelves to fill the space with more enriching hammocks, nets, baskets, etc.
Places to Buy:
Amazon (affiliate link)
Chewy

Bin Cages
(updated bin cages page coming soon)

Photos provided and used with permission