I see far too many cages that are clearly set up for human aesthetics and visual pleasure, but we need to remember the rats don’t care about that.
We need to encourage natural behaviours, they are the ones living in it.
Rodents are very active creatures, if they are left with an empty cage this can cause issues. Rats will barber themselves and cage mates, chew cage bars, and often chew down anything placed in the cage, all due to lack of proper enrichment.
Focusing on natural behaviour, the following sections will cover the necessities for a cage, and items that can further enrich their home and life.
Running:
While wheels are not ‘necessary’ for rats, they can really enjoy them when introduced from a young age. With proper sizing, and suitability (no mesh wheels, no wheels under 12 inches in general) they can be a great addition to their enrichment! Monitor if their spines bend, this type of curving can cause injuries, be very careful. Large plastic/metal ferret/ chinchilla wheels are great for rats.
Here is a video about choosing a wheel:
Digging:
For rats, digging is very stimulating. This encourages natural behaviours, as they burrow naturally in the wild. Rags are fossorial, floorspace and a good amount of adsorbent substrate is important. If you are able to provide them with a very deep layer of bedding, or a bio active set up, that is ideal.
Foraging:
Food should be scattered amongst bedding, for the rats to search for food. This is foraging, and it is very stimulating. Once again, their natural instincts kick in and they go mad looking for food. Eating from a bowl isn’t stimulating, or healthy. Working for the food, by shoving bedding out of the way, keeps them active and fit.
Nest Building:
Nest building is enriching and naturally stimulating too! Contrary to popular belief, even males nest. A variety of shredded materials (newspaper, TP, tissues, party paper, strips of fleece, non-toxic shredded paper, hay, etc) keeps them on their toes! I stash it in places, like small bins and hanging hay feeders. My blind female especially likes to nest! This also encourages activity, as they are often building a sleeping spot in one place and going back and forth. Encourage further exploration and activity by placing nesting materials further away from sleeping spots to make them have to go farther. Nesting materials are to be replaced daily, they stink up fast.
Climbing:
Rats are very capable climbers, offering climbing opportunities to rats increases their muscle tone and fitness. Branches, ropes, bridges, perches, wine racks, cargo nets, hanging bird ladders, tie hangers, seagrass mats, and parrot toys all help to offer climbing opportunities.
Tip: Removing ramps and levels creates more space, and can easily be replaced with ropes, bins, perches, nets, and the other things listed above. This it’s great for healthy rats!
Jumping:
It’s important to have strategy when setting up a cage, it’s good to envision actually being one of your rats running through the cage. Is it all functional?
Placing lava ledges as a ‘staircase’ can be very beneficial, offering jumping opportunities and also shaving down nails as they jump. Placing these as a way up to a favourite sleeping spot, and placing these in high traffic areas really help.
Chewing:
Chewing is a very natural behaviour for rats. Providing chews is pretty important, they can get bored and chew, they enjoy the feeling. You can offer shelled nuts, clocked unseasoned chicken bones, or raw pasta noodles to help satisfy their chewing needs. Offering things within the cage like parrot toys, wooden chews, and branches will help, but oftentimes they will continue to just be rats and chew whatever they please (including your expensive $25 hammock…).
*f you find your rat pressing their teeth against objects, get them examined by a vet. This can be a pain indication.
*Contrary to popular belief, they do not need to chew on things to wear down their teeth, they do so by bruxing. Therefore, if your rat is having issues with extremely long/ misaligned teeth they need to see a vet, this is likely a medical condition.
Balancing:
Offering balancing opportunities can make life exciting! Be sure to offer lots of fall breakers, in very good amounts if you have blind or disabled rats, and you can stretch thing poles, branches, and ropes across the cage. For example, I found a large rope dog leash at the dollar store that will be very fun for them to balance on!
Sleeping:
Offering multiple sleeping spots is vital. You don’t want to be with your roommate all the time! Try not to over do it, I see many cages packed full of hammocks and that’s it. Offering both high and low sleeping places can be beneficial.
Bins, hah huts, plastic huts, sputniks (great for nesting!), and hammocks.
*Offer at least one sleeping spot per rat, plus two.
Cool fact: Oftentimes you will notice the alpha gets first dibs on the best sleeping spots!
Variety:
I feel like I’m always saying this!! I see way too many cages stuffed full with just fleece. Fleece hammocks, fleece liners, fleece everything. That is extremely boring. They want to explore new textures, and have variety!
Plastics, fabrics, natural ropes, wood, pumice, all of this combined creates amazing variety. Rats aren’t stupid, they are highly intelligent. They need proper stimulation, and they cannot get that living in a blanket.
Tip: Scatter enticing snacks around the cage to encourage your rats to explore if you find they are hesitant.
**I also want to say, please watch your rats during the next few days after changing a layout. You want to know what is and is and isn’t functional, the gaps and the useless pieces. Rats will show you what isn’t working for them in the cage, they will ignore stuff.**