What to put in it?
Any bird cage needs to have at least one bowl for food and one bowl for water (or a bottle) in it. A cage also needs to have various perches of differing sizes to give your parrot plenty of places to climb and rest. Toys are also a necessity to ensure your bird remains healthy and happy. Parrots are very intelligent and soon become bored if they have nothing to stimulate them.

Where to put it?
Parrot cages should not be directly in front of a window, in direct sunlight or in a draught of any kind. Any room where fumes or steam are a feature such as kitchens and bathrooms are not suitable as parrots have sensitive respiratory systems. Having your parrot’s cage in a family room can go along way to helping them feel more like part of the family group. However, it is best to avoid having a cage too near to a television as this can be a little too intense and so make your bird stress.

Whether you need a parrot cage, rat cage or chinchilla cage, talk to us here at ideas-4-pets first.

But it is possible to add pets to your residence in a way that can actually enhance its appearance. For example, you can invest in an attractive vivarium. Such ‘places of life’, as they are translated in Latin, can hold a range of reptiles, depending on your preferences, and they look great as a feature.

In a similar way to aquariums, they draw people’s attention and as much as they are a practical means of keeping animals, they also have a design element. They can add an air of class and sophistication to your home and they are bound to be a source of interest among guests.

However, if get a vivarium to keep pets in, you should make sure you do your research and so you are able to look after the creatures properly. After all, reptiles need specific conditions in order to survive and flourish and they also have strict dietary requirements.

Of course, adding such creatures to your abode may not be something that appeals to you. If this is the case, you should consider other options. For example, a rat cage and its furry resident may be ideal for you. Or perhaps parrot cages or rabbit hutches are more what you are looking for.

Whatever you prefer, you should be able to find what you’re looking for here at ideas-4-pets.

Whatever your new pet is, you’ll need to make sure that you have everything in place, so lets start with looking at rats. Not everyone likes the idea of keeping a rat as a pet, but for those who do, they have nothing but praise for these much maligned rodents. When you choose your pet rat cage, try and select one which has plenty of things to keep him occupied. You’ll find plenty of examples of these right here on the website, and incidentally, if you are looking to buy another type of rodent as a pet, you’ll also find the perfect chinchilla cage as well.

But lets stay with rats for the moment. When you bring him home for the first time, let him get used to not only his surroundings, but to you as well. The sooner he gets to know your smell and the sound of your voice, the faster he will settle in. Unless a rat is unwell, you can handle them as much as possible, which will once again help them to relax. The maxim is, take as much advice on your new pet, and make them as comfortable as possible with the right dog bed, rat cage or chinchilla cage.

Since the 19th century, the domesticated rat has been a loved pet. However, most people would refuse to have them in their home as they believe them to be a creature that carries bacteria and diseases. Many are not aware that a pet rat is no more of a health risk than the cat or dog.

The pet rat is perfect for those that would like a pet but do not have time to care for them full-time. A pet dog or cat demands a lot of attention, and it is important you are there to give it to them, however a rat is less demanding.

Unlike a rabbit or guinea pig, rats do not have a strong odour, therefore you can be sure that your home will remain fresh and clean smelling. As they are very social creatures, you can guarantee they will love to interact with you.

As the rats may be alone in the rat cage for the majority of the day, you can help to keep them happy by giving them some playmates. When purchasing, most people buy three so the other two rats will not be left alone if a rat unfortunately passes on.

If you are considering purchasing a rat then the IMAC rat cage is a good first cage for your new rodent, as it has a play tube for your active pet, a platform for them to sit on and a feeding bowl.

Ideas4Pets have a wide range of rat cages and small animal cages to choose from. So whether you live alone or with a family, a pet rat is sure to provide you with love, companionship and entertainment. Visit our website today to find out more.

A large percentage of people accuse rats of being dangerous and disgusting. This is predominantly due to stories relating to wild rats rather than domestic ones.

Rats are domesticated, highly intelligent, intuitive and friendly animals. Handling rats regularly will form a bond between a rat and his owner as with any other pet.

Domestic rats kept as pets are clean, they groom themselves daily and they are house proud, looking after their pet rat cages. Give them good pet products such as commercial rat food and plenty of water and your pet rat will be happy.

It is well known that keeping a rat as a companion can help with some health worries such as stress. Rats are known to have a long life span and are happier if they have a companion.

We at Ideas-4-Pets have a wide range of pet rat cages for you to choose from. There are small or large pet rat cages for you to decide which you like best.

The pet rat cages are lightweight and have a plastic base and a rigid wire top which can be unclipped for easy access. Other pet rat cages are available with two tiers to allow more room for your pet rat to have plenty of room to run around.

It is important you measure the space you have allocated to keep your pet rat cage in before choosing the design of cage, as it would be a shame if you find your pet rat cage is too large or small for the area.

Contact us at Ideas-4-Pets if you require more information on the care of pet rats.

One thing that is not negotiable, is keeping a pet rat in a make-shift home. It is simply not fair to the rat or rats to live in a cramped and unsuitable environment and it will make them unhappy, also sometimes resulting in health problems.

