A couple of rat-related questions...

[CumberdickBendybatch]

I've had lots of rats, but none for several years since having the DC. Really miss having them around and have been seriously considering getting a couple as soon as possible.

We have a limited space for a cage as it has to go on a shelf. Space is 30cm deep and while the cage can be a metre high if need be, and 80cm wide I'm having trouble finding a rat-friendly cage that is only 30cm deep. I've always just used big hamster cages before (really huge ones) and they've been fine - is there a particular reason I can't do that again?

My other question is - Where the hell do I find my rats? Obviously places like Pets At Home have them (they had some beautiful ones in there the other day) but is it right to get them there? They certainly looked healthy enough but have read that you shouldn't get GPs there so wondered if the same applied to rats.

If I should be getting them from a breeder/nicer pet shop then can anybody suggest somewhere in the Oxfordshire/Gloucester area?

Many thanks

A cage like this would be OK for a couple of rats, wouldn't it? (I'd get a hammock and other things to put in there, and remove the wheel etc)

anyone?

The cage looks fine, although surprised by the inclusion of a wheel! I can't help on the breeder front, but am also in Oxfordshire so if you find someone let me know!

I lie, found the breeder my friends have used in Oxfordshire, google Ramkin Rattery.

Also just seen a couple of girls up for adoption at the Burford Blue Cross centre, if I wasn't 38 weeks pg they'd be joining my colony!

I've had lovely healthy rats from pets at home (Hampshire) soif you like the look of them and they seem healthy I would go for it. I've also kept cages of shelves before (in a bookcase) it worked fine.

We actually got a couple yesterday, 2 boys from pets at home. Was actually impressed with the staff in there. Knew what they were talking about and checked the rats over for mites and respiratory probs before they'd let me take them home. Good advice about keeping them too - things have changed a bit since I last got rats :)

They seem to like the cage and have ordered a couple of extra bits to keep them entertained. DS is VERY happy :)

We got two girls from PaH two years ago and then another play mate for them a few months later as she was on her own... But ... original two, as it turns out, were actually boys and we ended up with a litter of 12!

So I don't entirely trust PaH! Having said that parents and most babies (we have lost 4, two unknown cause, two not surviving anaesthetic to have lumps removed) have been very happy and healthy.

I think the real issues with PaH though are the breeding conditions, how they select which rats to breed and what happens to those they don't sell...

Have a look on the Fancy Rats website for suitable cages. I can't see that even a big hamster cage would be remotely big enough for two rats. They also have plenty of rats for rehoming. I bought my first two from a pet shop and vowed never again - they were always nervous despite lots of handling. After that I rehomed or went to animal rescues. They were all gorgeous rats and I do miss them.

Lara2 is right. The fancy rats website has a cage calculator. The dimensions of the cage you linked to are very small for two rats.

Hope your boys are happy and healthy