A Proper Cage

It is important before you purchase a pair of rats to have a cage ready for them, one which fits their needs and is safe. The cage should have the following:

It is a myth that wire shelving and ramps promote bumblefoot or foot injury. As long as your grid is small, rats cannot get a hind foot caught, as long as your shelves and ramps do not have sizeable gaps between them, feet cannot get caught there either. Bumblefoot is a genetic disease that travels in family lines and may be promoted by obesity, but not by having grated shelves and ramps.

However, many rat fanciers do like solid shelves, or to cover wire shelves with stick-on linoleum. Just remember that solid shelves must be wiped down several times daily. Unlike grated shelves, urine and feces can remain and stand on solid shelves, and can cause skin irritation and even chemical burns if the rat stands in their own mess!

Popular cages include:

Martin's Cages - an important note is that an R-670 is the absolute minimum size that is acceptable for a pair of rats. Ideally, an R-680 or R-695 are more favorable, since they are larger and have a lot more space for toys and enrichment.

Midwest Cages - The Critter Nation is the ideal rat cage in many ways, whether you use a double or single. The biggest criticism about the cage comes from the shallow pans which allow lots of bedding kickout. The best idea is to have custom pans made, or to use fleece covers instead of bedding. The Ferret Nation is the exact same design with a 1" bar spacing, which makes it acceptable for adult males but cannot be used for young rats or small females.

Temporary cages:

You will need a temporary cage in which rats can stay while you clean their cages, or when traveling to the vet or a rat show. Make sure the cage will not be easily chewed through, and that the bar spacing is not wide enough to allow escape.

It is very easy to make a good travel cage for your rat yourself by purchasing a medium-sized Sterlite or Rubbermaid tub. Take the lid and cut the center out, then use zip ties to attach a wire mesh across the top. This makes a lightweight, easy to carry and clean tub that is an ideal temporary or nursing cage for your rats. Detailed instructions and pictures can be found here.