Your pet rats will spend most of their life inside of their cage, so it’s a good idea to do your research to ensure you are giving them the best home you can.
Pet rat cages don’t need to be an expensive purchase, but they do need to meet safety and size requirements.
There is a lot of think about before buying your rats’ cage, so we’ve narrowed down the basics of choosing a rat cage and compiled the 5 best rat cages for your pet.
5 Best Rat Cages in 2024
1. Midwest Critter Nation Rat Cage – Best Cage for Two Rats
- Critter Nation Single Unit habitat/cage (161) includes one pan, one adjustable shelf, one plastic...
- Full-width double doors on Critter Nation small animal cage and removeable shelf provide maximum...
- Critter Nation's wide expanse shelf & full width leak-proof pan provides maximized play area &...
- Great for Rats, Chinchillas, Dagus, Ferrets |Tubing (Corners) 0.6 inches square & 1/2 " horizontal...
- Critter Nation Small animal cage measures 36 Length x 25 Width x 38.5 Height Inches| No tools...
This is one of the most popular rat cages available, and for good reason! You can get it in two sizes, single or double, and there is the option of buying an add-on level if you want to add more space. The different levels encourage climbing and exploring.
Pros
- The large doors make it easy to clean and reach around the cage
- Durable
- Spacious
- Soft covers are included for the ramps
Cons
- Heavy
- Less budget friendly
2. Prevue Hendryx 485 Rat’s Cage
- Spacious: This ferret home offers plenty of space for even the most energetic adult ferrets to run,...
- Easy Access: Two large doors means easy access to your small pet. The large hinged cage doors are...
- Easy to Move: Our portable ferret crate with stand features easy-rolling caster wheels to move the...
- Easy to Clean: The platforms, grille, and bottom tray are easy to remove for convenient cleaning....
- Dimensions: This ferret small animal enclosed pen measures 31 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 41 ½...
This cage is another popular choice amongst rat lovers. It’s affordable, and incredibly spacious, and includes two platforms, three ramps, and a hammock.
Pros
- Spacious
- Large doors for easy cleaning and access
- Made from metal
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- The floors are wire, not suitable for rats’ sensitive feet
- It’s designed for ferrets so the wire spacing is too large for baby/small rats
- There are only two doors (Midwest Critter Nation double unit has four) so it’s a bit more difficult to clean and have free access to the cage
3. Kaytee’s My First Home Deluxe w/ Removable Castors
- Easy to clean deep scatterless base can be removed and replaced in a snap
- Provide your small pet with a safe, creative multi-level environment in which to exercise and play
- Includes safety ramps, spiral slide, hammock, Ferret Fun-nel, and 3 comfort shelves
- Dimensions: 24" x 24" x 41.5" with bar spacing: 1"
- Colors Vary
This cage has a cute design and comes with ramps, a tunnel, and a spiral slide. While it’s not the cheapest option on the list, it is a fair price for the size.
Pros
- It’s has a fun, colorful design
- Deep base keeps bedding inside the cage
- Easy Assembly
- Spacious enough for two rats
Cons
- Not the easiest to clean
- Wire spacing is too wide for baby rats
- Low accessibility due to the placement of the doors
4. Kaytee’s My First Home Rat’s Cage – Best Compact Rat Cage
- Durable cage with chew-proof locks and wire for maximum safety and security
- Deep base prevents bedding and litter from spilling out of the cage
- Multiple levels promote healthy exercise and activity
- Solid plastic shelves and ramps are safe and comfortable for pets and easy to clean
- 1/2" wire spacing prevents escapes.Ideal for rats.Cage Dimensions: 25.5" x 12.5" x 14"
This cage has different levels and shelves to explore and ramps to climb. It’s another good option if you don’t have a significant amount of room at home. It’s not the highest quality cage available but with some slight modifications, it will be a good home for your rats.
Pros
- Deep base helps keep bedding inside the cage
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Lots of plastic, avoid if your rats are big chewers
- Cage walls and base don’t lock together well (Some people remedy this by using zip ties)
- Difficult to clean
5. You & Me Rat Manor – Best Three Level Rat Cage
- Rat Manor features four 3/8" wire mesh levels and three ladders
- Wire mesh platforms provide a safe and sanitary living space for your pet rat
- Features washable, chew-proof, heavy duty welded wire that also has a convenient stain-resistant...
