![]() Nesting – hammocks, plastic or wooden igloos and Sputnik hanging beds.Gnawing – wooden branches, willow sticks, nuts in shells and wooden blocks.Foraging – foraging toys, wire basket vegetable holders, skewer Kabobs and treat balls.Playing – feathers, ping pong balls, large wooden beads, small pebbles and shells.Running – open floor space and large wheels (35 to 40 cm). ![]() Balancing – hanging baskets, ropes, swinging bridges and hammocks.Climbing – large branches, ropes, wooden wine racks, larva ledges, wooden ledges, perches, log bridges and ladders.Good substrates include shredded card bedding, kiln-dried pine shavings (no other shavings are suitable), shredded hemp and (for digging boxes) coir coconut fiber compost. Digging – deep litter (substrate) on the cage floor and/or a digging box.Rat cage essentials that will really enrich your pet rats’ lives are: A deep base tray (or fixed panels) that will hold your cage litter well, rats love digging and without a deep tray that creates a lot of mess.Įverything you put into your rats’ cage should in some way enable them to express their natural behaviors.Large doors, which are easy to open, for easy handling and cleaning.This is not just the footprint (floor size) of the cage but also the height. This helps to keep your rats well and reduce the need for visits to a vet. Rats are sometimes prone to respiratory illness, which can be reduced if their living area is well ventilated. The cage bars also allow you to easily attach cage accessories to create an interesting and active setup.Īn important benefit of using a cage is increased ventilation. This is a great form of exercise, which will help to keep them fit. Even without any cage furniture, your rats will climb the bars. So, which pet rat accessories will allow your rats to engage in these behaviors? A CageĪ big, airy cage (rather than a tank or a plastic tub) with narrow bar spacing will immediately allow your rats to climb. Chronic stress often leads to illness and a shortened lifespan.Īs well as socializing and grooming, other natural rat behaviors include: Many studies have shown that solitary rats are more stressed than those living in stable social groups, so two or more rats are essential. Research is beginning to suggest that rats might talk to each other, rather than just make sounds that express pain, protest or pleasure. Humans also cannot replace the details of rat-to-rat social interactions, body language, vocalization and grooming. Rats are extremely social creatures and – because they live in cages – are without even human company for much of the time. The first ‘item’ at the top of any list of what you need for a pet rat should be another pet rat! If you feel you can only care for one rat, please consider buying a species that enjoys being alone. ![]() Freedom to Express Normal Behavior Another Rat However, we are going to rearrange the order to give you a prioritized list. Using these needs as a framework we are going to explore the details of what a great pet rat supplies list looks like.
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