Rat Supply & Shopping Guide

Recommended Products, Helpful Resources & Where to Find Them

A Practical Shopping Resource for New and Experienced Rat Owners

Reviewed Oct 2026

Bringing rats into your home is an exciting experience, but choosing the right supplies can sometimes feel overwhelming. With so many products advertised for small animals, it isn't always easy to determine what's appropriate, safe, or worth purchasing.

At StormHaven Rattery, we believe excellent rat care begins with understanding your animals' needs rather than purchasing the most expensive accessories.

This guide shares products we personally use, brands we recommend, and other options worth considering. We've also included shopping suggestions, safety considerations, and affordable alternatives.

Our goal is simple: to help you create a safe, comfortable, enriching home for your rats.

About Our Recommendations

StormHaven Rattery is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or compensated by the outside retailers, manufacturers, or subscription services mentioned in this guide.

Some items, including handmade accessories and forage mixes, are available directly from StormHaven Rattery. These products are clearly identified.

Our recommendations reflect our practical experience and commitment to responsible rat care. Product formulations, specifications, prices, and availability may change.

For convenience, we provide retailer names and product descriptions rather than direct shopping links.

1. Bedding & Litter

Our Recommendations: Low-Dust Aspen and Fleece

At StormHaven Rattery, we use different bedding arrangements depending on the enclosure.

Our primary Double Critter Nation cages are furnished with fleece, while our maternity and baby grow-out cages use aspen bedding.

Aspen Bedding

Aspen can provide an absorbent bedding option when it is untreated, appropriately processed, and low in dust.

Where to Purchase:

Walmart — Our preferred aspen is ordered online.
Online pet supply retailers
Specialty animal supply stores

We purchase our aspen in bulk, although individual bags may be available.

Fleece Liners

Fleece is another option for covering cage surfaces and providing comfortable resting areas. However, fleece itself is not particularly absorbent and should be paired with an appropriate absorbent layer or managed with frequent cleaning.

Important Safety Information:

Avoid cedar shavings and heavily scented bedding.
Avoid excessively dusty materials.
Remove wet or soiled bedding promptly.
Wash fleece regularly using fragrance-free detergent.
Monitor ammonia buildup, especially in heavily used sleeping and toileting areas.

Helpful Tip: Bedding used throughout an enclosure and litter placed in a designated litter box serve different purposes. Choose materials that suit each location.

2. Exercise Wheels

Our Recommendation: Large, Solid-Surface Wheels

Exercise wheels can provide optional enrichment for rats that enjoy running.

At StormHaven, we recommend looking at 16-inch chinchilla-style wheels as a starting point for adult rats.

Where to Purchase:

Amazon
Chewy
eBay
Etsy

What to Look For:

A solid, continuous running surface
No wire rungs or openings that could trap feet
Stable construction
Sufficient diameter for comfortable running
No exposed pinch points or dangerous mechanisms

Important: Sixteen inches is a preferred shopping guideline, not a guarantee of suitability for every rat. Larger rats may require a larger wheel. Watch your rat's posture and avoid wheels that force the spine or tail into an unnatural curve.

Wheels are optional and should never replace opportunities for supervised exercise and exploration outside the cage.

3. Nutritionally Complete Food Blocks

Our Recommendations: Mazuri and Oxbow

A nutritionally complete food formulated for rats should provide the foundation of their daily diet.

Two brands we recommend considering are:

Mazuri

Mazuri manufactures rodent diets, including formulas commonly used by rat owners and breeders. Choose a formulation appropriate for your rats' species, age, and reproductive status.

Oxbow

Oxbow offers rat-specific foods, including adult maintenance formulas. Check the product label to ensure the food is appropriate for your rats' life stage.

Where to Purchase:

Chewy
Amazon
Pet supply stores
Feed and specialty animal supply retailers

Important Nutrition Notes:

Choose an appropriate complete diet rather than relying on loose seed mixes alone.
Review the specific formula rather than assuming every product from a recommended brand is suitable.
Growing rats, pregnant or nursing mothers, and adults may have different nutritional needs.
Store food in a cool, dry location and monitor freshness.

