Website Updated October.1.2024
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Here is a List Of Cages Not To Buy
On this page as with my "Best Cages to Buy" I will teach you what good and bad cages look like. In this way you can get appropriate, safe caging for your pet rats.
These are completely inappropriate for rats. Most if not all are made by big box super stores and marketed to make money and are disposable. They will get chewed up in days or weeks and are a danger to you pet because of swallowing the plastic. Or they are WAY to small for rats in general.
Do not buy these cages! Most of the cages listed below are 16" or smaller on one side, the Norway rat is 18" long. So they cannot turn around in these cages unless they tuck something in. And that is miserable and unfair to the animal.
All of the pictures listed below were found on random internet searches. Unless specified where I got the picture. And credit belongs there.
The Pet Co Rat Manor - Absolute worst cage on the market!
The Pet Co Rat Manor
The 1st on my list and the worst offender for unsutableness for rats. While its all metal, its too small for an adult rat, adult rats are 18" long. This cage is not big enough for rats over 5 weeks old. An adult rat with its tail out wont be able to turn around in it. The levels are 1/4" wire and the poop cant fall through it. It just mashes into it causing bumble foot. Bumble foot is an infection to the foot caused by getting pee and poop in a wound.
All Living Things Starter Cage
The All Living Things Starter Rat Cage
2nd offender on my list is the Pets Mart All Living Things Starter Cage. Its all plastic levels and ramps are chewable and dangerous to the rats tummies. These levels, ramps and cage bottom have been known to be chewed through in 2 weeks from the purchase date. Waist of money and an unsafe money maker for this super store!
Super Pet Defined Habbitat
The Super Pet Defined Habitat for Rats
OK need I say anything here? This cage is not big enough for baby rats. Its all plastic dangerous, and just plain abuse!
This goes for all models of Super Pet cages because of them being cheap and dangerous plastic.
Grreat Choice Pet Home for Small Animals - Or any KayTee Cages
Grreat Choice™ Pet Home for Small Animals
Ok, rats need several levels to climb on. They cannot be restrained to one flat level with nowhere to go. They have a lot of energy and need to expend it. If they don't have room to use up their energy they will do things like chew through the cheapy dangerous plastic bottom this cage offers. This cage will be shrapnel in less then a month.
Any of the KayTee cages that are built like this are bad. They all have this cheap plastic bottom that can get chewed, and cheapy plastic levels that are dangerous for rats because they will chew them up. If you see these cages with plastic bottoms like this or plastic levels like these, do not buy them!
The Ferret Nation Or Feisty Ferret
The Ferret Nation Or Preview Feisty Ferret Cages
These cages are built for ferrets. Not rats. Adult males of 2-3 lbs can and do walk right out of it with ease. Bar spacing is 7/8". Just because someone has had rats in these cage and has not had an issue with the rats getting out does not make it appropriate. The rats will get out of this cage.
The rats are more important than getting a big cage for free or for cheap on Craigs list. Which is usually where people get this cage.
16" MCage
16" MCage
Updated 10.26.2023 - Another new cage I am adding to the do not purchase list is this small MCage. Its 16" on one side. Norway rats are 18" long. So the rat cannot turn around unless they tuck something in. This cage lists as a rat cage. It is not. Its a good Hamster cage. But definitely not big enough for rats.
This thing would work as a carrier for short trips is about all.
Typically the MCage brand is fantastic. But they are normally big steel cages on a stand with casters. I guess they decided to add this little thing to their line up as well. If you are looking at MCages do not buy this one.
Picture from Chewy. I will recommend against this cage for rats. As it says chew proof. It is not. Rats can chew every bit of wood in-between those bars. That cage will be gone in no time. After all what do we buy rats for chew toys? Wood!
Also stains and paints on wood cages are toxic for rats. You also cannot sanitize wood. So once its dirty you can't clean it. Theres also no way to put in in your shower and wash it because it will swell. And the pee won't come out of the tight crevices.
Any time you see a wood cage. Stay away from it. They are all a no no.