Hello there :) introducing my 3 new boys

[Nyu]

Merlin, Teddy, and Sirius. Around 13 weeks old and very friendly (although dont take them out the cage much but I sit by them every day and make a big fuss which they love) x


...I think I attatched picture files. Im pretty new to this lol

 

[ViciousCurse]

Welcome to the forum and what an adorable bunch you've got there! Very handsome boys and very lucky to be in a DCN-like cage right away.

Don't be afraid to fill it up with more hides! Rats enjoy hides whether hanging on on the ground. Also, for the wire bottom on the lowest level of the cage, I would be cautious as that can cause a higher likelihood of bumblefoot in rats, which is a nasty infection centered around the feet and lower legs of rats. Some members here may argue that wire bottoms don't increase the likelihood.

If you're worried about smell, you can get a solid bottom with raised edges for bedding, or stick to fleece and add more litterboxes. Litterbox training is a breeze with rats!

 

[Nyu]

Wow what a lovely reply! Thanks for the suggestions, I will certainly take them inti account! Ive just made some new hides and planning on making more. I'll attatch a picture as for the smell, i wipe down the bars with flash wipes to clean them and thoroughly re wipe them with baby wipes to make sure no chemicals are left on them. Do you think its worth cutting some fleece to cover the bars which they walk on? I have clipped some cushion covers down for now under the water bowls so they at least have some places for comfort on their feet but worry its not enough. Would you recommend a litter box on every level? Thank you so much for taking the time to reply x

 

[ViciousCurse]

Aww, your hides are adorable! I'll need to find a tutorial on how to make those. I'm sure my boys would go crazy for them.

As for baby wipes, use the unscented variety. I don't know if you have Target in the UK, but I use Target's brand for unscented baby wipes. I use them to clean down plastic hides, wipe any urine or anything that's on the bars, their levels, etc. Anything unscented is the best for rats, including no scented candles, no aerosols, unscented bedding, etc. Anything scented can lead to issues with breathing.

I think it's definitely worth covering the bars with some fleece. Personally, I think it's just painful to watch them walk on bars.

As for litterboxes, it's up to the rats. They tend to poo and pee in specific corners of the cage, and those corners can differ from level to level. Once you find those specific corners (whether it be on just one level or every level) go ahead and place down some litterboxes. If there isn't enough room for a litterbox, go ahead and manually move the poo to the litterboxes to teach them to potty in litterboxes and not there. My boys decided they wanted more littrboxes by pooing in another corner, so I gave them another litterbox.