- Deep metal base helps to prevent to prevent scatters and spills, which reduces mess around the...
- Spacious enough to allow for various toys and rat supplies
This smaller cage is a good option if you only have two rats and you don’t have a lot of extra space. It’s affordable and has three levels with stairs so there is still room to explore and play.
Pros
- Doesn’t take up a lot of space
- It’s affordable
- Good size for two rats
Cons
- Difficult to assemble
- Inconsistent quality
- Small doors
- Wire platforms
How to Choose the Best Cage for Your Pet Rat
Select The Perfect Rat Cage Size
The size of cage you’ll need to buy depends largely on the number of rats you plan to house together. More rats = larger cage.
A common guideline used for rat cage space is a minimum 2 cubic feet per rat. If your budget is flexible, you should try to get a cage that exceeds this guideline to ensure there is enough space to accommodate their lifestyle and cage accessories.
Rats might be small animals, but they need ample room for playing, sleeping, and getting away from each other from time-to-time.
To find out if the rat cage you’re interested in purchasing is the right size for your rats, you can find free rat cage calculators online. They’re simple to use, you just input the cage measurements (inches) into the calculator, and it will tell you how many rats can be housed together comfortably.
Best Rat Cage Material
The type of material your rats’ cage is made from can have a serious impact on their quality of life and how easy the cage is to maintain.
Coated metal wire cages are preferred by most rat owners because they’re chew proof and allow for good ventilation. Look for cages with a solid base or removable plastic tray – they are easier to clean and safer for your rats’ sensitive feet.
Wooden and plastic cages should be avoided because they don’t provide adequate ventilation and ammonia build-up is difficult to remove from these surfaces.
Wire Spacing
Rats are flexible and can squeeze through some tight spaces if they are determined enough. A good rule of thumb is, if a rat can fit their head through an opening, the rest of their body can fit, too.
For female and young rats, the recommended spacing on rats cages is between bars is ½” or smaller. This spacing is suitable for climbing but will be too small for most rats to escape. Larger male rats can be in cages with 1” or smaller bars without much difficulty.
It’s important to confirm wire spacing before purchasing your rat cage because some cages might be recommended for rats but have slightly larger spacing between bars making them unsuitable for babies or smaller adult rats.
Portability
Rat cages can be quite heavy, especially if you have multiple rats and follow the recommendation of getting a metal cage. For ease of mobility, look for cages that have wheels attached to the base. This will make moving your rats between rooms and sweeping loose bedding an easier task.
Another consideration to think about for rat cages is how easy it is to assemble the cage. Some cages have more complicated instructions than others and may even require some basic tools for assembly. To get an idea about tough it might be to build the cage you’re interested in, look at customer reviews or do a quick Google search.

Accessibility
When it comes to cage cleanings, reorganizing accessories, and interacting with your little pals, accessibility is a very important feature you don’t want to overlook.
A rats cage with a large door is preferred because it will help you retrieve your rats quickly during emergencies, hang water bottles and other accessories, and have easily access for thorough cleanings.
Shelving
Rats are natural climbers, so they will appreciate a cage that offers multiple shelves to climb and explore. Additionally, shelves help fill space that would otherwise be empty and unused because there would be no way for your rats to use it. In addition to shelves, you can use hammocks, hanging tunnels, or accessories like the Lixit Space Pod.
Types of Rat Cages to AVOID
Aquariums
Although you might see them used in television shows or movies, aquariums are not a safe home for your mischief. You shouldn’t use an aquarium because they provide poor air circulation; a dangerous trait for an animal who is susceptible to respiratory infections.
Additionally, your rats can’t climb the walls of an aquarium like they would a wire cage. This eliminates some potential play/exercise and usable space.
Hamster Cages For Rats?
It’s true that some hamster cages are nice to look at, but they are not a practical choice for pet rats. Not only do they provide poor ventilation like an aquarium, they aren’t large enough for any number of rats to live in.
Additionally, some hamster cages have tubes or other accessories that connect to the cage that might be nice for hamsters, but rats will likely get stuck in them.
The Perfect Home for Your Pet Rats
Choosing the best rat cage for your mischief can be a tough decision, but with the help of our cage guide and calculators designed to help you out, you should have no problem finding the perfect home for your pet rats.
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A lover of animals, peace and quiet, and reading. When Fern is not working she will be engrossed in a Fiction book or drooling over the idea of going out for dinner.
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