We stock a large selection of pet rat cages that are designed especially to house rats in comfort. The important thing to decide when you buy a pet rat cage is whether you are going to have only one rat or more. The reason for this is that if you want several rats, your choice of pet rat cage will be different. Then you should look at the range of chinchilla and ferret cages we have in stock that are larger.

Wide choice

Once you have decided on the size of pet rat cage you need you can start looking at the different styles we have on offer. There is great variety in the styles so it will be up to you what style you prefer.

Where you are going to put your pet rat cage is important and whether you will be moving the cage to different locations often. If this is the case, you should look at the different cages with wheels we have on offer as it makes moving it around easier. The main thing is to get a pet rat cage with enough room to keep your pet or pets in comfort.

The small pets that people like to keep range from hamsters to mice and rats, chinchillas to ferrets. The best part is that Ideas-4-Pets has a cage for each and every one of them. Our variety of small animal cages is sure to tickle anyone’s fancy.

Small animal cages

Small animal cages should not be tiny and pokey, in fact, they can be rather roomy and elaborate to give your pets the best quality of life possible. These cages need to cater to all of the needs of these little critters. Ferret and chinchilla cages can actually get quite big and take up a reasonable amount of space so you need to ensure you have the room to keep these pets happy and healthy before you bring them home.

These small animal cages can range from simple single story or tiered cages to multiple tiered or storey mansions for comfortable living. Our small animal cages can get quite creative and elaborate, allowing your critter to live and play in lots of space.

Hamster cages are possibly the most creative of all the small animal cages. Pipes and connectors create elaborate tunnels and runs for your hammy to roam and have fun in. Small animal cages offer fun, creativity and a cosy home for your furry friends. We offer you only the best quality to pamper and care for your pets. Browse through our selection of small animal cages to find the perfect one.

Advantages of glass housing

Glass is easy to keep clean

Glass doesn’t hold on to any bad odours

Glass keeps your rat’s bedding mess contained

Glass also keeps droppings and any spilled food contained

Glass gives the rat owner a good view of their pets.

Some rat owners prefer an aquarium as their adventurous rats are unable to climb the glass sides

Disadvantages of glass housing

You cannot always get a large enough aquarium if you want to keep multiple rats, although the Arena 60 and Arena 80 aquariums are great

Certain rat owners feel that there is not enough air circulation in the glass aquariums so look for those that do have adequate ventilation in them

Others say that an aquarium has to be cleaned more frequently than rat cages but you could argue that your rat cage should be kept pristine whether it is glass or metal.

It has been reported that the temperatures inside a glass tank can be higher than the room temperature and that as rats suffer heat strokes very easily, this could be a huge disadvantage. One way round this would be to place the glass tank into a cool room so that the temperature does not get too hot for them.

Small glass tanks are not ideal as they are often are not wide enough for larger males to move around (18″ minimum is usually recommended).

Rats can chew and have been known to inject the silicone sealant that is usually used on glass tanks so care should be taken to make sure that this is not happening.

Glass tanks can be difficult to store as they cannot be disassembled

Some aquariums can be VERY heavy so an aquarium large enough for two rats could be much too heavy to carry alone. However, some of the more modern glass housing is supplied with a stand on castors which eliminates this problem.

Advantages of Metal Rat Cages

Metal rat cages are available in all sorts of designs and sizes

They offer lots of opportunity for adding hammocks, climbing ropes, ladders etc. and the platforms offer multiple levels

The bars allow for plenty of air circulation and also for the rats to climb

Like the glass aquariums, you would still get a good view of your rats

The temperature in the cage would be the same as the room it is situated in so is easy to regulate.

The metal rat cage is easily kept clean, as is the glass one, but can often be disassembled for specific purposes (ie. storage, moving to a new house etc.)

Disadvantages of metal rat cages

Your rat’s bedding can often end up on your carpet if the base isn’t deep enough at the bottom of the cage.

Galvanized metal can absorb rat urine so often owners have no choice but to throw the metal rat cage away after much use.

Chewing on galvanized bars can sometimes result in zinc poisoning which is potentially fatal in rats. It is always adviseable to ask what the cage is made of before purchasing.

Rats can sometimes hurt their feet, twist their ankles or even break their legs in the wires. Make sure that any platforms are solid to avoid bumblefoot.

They can sometimes be expensive but this often depends upon the style, size and quality of the cage.

Cats are probably cheaper to keep, but will still require one or two cat beds,  a cat collar, cat toys, a litter tray and maybe an outside cat kennel and a cat run if your garden is not secure or you have a cat that likes to wander.  Again, there is the cost of cat food and treats.

Many would-be pet owners are looking towards purchasing a rabbit or guinea pig as they are cheaper to keep once the rabbit hutch and rabbit run have been purchased.  Toys for rabbits and guinea pigs are relatively inexpensive and a good quality food does not cost too much either.

