DIY rat cages: options and step-by-step instructions

Rats are small animals from the mouse family, belonging to the genus of rodents. Characteristic features - a variety of fur colors: from gray-brown to white, the presence of a bare leathery tail, protruding front incisors. The body length of an average-sized rat can vary between 10-30 cm, while the length of the tail is equal to the length of the body. Average weight range from 80-150 grams.

The characteristic physiological features of the rat's body structure provide it with a number of indisputable advantages: the ability to freely manipulate the forelimbs, flexible spine, elongated torso.

Modern technologies of animal selection have made it possible to develop a breed of rats adapted for living at home. In this regard, the production of mini-houses for domesticated rodents was developed. The zoo market presents a wide range of ready-made rat cages, however, self-design will save money.

A home for decorative rats, assembled with your own hands, must meet the basic criteria for maintenance. Among them are:

• resistance to gnawing;
• lack of design features that imply the penetration of the rodent outside;
• minimal possibility of injury to animals.

To this she is prompted by an innate instinct, especially during the mating period. Uncontrolled rat penetration outside the cage is unacceptable. The rodent is capable of causing significant damage to the owner's property in a short time. If the rat escapes during the "walk" period, it will taste whatever it gets in its way to ensure it has the material it needs to form its nest.

The size of the cage directly depends on the number of individuals that will live in it, as well as on their sex and age. Each individual must have at least 50 cubic centimeters of free space.

When calculating the size, it is the available volume that is taken into account, and not the area, since the rat can use the cage space in all directions. Attention is paid to the presence of additional devices that will be located inside the cage. The space they occupy should not be part of the space reserved for the free movement of the animal.

The characteristics of the shape of the cage for a rat are determined by the presence of the specific needs of each individual individual, as well as by the parameters of individual design. The main criterion that determines the shape of the cage is the construction of its upper part - the roof. It can be triangular, oval, flat, or combined.

The most common form of the cage is cubic, suggesting the presence of a flat roof and smooth walls. This shape allows you to use the available internal space as efficiently as possible.

The design of the cage and the materials from which it is made must be resistant to attempts by the rat to chew on them. This rule applies to frame elements, cage walls and internal accessories. All soft materials such as plastic and wood used in the construction of the cage must be adequately protected.

Homemade rat cages, like other handicrafts, have a number of advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages are the following.

• Price. Compared to store options, a homemade cage is much cheaper. This is due to the fact that when assembling it, you can use available materials at hand.

• A home-assembled cage can be tailored to the specific characteristics of the available interior. You can vary the dimensional parameters: width, height and shape.

Among the minuses, it can be noted that self-assembly assumes an underestimated level of aesthetics of appearance. This factor is due to the fact that in the manufacture of structural parts, tools with a low percentage of accuracy are used - unprofessional. Shop counterparts are made using automated machines, which ensures the best appearance of the product.

In order to make a cage for a rat at home, it is necessary to carry out preliminary calculations, including an assessment of the characteristics of the individuals that will live in it, and draw up detailed drawings. The drawing diagram should contain designations of the dimensions of certain parts of the structure, verified in advance.

It is worth paying enough attention to the choice of materials from which the cage will be constructed. The best names for materials are stainless steel mesh or lattice, natural wood, plastic. The metal elements must be selected taking into account the characteristics of each individual animal.

Wooden elements should be made of planed (sanded) material. The presence of cracks, roughness, splinters and other defects is excluded. The dimensions of wooden elements should not exceed the permissible maximum, since this parameter affects the weight of the entire structure.

For the manufacture of the bottom pallet and the floor of the cage, you can use plywood or fiberboard. The first option is effective in terms of resistance to stress, and the second provides a low weight of the finished product.

It is necessary to cut out blanks from wooden slats. The dimensions of the blanks must correspond to those indicated in the drawing. Connect the resulting parts in such a way that you get a frame, which is a cube or parallelepiped. All open space must be taken up with a lattice or net. This manipulation involves attaching parts from the inside and protects wooden structures from gnawing. A door is mounted in the front of the cage.

A dwelling for a decorative rat should be equipped with various devices designed to make it feel like it is in its natural habitat. Such additions can be:

• swing;
• wheels;
• labyrinths;
• tunnels;
• hammocks;
• ropes.

This photo shows the factory version of the rat cage. By a similar principle, you can equip a homemade equivalent of a rodent's home. This modification assumes the presence of two floors. One of them has a mini-house imitating a burrow. There is a tunnel giving access to a fabric hammock located above the burrow. Access to the tiers is provided by special ladders.

The design of the cage shown in the photo assumes the use of the maximum amount of wooden materials, and the amount of metal is minimized. This model is equipped with 4 levels on which a rodent can live. In addition, each of the levels has one or another adaptation that creates the effect of living in a free environment. Such devices include a house with a round inlet, a hanging ladder, a wooden tunnel, and others.

You can learn how to make a cage for rats with your own hands without much difficulty in the next video.