cage sizing - rats

[adoptaratcanada]

I know there are calculators online, which I've used alot.

However, I was wondering how to interpret sizes and how many rats really can fit.

For instance if you had a smallish cage (LxW), but had alot of height in it that allowed for many shelves, you are creating more floor space.

How do you allow for that measurement when considering how many pets can fit?

[Die Fledermaus]

"Fit"?? A subjective term indeed. ;D

The cage should be big enough, like 24-1/2H x 12-1/2W x 24-1/2D” for a minimum of 1-2 rats.

www.rattycorner.com/odds/oldcalc.shtml

This calculator, using two cubic centimeters per rat as space, at 24x12x24 (H,W,D), gives us a cage suitable for TWO rats.

www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml

The second calculator above gives exactly the same results.

At 48x24x48 gives us a cage suitable for 16 rats. Both caluculators say the same.

Of course, the more room the better.

And there you go.

>> For instance if you had a smallish cage (LxW), but had alot of height in it that allowed for many shelves <<

48Hx12x12 gives two rats.
36Hx12x12 gives ONE rat.

I guess the point is this is not an apartment house with rats living on different levels. Floor space is important.

24Hx36x36 equals NINE rats.

[pinky]

Nov 3, 2008 9:18:31 GMT -4 Die Fledermaus said:

"Fit"?? This calculator, using two cubic centimeters per rat as space, at 24x12x24 (H,W,D), gives us a cage suitable for TWO rats.

Ummm. . . . 2 cubic centimeters is a volume less than one cubic inch! I think you meen cubic feet. . . . 24x12x24 is 4 cubic feet.

[adoptaratcanada]

Nov 3, 2008 13:21:57 GMT -4 pinky said:

Ummm. . . . 2 cubic centimeters is a volume less than one cubic inch! I think you meen cubic feet. . . . 24x12x24 is 4 cubic feet.

LOL or very small rats indeed!


So, DF, calculators aside, you're saying that actual FLOOR space (where they can move in one long stretch) may be more important than total "horizontal area".

[Die Fledermaus]

Yea, cubic feet, I guess. *shrugs* I hate Math.

Yea, floor space is the key. Can't expect them to live on various levels as if in an apartment house!
Vertical space will be a nice addition for those already comfortable with the floor space dimensions.

My Spiny mice sometimes sleep on different levels. Once in a tall cage I saw some rats do that, but not often. The rats seem to like being down below. . . unless they have a really secure dark nest at a higher level., You could try that for some.

[ladyjosephine]

Rats like to sleep on high things, but I don't like tall cages, If they play and fall down they can break their back...I can name 4 rats I know that died this way.
So 6 months ago I gave away my Brio Mediums:
That can hold up to 9 rats per cage, and I now have 3 Ferplast Jenny's
Those can hold up to 5 rats.

I think you should stick to the Rattycorner calculator, Even if you have a lot of shelves in your cage you shouldn't place more rats in it, because it can be over-crowded and then they'll fight.
Rats should have the chance, if they want to, to have a spot of their own where they can just sleep in peace

But..I'm going to switch cages next month and then I want 2 of these:

they are: 100X52X120CM, and can hold up max. 13 rats per cage

I always have a lot of stuff in my cages so they can't fall, and they don't get bored so easely. But usually the boys are in one of the Sputniks cramped together and sleeping like angels.

The girls are more active, so I'l be glad when I have the bigger cages

[Die Fledermaus]

Your first cage looks like a bird cage - way high for rats.

The calculators do indeed emphasize depth and width over height. Well, sometimes floor space is not available. Maybe we can make do with little "trips" outside the cage.

[ladyjosephine]

It's a bird cage, but when you make shelves in them(as I did) It's not to high, because there are different levels.
I added 3 whole shelves and 6 half ones and I had a lot of tubes&Hammocks.
But it was diffecult to clean and the doors weren't big enough, and they have only 2 "big" doors and 2 small ones.

Little trips..hmmm, my rats come out every day to go for a walk in my bedroom(offcourse ratproof). Usually they can have 3 or 4 hours, and I always have one or 2 with me when I'm at home

[Die Fledermaus]

So long as each shelf would break or prevent a long long fall in that bird cage. You have a photo of the finished product?

I will photo this cage here. The calculators would not like it as there limited depth and width, but much height. It came with two rescued rats.

In case you forget, I have many scores of animals here.

[Die Fledermaus]

This is that cage I mentioned.

The others are in a wide low bigger cage.

[adoptaratcanada]

The first cage I had was a modified bird cage, with shelves added.

Regardless of what kind of cage, I always make sure the shelves are not so far away from each other (height-wise) that the rat could hurt themselves if they fell from one to the other, and I make sure there are no drops from one that could take the rat to the bottom of the cage! I overlap them, or put hammocks and ramps in any "iffy" spots.

[Die Fledermaus]

Hammocks! Right. I need to buy some more bras. The late Ebony like to sleep in those as if a hammock. need to try it for the others. (I posted a thread with photos of her in one).

[ladyjosephine]

I searched, but I can't find the pictures I made :S
I'll make some pictures of my cages as they are now..
I'm picking up 1 Ferplast Furret XL next week, I think I'll use that for the boys for a while