4. Forage Mixes & Dietary Variety

Our Recommendation: Nutritionally Informed Homemade or Prepared Mixes

Foraging provides mental stimulation and encourages natural searching behaviors.

Rat owners interested in homemade feeding approaches may wish to research U.S.-adapted versions of the Shunamite diet.

Your Options:

Prepare a homemade mix using reliable nutritional guidance.
Offer a suitable forage mix as enrichment alongside a complete staple diet.
Purchase a prepared forage mix from StormHaven Rattery.

Important: A forage mix is not automatically a nutritionally complete diet. Homemade mixtures require careful formulation to prevent nutritional deficiencies or imbalances.

Unless a mix has been properly formulated as a complete diet, use it as a supplement or enrichment activity rather than a replacement for complete food blocks.

5. Hammocks & Sleeping Accessories

Our Recommendation: Comfortable, Washable Hammocks

Hammocks provide resting areas and help make use of vertical cage space.

Where to Find Them:

Make your own using suitable materials.
Purchase handmade hammocks from online sellers.
Purchase handmade hammocks directly from StormHaven Rattery.

Popular options include flat hammocks, corner hammocks, hanging cubes, and fabric tunnels.

Safety Tip: Inspect hammocks frequently for loose threads, exposed stuffing, frayed attachment points, and chewing damage. Remove or repair unsafe accessories.

6. Rattybox Monthly Subscription

Rattybox is a subscription service offering a changing assortment of rat-related products.

Depending on the subscription and month's selection, boxes may include:

Hammocks
Hides
Toys
Treats
Other accessories

Helpful Tip: Review current subscription details, pricing, and contents before ordering. Inspect all products for suitability before introducing them to your rats.

This is an optional service, not a necessary expense for proper rat care.

7. Toys & Enrichment

Our Recommendation: Variety, Exploration & Mental Stimulation

Rats are intelligent, curious animals that benefit from regular enrichment.

Recommended options include:

Rat-safe hanging bird toys
Foraging puzzles
Cardboard boxes
Shreddable paper
Tunnels
Safe chew toys
Homemade activity toys

Where to Purchase:

Amazon
Etsy
Pet supply retailers
Bird supply stores
Household and craft stores for suitable DIY materials

Safety Tip: Not all products marketed for birds or small animals are safe for rats. Check for loose fibers, small detachable components, unsafe coatings, sharp edges, and entanglement hazards.

Many excellent enrichment activities can be made inexpensively at home.

8. Cages & Housing

Our Recommendation: Spacious, Secure, Well-Ventilated Housing

A suitable cage is one of the most important investments you'll make.

At StormHaven Rattery, we use Double Critter Nation cages as our primary housing.

What to Look For:

Adequate space for the number of rats housed
Good ventilation
Secure doors and latches
Appropriate bar spacing
Solid resting surfaces
Room for enrichment and multiple sleeping areas
Easy access for cleaning

Where to Purchase:

Chewy
Amazon
Pet supply retailers
Secondhand marketplaces

Safety Information:

Bar spacing of approximately ½ inch is generally a safer choice for young and smaller rats. Larger gaps may allow escape.

Avoid wire flooring, unstable platforms, and unprotected heights. Arrange hammocks, shelves, and other accessories to reduce fall risks.

Remember: Rats are social animals and should ordinarily live with compatible rat companions. A large cage does not replace companionship.

9. Hides, Tunnels & Climbing Accessories

Our Recommendation: Multiple Safe Resting and Exploring Areas

Rats benefit from an environment that offers choices for resting, hiding, climbing, and exploring.

Recommended accessories include:

Plastic or other easily cleaned hides
Cardboard houses
Fabric tunnels
Rat-safe ropes
Stable climbing structures
Platforms
Suspended hammocks

Where to Purchase:

Amazon
Chewy
Etsy
Pet supply stores
Homemade DIY projects

Helpful Tip: Provide several hiding and resting locations so rats can choose where to sleep without competing for a single space.

Inspect climbing accessories regularly and position them to reduce fall and entanglement risks.

