Multi-level wire cages designed specifically for rats make the best enclosures. They are secure, and you can hang toys in them to help enrich your rat’s environment. They also provide good ventilation. The bars of the cage should be no more than 1/2 inch apart for young rats and 1 inch apart for adult rats. The cage bottom should be a solid pan, and not wire.

The bars of the cage should be powder-coated wire to prevent corrosion when exposed to urine.

Shelves for sitting should be made from solid plastic.

A cage for two rats should measure at least 2 feet high by 2 feet deep by 2 feet wide – although the larger the cage, the better.

Place your rat’s cage off the floor to limit drafts. Put the cage in a room that allows the rat’s some quiet time. The cage should be kept away from heaters and radiators, as well as air-conditioners. The room should provide indirect sunlight. (Keep the cage out of direct sun.)

The best bedding for rats is pelleted recycled paper or aspen bedding designed for small animals. Rats enjoy using shredded paper towels for nesting.