Rats are intelligent animals and the way you set up their home can have a huge impact on their happiness.
The basics:
Cage Litter: Chaff, rice husks and paper and lucerne litters are all suitable
for use in your rat cage. Steer away from wood shavings as some of these can cause respiratory problems for you rats.
Water bottle: This is a better idea than using a bowl as the water stays clean and
fresh all day and will not spill into the cage. When buying a water bottle, ensure that it is large enough to last your
rats atleast 2 days without being filled, this ensures that their is plenty of water available during hot weather when rats
will drink more. Always put fresh water in the bottle atleast once a day. Also unless you know your pet shop owner
well and will not have any trouble returning it have the bottle tested before you buy it. This will definately save
you from a wet cage.
All bottles will drip a couple of times when first filled up.
Food bowl: If you are keeping your rats on chaff or pet litter
ensure the sides of the bowl are high enough for the litter to not be kicked into the bowl.
Sleeping area: When you first buy your rat ensure that you provide
it with a sleeping box (an overturned ice cream container will do). However, if your rat is kept inside s/he may not
use the box and it can be removed at your discretion. If your rats are outside rats always have a sleeping box available.
Either way bedding material such as tissue paper or shredded office paper should always be available for them to make a nest
in.
Toys: Rats are busy little animals and as such require things
to stop them from becoming bored. Toys such as tunnels, balls with bells inside and a feather on a peice of string are
all suitable. You may wish to try a wheel, however some rats will not use them.
