Tips for Building a Rat Cage?

Realistically speaking home made cages do not last long at all and they're a PITA to put together, clean, and move. I looked into making one and this is what dozens upon dozens of rat owners tell me. The general consensus is that they're fine temporarily, but not long term.

Couple of points:

1) The grotto style cages are not suitable. Look at the design. Solid on all sides except the front. What does that remind you of? A tank. And everyone who knows rats agree that tanks are not suitable because they lack proper ventilation. So, by my guess, the grotto style cage would also be unsuitable for that same reason.

2) Any kind of wood is not going to last. Even if it's treated and waterproofed, there is no CHEW proofing. There will be some spot that the rats can get their teeth on and when they do they peel off the protective coating. Which not only creates a hole (escape potential) but a weak spot for urine to soak in and rot.

3) Any kind of wire mesh or bare metal wire needs to be coated. But, again, coating can and will come off. Wire RUSTS. Which is dangerous for rats.

4) Hanging stuff in a grotto style cage means drilling holes (look, more places for urine to seep in) and using nails or metal hooks (look, more potential rusting). Otherwise you can't hang anything. Which means a boring cage and bored rats.

Honestly - by the time you get the PROPER supplies and QUALITY materials it's going to be just as expensive as any regular store bought cage. Only with higher chance it won't last. I don't know what you mean by "cheap" but Martin's has some cages that are under $100 and there is also the Petco Rat Manor. For $150 you can get a Critter Nation. If you're not prepared to provide a QUALITY and SAFE habitat then you're not prepared to have rats.

Litter training:

http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#litter

Toys:

http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm

Great question!! I've been building rat cages for the past 36 years, professionally for the last 14. First thing you need to do is determine the size of the cage you are gonna need. You have to make sure it is big enough for the rat and remember there is a hyperbolic relationship to size when housing multiple rats. Getting a baking pan and filling with a good slow dry cement and coating it with an epoxy paint will make it resistant to urine seepage. I used a similar design while building cages for the movie Stuart little part two. The cgi guys had to keep rats in order to make the movement look realistic with their cgi effects. Next you are gonna need a good quality dehumidifier. I only use Bosch. For a medium I use r15 insulation. It may make our hands itch a little, but rats love it. It is cheap and u just ball it up when it gets soiled. As far as litter box training, it is very possible. Some rats are as smart as 3 year old shitz zhu dogs. What you are gonna wanna do is take some of your own urine and stool and put it in fresh litter everyday or so. Sounds gross, I know but hey will start going in there by the end of the week.

As for toys, the sky is the limit. Rats eat all sorts of stuff In an urban environment so don't baby the rats. They need something hard to chew to wear down their teeth. I give mine old toothbrushes and bones from meat or steaks. They love it. Good luck