Below is a list of products I personally recommend for rat owners and potential rat owners. There may be good products not listed here either because I have not personally tried them or because I personally disliked them, but that does not mean they are not good products. This list is simply my own recommendations based on my tastes and experience.
Cages
The first thing you will need to consider when getting ready for your new rats is where they will live. What type of space do you have allotted for them?
There are essentially only two types of cages I recommend.
Martin's Cages
The Rat Cabin (R-670) or larger makes a good home for rats. I always get them with a flip top lid and powder coated bars. They also make custom cages for very reasonable prices. My preference is to remove the shelves and make my own, as wire shelves are difficult to clean and some say it can contribute to bumblefoot. The small doors make it easy to contain flighty rats and because the doors are very light weight, there is little to no risk of the door hurting the rats when closing. Assembly is required, but for the smaller cages, a single person can usually do it. I have never purchased larger cages from them, but I assume the larger size would add difficulty and may require assistance. Similarly shaped cages can be attached to each other to form larger cages.
Critter Nation
Also sold as the "All Living Things Multi-Level Small Animal Cage" at Petsmart. It can be bought in single units or as a "double critter nation" where the units are stacked. You can also buy a single unit and later buy an add on to put atop it. In fact, you can make it three units tall, though I personally don't advise that as it can be difficult to reach the top unit. In addition to units stacking, many people connect units side by side, making a "quad critter nation" or even larger. I do highly recommend doing so as it can create a very large space for rats to enjoy. These cages are usually the #1 recommended cage for rats, but there are downsides. The heavy swinging doors can easily injure or kill a rat if they were to swing shut at the wrong time. In addition, the pans it comes with work well for fleece but it is not deep enough to hold in bedding.
There are essentially only two types of cages I recommend.
Martin's Cages
The Rat Cabin (R-670) or larger makes a good home for rats. I always get them with a flip top lid and powder coated bars. They also make custom cages for very reasonable prices. My preference is to remove the shelves and make my own, as wire shelves are difficult to clean and some say it can contribute to bumblefoot. The small doors make it easy to contain flighty rats and because the doors are very light weight, there is little to no risk of the door hurting the rats when closing. Assembly is required, but for the smaller cages, a single person can usually do it. I have never purchased larger cages from them, but I assume the larger size would add difficulty and may require assistance. Similarly shaped cages can be attached to each other to form larger cages.
Critter Nation
Also sold as the "All Living Things Multi-Level Small Animal Cage" at Petsmart. It can be bought in single units or as a "double critter nation" where the units are stacked. You can also buy a single unit and later buy an add on to put atop it. In fact, you can make it three units tall, though I personally don't advise that as it can be difficult to reach the top unit. In addition to units stacking, many people connect units side by side, making a "quad critter nation" or even larger. I do highly recommend doing so as it can create a very large space for rats to enjoy. These cages are usually the #1 recommended cage for rats, but there are downsides. The heavy swinging doors can easily injure or kill a rat if they were to swing shut at the wrong time. In addition, the pans it comes with work well for fleece but it is not deep enough to hold in bedding.
Bedding
There is a lot of debate about the best substrate for rats. The main concerns for me are whether it is dusty or if I may be allergic to it. I do not and have never used wood of any sort, but supposedly aspen is fine. I won't go into that and I personally would advise against wood because in my opinion, wood of any kind can cause issues. I will go into what I have used.
Fleece
For fleece, you can buy fleece from fabric stores by the yard or as simple fleece blankets (Walmart sells them cheap in cooler months). To use it, it must be washed twice to make it so it will wick away moisture and then you will need something absorbent underneath. I personally stopped using fleece fairly quickly because my rats tore it up and I did not have the energy to wash it. Also, there is no odor control. However, many people love using fleece.
Paper based bedding
I personally use brown, unscented Kaytee Clean and Cozy. I used to use white, but it is a texture I dislike. Paper beddings in general are supposed to be extremely absorbent and have odor controlling properties. Some people have said they have allergic reactions to certain types of paper bedding, such as Carefesh and as such, I've avoided it just in case. Many favor Carefresh, however, so I do believe it to be a good brand overall. Just watch out of dustiness. It can vary from bag to bag. To fix it, you can shake out the bedding before using it.
