Does anybody know how i can make a hospital cage for rats?

im getting rats very soon, and i want to have a hospital cage made for them, just in case one of them ever gets sick. so was wondering if anyone knows how i can make a hospital cage for rats? thanks :)Does anybody know how i can make a hospital cage for rats?
you could buy this cage..





http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js鈥?/a>





.. its on sale for $16.. and you could remove the level and toy and just put the food bowl on the ground and add a waterbottle(they are cheap)


and put bedding in the bottom, then if you had to take it to the vet and it were sick you could leave it in there.. then when it seems to be getting better you could put the toy and shelf back.. and if they seem to be doing all right on it leave them in there until they're fully healed :]Does anybody know how i can make a hospital cage for rats?
It's a very good idea to have a smaller, spare cage; it will come in handy if you need to quarantine a sick rat, introduce a new rat to a colony, or separate them when one is recovering from surgery. But I wouldn't recommend building one yourself -- you can buy an okay-sized cage for about $30, and a great-sized one for $50.





A recovery cage should be large enough to allow the rat to walk around -- no smaller than the size of an average suitcase. If your rat is injured or recovering from surgery, take out ramps, levels, and climbing things, since climbing could open a wound.





The cage will need a water bottle; I also like to put in a water bowl, clamped to the side so that it doesn't tip over. A food dish isn't too important; you can hide food around the cage, and scavenging for food will keep your rat entertained. Make sure you refresh the water frequently. Staying hydrated is very important, especially if the rat has had recent medical care.





Alleviating boredom will be important, so you should have interesting things in the cage: paper towels that he can turn into bedding, cardboard to chew, and any toys that he might like. For my boys, I will put some oats in a paper towel tube and then stuff the ends with tissues; that will keep them interested as they try to pull out the tissues.





Your rat may quickly become lonely; rats need to spend lots of time around other rats to be happy. But if it's necessary to keep them separated -- for example, if one is sick -- then a little extra human attention will help. Gently pet them, talk to them, or just put your hand nearby. Be very gentle, as sick/injured rats can be very fragile. Rest is important. Reunite them with their friends as soon as possible -- they can get neurotic when they're all alone!





My rats tend to like dark, enclosed areas, so I put a small cardboard box in the recovery cage -- the size of a large tissue box -- with a hole cut in it for easy access. That can provide a good place to curl up and nap. Darkness and quiet are good for a recovering rat, since it will help them rest.





Providing a variety of foods can also help. Baby food is a good source of nutrition, especially for older rats because it doesn't require chewing. Make sure your rat is eating frequently. If they aren't eating, it could be a sign of serious sickness.





So, there you go: your goal should be to provide a safe, quiet environment, well-stocked with food, water, and gentle stimulation.
It is probably easier and cheaper just to buy one. I have numerous small cages that I use as ';hospital cages';. You are correct, it is a good idea to have a spare cage.





Basically a hospital cage is simply a smaller cage that is used after surgery, illness, etc. It is use to quarantine(need a slightly larger cage), or keep a sick/injured rat in a smaller area to reduce exercise and movement to allow healing.
A hospital cage made for any small animal is always a good thing to have on hand. Simply, it only needs to be an extra cage with clean bedding and newspaper, no toys (they may get in the way while transporting your sick rat to the vet), and something your rat could hide in (I wouldn't exactly count this as a toy). No food or water should be in the cage (only because they would make an extra mess in the cage, they would take up valuable room for a sick rat, and your pet most likely won't be interested in eating or drinking, anyway).


Make sure the hospital cage is in a spot in your house where you can remember where it it. Keeping the cage clean and bug-free is a major plus, as well. Transporting your sick rat in a cage that's not clean would only make things worse. Cleaning the cage after one use would be smart, too. Hope this helps!
you could buy a small commercial cage from a pet store to transport your rat or you could put the rats in a cardboard box.