How to Make a Rat Cage

 

Materials:

Tools:

 

Instructions:

Step 1

Using the wire cutters, cut the 14' length of 16 gauge 24"W (1/2" X 1" cage wire) into desired lengths as follows:

PIECE SIZE
cage top 14" x 20"
cage front 20" x 20"
cage back 20" x 20"
cage side 14" x 20"
cage side 14" x 20"

Remember: for every cut you make, you will be losing 1" of wire length. See diagram below.

The red lines are indicative of where you will be losing an inch of wire length with each cut.

Step 2

Now you should have 5 pieces of cage wire cut to the above proportions. Lay them out on the floor and measure them . Label each piece with masking tape and a marker (top, front, back, side1, side2).

All 4 sides of each piece of cage wire should be solid (correct). They should not have any ragged edges (incorrect).

correct

incorrect

 

Step 3

  1. Lay the TOP on the floor. Line up the FRONT edge with the TOP edge. Both should be 20". Secure them with clips or rings.

  2. Now line up the BACK edge with the TOP edge and secure.

  3. Secure both SIDES to the TOP as well as the FRONT and BACK edges.

Step 4

Place the cage into the plastic storage box.

Step 5

Measure where you want the 8" x 10" front door to be. Cut the door opening.

Step 6

Now you will have to measure and cut a door that is 10"x 12" because you will want the door to overlap the door opening by 2" to prevent escapes.

Decide how you want your door to hang. Do you want it to swing up & out, or up & in, or out & down, or sideways.

If your door is going to swing up & in, don't forget to mount it to the inside of the cage :)

Secure 1 edge of the door to the edge of the door opening. If the door over hangs too much you can now trim it back a little.

Step 7

Now just add the finishing touches:

  • door latches

  • handles

  • shelves

Measure where you want shelves and use the storage box lid for shelving! It is best to cut the shelves in 90 degree V-shapes to stregthen the corners of the cage.

Tip: I've found that corner litter pans made for ferrets and rabbits make excellent skelves and lookout decks. They can hold litter and are easily mounted or hung to the cage wire. I also like to use Sterilite® clear storage bins, they are different sizes though, so you'll have to measure your wire differently. Be creative...the goal is a rat cage that meets your needs...without breaking the bank!

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