Recommended – Cages/Carriers/Pens

Housing number recommendations are based on scientific studies for housing rats and require you using your best judgement on your own rat group dynamics, the amount of cage clutter you provide, rat ages, etc. Rats need a mixture of some open floor space and a lot of clutter to generally feel safe and secure in their environment. Too large of cages with too few friends (think a pair of babies in a double Critter Nation), especially right away, can be overwhelming and cause stress for some rats.

*Some links provided are affiliate links and may generate a small amount of revenue for me when used. This does not discount the researched suggestion, but helps compensate my time and energy.*

  • Bin Cages – Homemade
    • Can be made to multiple sizes
    • 1/2″ hardware cloth preferred (1/4″ is very flimsy)
    • 2-4 side panels for venting, lid panel also an option
    • Allow for great floor space and still offer the ability to hang hammocks and such
    • Easily modifiable and repairable
    • Do require you to have your own tools to make
  • Midwest Critter Nation – Single
    • 1/2″ bar spacing – Safe for babies and dwarves!
    • Great floor space. Needs modified for deep bedding.
    • 2 large, easy access doors, 1 shelf and metal rack.
    • A lot of space, but will take a lot to fill in order to utilize most of it.
    • Under-cage storage shelf.
    • Cage extensions and doubles available.
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 6 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 12.41 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 10-15
      • Standards: 6-10
    • Available at: Amazon, Chewy
    • CONS
      • Harder to clean
      • Modifying can be expensive (bedding pans, metal shelves, supplies to fill)
      • More mess due to bars
      • Certain areas rust faster than others
  • Exotic Nutrition – Zanizbar
    • 1/2″ bar spacing – safe for all rats
    • Deep base for bedding
    • 2 nice size, easy access doors and one large shelf
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 3.76 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 6.12 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 6-8
      • Standards: 4
    • Available at: Exotic Nutrition, Amazon
  • Exotic Nutrition – Casablanca
    • 1/2″ bar spacing – safe for all rats
    • Deep base for bedding
    • 2 nice size, easy access doors and two shelves
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 4.44 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 8.5 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 6-10
      • Standards: 3-5
    • Available at: Exotic Nutrition, Amazon
  • Exotic Nutrition 2-level Mansion
    • 1/2″ bar spacing – Safe for babies and dwarves!
    • Great floor space. Built in bedding/urine guards
    • Large, easy open door – Shelf with lip
    • Under-cage storage shelf.
    • Cage extensions and 2-level available.
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 4.88 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 9.14 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
  • Prevue Ranch Universal Cage 5524
    • 3/8″ bar spacing – Safe for babies and dwarves
    • Great floor space and ability for deeper bedding
    • 2 easy access doors, 2 easy to remove/clean shelves
    • Elderly rat fall safe!
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 6.06 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 9.42 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 8-12
      • Standards: 6-8
    • Available at: Amazon, Chewy
  • Prevue Pet Products Suburban Cage – 5528
    • 3/8″ bar spacing – Safe for babies and dwarves
    • Deep base for bedding with good floorspace
    • 2 easy access doors, 2 easy to remove/clean shelves
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 4.23 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 8.22 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 8-10
      • Standards: 4-6
    • Available at: Amazon, Chewy
  • Prevue 528 Pet Cage
    • 3/8″ bar spacing – Safe for babies and dwarves
    • Deep base for bedding with good floorspace
    • 2 easy access doors, easy to remove/clean shelf
    • Elderly rat fall safe!
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 4.3 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 6.25 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 6-8
      • Standards: 2-4
    • Available at: Amazon, Chewy
  • Prevue Pet Bungalow
    • 3/8″ bar spacing – Safe for babies and dwarves
    • Deep base for bedding
    • 2 easy access doors, 2 easy to remove/clean shelf
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 3.3 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 6.3 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 4-6
      • Standards: 2 -3
    • Available at: Amazon, Chewy
  • MCage – My First Home – Large 2 Level
    • 3/8″ bar spacing – Safe for all rats
    • 6″ deep base
    • 2 access doors
    • 1 easy to clean shelf
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 4 sq ft
    • Entire Cage Space = 6.66 cu ft
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 6-8
      • Standards : 4
    • Available at: Amazon
  • MCage – My First Home – XL 4 Level
    • 3/8″ bar spacing – Safe for all rats
    • 6″ deep base
    • 3 access doors
    • 3 easy to clean shelf
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 3.875 sq ft
    • Entire Cage Space = 11.94 cu ft
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 12
      • Standards : 6-8
    • Available at: Amazon
  • Midwest Hamster Nation – Large
    • 1/2″ bar spacing – Safe for babies and dwarves
    • 6″ deep base for bedding
    • Easy access doors, full opening top, 1 easy to remove/clean shelf
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 2.9 sq. feet (smaller base, flares out)
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 5.4 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 4-6
      • Standards: 2-3
    • Available at: Amazon, Chewy
  • Midwest Hamster Nation – Jumbo
    • 1/2″ bar spacing – Safe for babies and dwarves
    • 6″ deep base for bedding
    • Easy access doors, full opening top, 2 easy to remove/clean shelves
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 4.7 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 7.69 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 6-10
      • Standards: 3-5
    • Available at: Amazon, Chewy
  • Frisco 2-Story Small Animal Home
    • 1/2″ bar spacing – Safe for babies and dwarves!
    • Great floor space. Built in bedding/urine guards
    • 4 large, easy access doors, 2 shelves and metal rack.
    • A lot of space, but will take a lot to fill in order to utilize most of it.
    • Under-cage storage shelf.
    • Cage extensions and single level available.
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 12.75 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 24.4 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 10-20
      • Standards: 10-16
    • Available at: Chewy
  • My First Home 2-level Habitat
    • 3/8″ bar spacing – safe for all rats
    • 2 nice size, easy access doors and one shelf
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 3.875 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 6.46 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 4-6
      • Standards: 3-4
    • Available at: Amazon
  • Habituway
    • 1/2″ bar spacing – safe for all rats
    • 2 nice size, easy access doors and one large shelf
    • Floor Space (w/o shelves) = 5.75 sq. feet
    • Entire Cage Space (w/o shelves) = 18.69 cu. feet (will take more to fill up)
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 12-16
      • Standards: 6-8
    • Available at: Amazon
  • 2 Story MCage
    • 1/2″ bar spacing – safe for all rats
    • 2 large doors (one on each level opens) and 2 shelves
    • Under cage storage
    • Floor space (w/o shelves) = 5.83 sq. feet
    • Entire cage space (w/o shelves) = 9.48 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 10-14
      • Standards: 6-8
    • Available at: Amazon
  • MCage Single Story
    • 1/2″ bar spacing – safe for all rats
    • 2 large doors (one on each level opens) and 2 shelves
    • Under cage storage
    • Floor space (w/o shelves) = 2.9 sq. feet
    • Entire cage space (w/o shelves) = 4.86 cu. feet
    • Can hold up to:
      • Dwarves: 4-6
      • Standards: 3-4
    • Available at: Amazon