Fleece
For fleece, you can buy fleece from fabric stores by the yard or as simple fleece blankets (Walmart sells them cheap in cooler months). To use it, it must be washed twice to make it so it will wick away moisture and then you will need something absorbent underneath. I personally stopped using fleece fairly quickly because my rats tore it up and I did not have the energy to wash it. Also, there is no odor control. However, many people love using fleece.
Paper based bedding
I personally use brown, unscented Kaytee Clean and Cozy. I used to use white, but it is a texture I dislike. Paper beddings in general are supposed to be extremely absorbent and have odor controlling properties. Some people have said they have allergic reactions to certain types of paper bedding, such as Carefesh and as such, I've avoided it just in case. Many favor Carefresh, however, so I do believe it to be a good brand overall. Just watch out of dustiness. It can vary from bag to bag. To fix it, you can shake out the bedding before using it.
Food
Lots of people have differing opinions on what is a good food for rats. These are just my opinions and what I prefer and I am not condemning others who make other choices.
Oxbow Adult Rat Food
When I first started out, I fed them Oxbow. I know they make other types like Garden Select now and I do not know the quality of that food, but their original adult rat food is fairly good. I no longer feed it as I am allergic to wheat and it was causing issues for me, but it is the only brand name food I can recommend. That said, it is not complete by itself.
Fresh food
Rats will greatly benefit from getting fresh or frozen veggies on a regular basis. As well as occasional meats. Fruits are good as well, just be aware of sugar content. It should not be their main diet, but it will help their diet be more complete. I will not go into it here, but there are certain veggies, fruits, and meats that should be avoided. Research whatever you plan on giving them first.
Homemade diets
These vary greatly, so I cannot say they are inherently good or bad. The diet I make for mine seems to work well, as long as I give them other foods as well such as fresh food and dog food. All I can really say on the subject is do research, watch the sugar content, and most importantly, take cues from your rats. Different rats have different needs, so not every diet works for every rat.
Oxbow Adult Rat Food
When I first started out, I fed them Oxbow. I know they make other types like Garden Select now and I do not know the quality of that food, but their original adult rat food is fairly good. I no longer feed it as I am allergic to wheat and it was causing issues for me, but it is the only brand name food I can recommend. That said, it is not complete by itself.
Fresh food
Rats will greatly benefit from getting fresh or frozen veggies on a regular basis. As well as occasional meats. Fruits are good as well, just be aware of sugar content. It should not be their main diet, but it will help their diet be more complete. I will not go into it here, but there are certain veggies, fruits, and meats that should be avoided. Research whatever you plan on giving them first.
Homemade diets
These vary greatly, so I cannot say they are inherently good or bad. The diet I make for mine seems to work well, as long as I give them other foods as well such as fresh food and dog food. All I can really say on the subject is do research, watch the sugar content, and most importantly, take cues from your rats. Different rats have different needs, so not every diet works for every rat.
Carriers
Carriers are important for when you pick up your rats as well as in case you need to transport them anywhere, such as to the vet. There are several small pet carriers on the market, but not all of them are ideal.
Living World Hagen Pet Carrier
This is the only carrier I use. It is good because it is solid plastic rather than cloth, meaning it won't easily get crushed or collapse should anything go wrong during a trip. It had decent ventilation, but always keep an eye on your pets while inside the carrier as it can get stuffy or get overheated in certain conditions. Also, some of these snap shut very quickly and can injure curious rat paws or noses. Not all of them do, however, so if you purchase one, take the time to get comfortable opening and closing the carrier. The latch isn't especially secure and may open if it is handled roughly. All in all, it is secure as long as it is properly handled. You will need to add cushioning to the inside, either in the form of bedding, fleece, or even just shredded toilet paper or paper towels, to keep the animal safe and comfortable inside. It is a tight fit, but two to three rats can be kept inside if needed.
Living World Hagen Pet Carrier
This is the only carrier I use. It is good because it is solid plastic rather than cloth, meaning it won't easily get crushed or collapse should anything go wrong during a trip. It had decent ventilation, but always keep an eye on your pets while inside the carrier as it can get stuffy or get overheated in certain conditions. Also, some of these snap shut very quickly and can injure curious rat paws or noses. Not all of them do, however, so if you purchase one, take the time to get comfortable opening and closing the carrier. The latch isn't especially secure and may open if it is handled roughly. All in all, it is secure as long as it is properly handled. You will need to add cushioning to the inside, either in the form of bedding, fleece, or even just shredded toilet paper or paper towels, to keep the animal safe and comfortable inside. It is a tight fit, but two to three rats can be kept inside if needed.
