General: Of all the health problems rats suffer from, respiratory ailments are the most common so it is essential that your rats live in an environment that doesn't put undue stress on their immune systems. Rats can be kept at any room temperature not exceeding 23°C, provided that the temperature is constant. Sudden changes in temperature also put undue stress on the rat's immune system therefore they need to be kept free from draughts.

Cages: Rats do not live in hamster cages! Rats love to climb and most rats will elect to sleep in the highest available 'bunk'. Without exercise, rats quickly become overweight and out of condition (especially as they get older) so it is vitally important they get enough room to run about when they want to. Even if they are going to get a lot of out-of-cage time they still need a relatively large floor area to hold enough litter to keep them clean for a week. Cleaning out rats is not one of the highlights of rat-keeping - choose a cage that is going to be easy to clean. Bar spacing should not exceed 20mm. Finally, accessibility should be a consideration - you may often need to pick rats out of a cage whether they want to come out or not!

Aquariums: are not recommended for rats. Firstly they have nothing to climb on and secondly, unless you are prepared to clean them out every 2 days, they are unhealthy for them. Rats produce quite a lot of ammonia but, with a well ventilated cage, this is not noticeable. Ammonia is heavier than air so, in an aquarium, it just sits there in the bottom of the tank contaminating the air supply.

Free range rats are a joy to behold but few of us have lifestyles that could safely accommodate them. You would also be restricted to a single sex colony for obvious reasons. A rat-proof room on the other hand is a great way of letting same sex groups exercise out of their cages provided you are careful where you walk or sit.

We have yet to find a perfect rat cage, but the one that comes closest (and the one we would recommend) is the Terenziani Michelangelo (or one of its many guises)

Cons

• Can be difficult to source

• Tricky initial assembly

• Unreliable cage-to-base clips

• Hardly decorative

• Surplus mesh floor

The Terenziani Michelangelo cage is the ideal starter cage for your rats. There are not many hobbies or activities where your entry-level equipment is the same as the professional standard, but rat-keeping is an exception if you are doing it properly. Indeed, as our more exotic and more expensive bird cages near the end of their lives, we are steadily replacing them with Terenzianis. You should be aware that there are two types of fake Terenziani cages on the market. One of these fakes is very poor quality indeed and will rust within the first year. To ensure that you have a genuine one, look for the Terenziani label at the bottom right hand corner on the front of the base. You should expect to pay around £55.00.

The Terenziani Michelangelo