CARRIERS

I recommend just initially investing in a hard-sided carrier instead of buying anything fabric. Fabric is easy to chew out of, harder to clean/wash, and isn’t going to hold up long term in comparison. They’re cute, but not really practical.

Some links provided are affiliate links and may generate a small amount of revenue for me when used. This does not discount the researched suggestion, but helps compensate my time and energy.

DWARF ONLY
  • Prevue Pet Traveling Cage
    • 3/8 inch bar spacing
    • Smaller floor space but great for a couple dwarves
    • Secure door and side latches
    • Available at: Amazon, Chewy
  • You and Me Small Pet Carrier
    • Easy access
    • Secure
    • Safe bar spacing
    • Available at: Amazon
STANDARDS AND DWARVES:
  • FRISCO Top-Loading – Small Carrier
    • Secure
    • Can be slightly harder to open
    • X-small is great for a couple dwarves
    • Available at: Chewy
  • FRISCO Top-Loading Carrier Sm or Md
    • Different style, easier to open!
    • Secure
    • Great space for babies and adults
    • Available at: Chewy
  • Trixie Transport Crate
    • Multiple sizes so great for standards (largest size) or dwarves
    • Rat safe hole sizes
    • Hard sided
    • Available at: Amazon
  • PetMate Dog Crate 1 Door
    • Hard Sided
    • Top Access
    • Great for multiple rats
    • Available at: Amazon
  • Hamster/Guinea Pig Carrier
    • Hard Sided
    • Top Access
    • Cute Colors
    • Available at: Amazon

OUT OF CAGE TIME

  • FRISCO Wire Playpen – 29″ High
    • Has door
    • 1″ bar spacing
    • Only Suitable for adult rats
    • 5.84 sq feet of floor space
    • Available at: Chewy
  • Songmics Pet Playpen – 22.4″ High
    • 11 sq. feet of floor space
    • Safe for all rats
    • Available at: Amazon
  • Viscoo Small Animal Play Pen – 16″ High
    • 1/2″ bar spacing
    • 8+ sq feet of floor space
    • Door!
    • Available at: Amazon