Water Bottles
I'll be honest: I don't use a great variety of water bottles. I've used the same ones practically since I first got rats. Actually, it wasn't until a few months after I got rats, when I got gerbils, and discovered this water bottle.
Petco/You & Me Universal Water Bottle
It hangs on the inside of the cage and it is made of plastic, but I have never had a problem with it being chewed on. If you have a known chewer, I wouldn't recommend this water bottle, but otherwise, it is great. I've rarely had ones that leak or don't work at all, though it can happen. Perhaps I just have had bad luck with water bottles, but every other type I tried just didn't work so I stuck with these. They're inexpensive and they work, so I didn't see a point to getting any others.
Petco/You & Me Universal Water Bottle
It hangs on the inside of the cage and it is made of plastic, but I have never had a problem with it being chewed on. If you have a known chewer, I wouldn't recommend this water bottle, but otherwise, it is great. I've rarely had ones that leak or don't work at all, though it can happen. Perhaps I just have had bad luck with water bottles, but every other type I tried just didn't work so I stuck with these. They're inexpensive and they work, so I didn't see a point to getting any others.
Wheels
You may hear people say male rats don't use wheels, but let me tell you: all sorts of rats could appreciate a good wheel. Now, not every rat will and it certainly isn't a necessity. They can be expensive and perhaps a waste of money for some people if their rats don't take to it. If you do want a wheel, the ones below are not the only good ones, just the only ones I personally have purchased. Just make sure the wheel is at least 12 inches across (preferably bigger for larger rats, but that can be hard to find) and has no place a tail can get caught in.
Exotic Nutrition
I haven't used this wheel for rats yet. I bought it for my syrian hamster. It looks a bit small for a large rat, but small females should be able to use it with no issues. The front panel can keep an overzealous rat from getting flung from the wheel or simply provide cover, making the rat feel safer as it trots along. It has a light texture along the track and does have the option of getting harsher texture for better grip and to help file nails. I haven't tried the harsher texture, so I cannot say whether it would damage rat feet or not. They may make a larger wheel, but again, this is one I bought for my hamster, not a rat. I do highly recommend it in general, however. My favorite part is the heavy stand it comes on, along with the option to connect it to a cage with a much better grip than most wheels can.
Comfort Wheel
So far, this is the only wheel I use for my rats. They are inexpensive and you do get what you pay for. They are not nearly as steady and secure as the wheel listed above. They work fine, but easily get knocked over and don't bother trying to connect it to the side of a cage. It won't stay. I like the wheels fine. They work. I just am always having to pick them up after they've been knocked over, so at the time of writing this, none of my rats have wheels in their cages because they are just too much hassle for me.
Exotic Nutrition
I haven't used this wheel for rats yet. I bought it for my syrian hamster. It looks a bit small for a large rat, but small females should be able to use it with no issues. The front panel can keep an overzealous rat from getting flung from the wheel or simply provide cover, making the rat feel safer as it trots along. It has a light texture along the track and does have the option of getting harsher texture for better grip and to help file nails. I haven't tried the harsher texture, so I cannot say whether it would damage rat feet or not. They may make a larger wheel, but again, this is one I bought for my hamster, not a rat. I do highly recommend it in general, however. My favorite part is the heavy stand it comes on, along with the option to connect it to a cage with a much better grip than most wheels can.
Comfort Wheel
So far, this is the only wheel I use for my rats. They are inexpensive and you do get what you pay for. They are not nearly as steady and secure as the wheel listed above. They work fine, but easily get knocked over and don't bother trying to connect it to the side of a cage. It won't stay. I like the wheels fine. They work. I just am always having to pick them up after they've been knocked over, so at the time of writing this, none of my rats have wheels in their cages because they are just too much hassle for me.
Hamster Balls
I see so many people buying these. Please don't. Here is a quick list of reasons not to use them. Please research further if it doesn't convence you.
- Rats have sensitive respiratory systems and those balls have little ventilation
- Rat toes can get stuck in the holes
- Unlike wheels, the rat can't opt out of the ball. They're stuck until the human releases them.
- Rats use all their senses to explore: the ball denies them most of those (smell, touch, and even hearing and they don't have good eyesight)
- The rat may relief itself inside and then be running in urine or feces until the human notices
- The balls are not even safe or beneficial for hamsters and mice