The rat is on the “up” according to recent reports, particularly the fancy rat.  People are far more  prepared to accept that these delightful rodents are nothing like their wild brothers and that they really do make an ideal pet for anyone from the age of about 7 years upwards.  Did you know that they now occupy 10th position on the list of most popular pets in the UK and are further up the list than gerbils and mice.

The rat is a lively little creature with a great deal of intelligence.  They interact well with their owners and as they are not skittish, they are as emotionally rewarding as a cat or many breeds of dog.

Rats are available in a wide range of colours and markings including such exotic shades as silver fawn (a bright gingery shade), Russian blue (an almost metallic sheen on a slate blue base) Siamese (like the cats – seal point or blue point – with ruby or black eyes),  the Hooded with its coloured head and dorsal stripe and the Variegated with mottled patches  and spots on a white body.  If you want a coat variation, the go for the curly haired Rex.

There have recently been two “sub-species” developed  – the Dumbo rat which has large “Dumbo” ears set on the lower part of its head and makes it look a little bit like a French lop eared rabbit and the Hairless rat which as its name suggests, is almost devoid of hair.  Their bodies are covered in a soft, fine, peach-like down and they have curly fur on their faces as they have been derived from the Rex rat.  Both these species have been developed in the US but are now being bred in larger number in the UK.  Admittedly the hairless rats are an acquired taste, but as pets they are just as tame and friendly as those with coats.  They do tend to be more expensive than their counterparts as they are different and they are certainly a talking point !!

As with other pets, the rat needs a place to live so you would need to invest in a quality rat cage and as mentioned before, as rats are curious, playful little creatures, you would also have to supply some toys and playthings although these are relatively inexpensive and can even be home-made.

The main thing is to provide shelter, food, water, lots of love and time to spend playing and interacting with them and in return you will be rewarded with lots of affection and fun. 

If you, or a member of your family tend to suffer from allergies, then owning a rat as a pet is ideal as, unlike most dogs and cats, they won’t shed their fur everywhere.  A art will only urinate outside of his rat cage if he is nervous cleaning up afteryour rat is quite easy. You don’t need to train a rat, just put some damp newspaper in the corner of his rat cage and you will find that your rat will start to use that corner as her or his own toilet area.

Rats are really cheap to cater for as they will eat lots of things or everything !! You can however,  also buy good quality rat food to ensure that your pet stays healthy and happy.  Your rat will also love to play and although you can put some rat toys from your local pet shop into this rat cage, he will also take great delight in a shoe box or similar and this will keep him busy for hours.  His curious nature will also be satisfied with the middles of toilet paper rolls or kitchen rolls, and he will also enjoy the odd dog chew and play with a pair of socks you can dangle from the top of his cage.

You should handle and play with your rat every day to gain his confidence and then your rat will soon learn to trust you and even learn to do tricks for treats.  If you purchase an adult rat, then this might not always be true unless he has been handled regularly by his previous owner. If he hasn’t he may be distrustful and frightened of you.
Ideally, try and purchase a baby rat but always bear in mind that rats are extremely sociable little animals and they need to have company.  If you can’t spend lots of time playing with your rat, then ideas-4-pets suggest you purchase more than one.  A lone rat left on his own for long periods of time will become very bored and very lonely.  Get 2 rats of the same sex if you can so that you are not over-run with babies !!

When choosing your rats, looks for those with clear, sparkling eyes, glossy fur without any bald patches and with no blood on their noses. A rat with blood discharge from his nasal passages will be sure to be suffering from a respiratory infection and will probably not live very long. It’s also a good idea to pick the little rat up to feel for any odd lumps or bumps as he may have cancer.

Finally, we advise you to look for two rats who appear to be friends and like each other. Just like us, some rats just don’t like each other and if this is the case, male rats will fight for dominance of their rat cage.

Once you have your rats at home. don’t just pick them up and start hugging and playing them.  Remember, that you new rats will want to get a feel for their new home, find out where the loo is, where the food is kept and the water, toys etc. Let them settle in quietly on the first day, and then gently and carefully let them sit in your hands or on your shoulder.  Hold them, pet them lightly and hand-feed them so that they learn to trust you. If you feed them something like peanut butter they can’t just take the food and run and when your rats realize that you only want to feed them and play with them and not harm them, they will soon learn to love you.

You will obviously need to purchase a quality rat cage before you bring your rats home and if you do intend to purchase 2 or more, then you need to look at purchasing a large rat cage. Two female rats should be OK in a medium sized rat cage and all rats will love to have two storeys in their cage or ladders and platforms to play and sit on.  There are plenty of rat cages on the market to choose from and ideas-4-pets have a good selection of single, double, triple rat cages and also those with inserts in for the rats to play on.

It’s always a good idea to have any pet looked at by your vet to make sure all is OK and he will also advise you on the type of food to feed your new pets.

Lastly, always make sure your rat or rats have plenty of clean, fresh water available and that their rat cage is kept in a stress-free zone away from any cats or dogs who may be a little too curious about their new lodgers!!  Keep the rat cage scrupulously clean to prevent any disease and also because you wouldn’t want to live in a smelly, dirty house and neither will your rats !!