10. Travel Carriers

Our Recommendation: Secure, Escape-Resistant Carriers

Every rat owner should have a suitable carrier available before bringing rats home.

Carriers are essential for veterinary appointments, emergencies, and transportation.

What to Look For:

Secure closures
Adequate ventilation
A stable, comfortable base
Appropriate interior space
Easy-to-clean materials
Escape-resistant construction

Where to Purchase:

Amazon
Chewy
Pet supply stores
StormHaven Rattery — Handmade travel carriers

Important: For veterinary visits and emergencies, a sturdy, escape-resistant carrier is generally preferable to a soft-sided carrier that can be chewed through.

Provide appropriate bedding, protect rats from extreme temperatures, and never leave them unattended in a parked vehicle.

11. Cleaning Supplies

Our Recommendation: Consistent Cleaning With Appropriate Products

A clean living environment supports respiratory health and general well-being.

Recommended supplies include:

Fragrance-free cleaning products suitable for animal environments
Appropriate animal-safe disinfectants
Unscented laundry detergent
Cleaning cloths
Small brushes
Spare fleece liners
Replacement bedding

Where to Purchase:

Walmart
Target
Grocery stores
Pet supply retailers

Safety Information:

Remove rats from the area before using cleaning chemicals.
Follow manufacturer instructions for dilution, contact time, rinsing, and drying.
Never mix cleaning chemicals.
Avoid heavily scented products, aerosol sprays, essential-oil diffusers, and strong fragrances around rats.

Helpful Tip: Spot-cleaning between full cage cleanings helps prevent urine buildup and unpleasant odors.

12. Playpens & Free-Roam Essentials

Our Recommendation: Safe, Supervised Exploration

Rats benefit from regular opportunities to explore and exercise outside their cages.

A designated play area can encourage physical activity, curiosity, and interaction.

13. Water Bottles & Food Dishes

Our Recommendation: Reliable Water Sources and Easy-to-Clean Dishes

Fresh, clean drinking water must always be available.

Water Bottles

Choose bottles that are:

Securely attached
Easy to clean
Appropriately sized
Leak-resistant
Equipped with a drinking mechanism your rats can use comfortably

Check that water flows properly every day. Providing a backup water source is especially helpful in case a bottle malfunctions.

Food Dishes

We recommend sturdy ceramic or stainless-steel dishes that are easy to clean and difficult to overturn.

Food can also be offered through suitable foraging activities when appropriate.

Where to Purchase:

Amazon
Chewy
Walmart
Pet supply stores

Helpful Tip: Clean food dishes regularly and refresh drinking water daily. Inspect bottles for blockages, leaks, and buildup.

14. Veterinary & Emergency Essentials

Our Recommendation: Prepare Before an Emergency Happens

Every rat owner should have a few basic supplies available for monitoring health and safely transporting a rat when necessary.

Recommended essentials include:

A small digital scale that measures in grams
A secure travel carrier
Clean, soft towels
Emergency veterinary contact information
A record of your rats' weights and health history
A safe, temporary enclosure for situations requiring veterinary-directed separation

Why a Scale Matters

Tracking your rats' weight can help you recognize changes that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Sudden or unexplained weight loss can be an early indication that veterinary attention is needed.

Important: Home supplies are not a substitute for professional veterinary care. Avoid administering medications without appropriate veterinary guidance, particularly antibiotics or medications intended for other species.

Find a veterinarian experienced with rats before an emergency occurs.

Before You Buy: A Few Important Reminders

Not every product advertised for rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, or other small animals is necessarily safe or appropriate for pet rats.

Before purchasing, consider:

Size: Is the product large enough for an adult rat?
Materials: Are the materials safe if chewed or handled?
Ventilation: Does the product allow adequate airflow?
Cleaning: Can it be cleaned and maintained properly?
Construction: Are there sharp edges, pinch points, loose fibers, or escape hazards?
Purpose: Does the product genuinely benefit your rats' comfort, health, or enrichment?

Remember, a product's popularity or advertising claims do not guarantee its safety.

New Rat Owner's Shopping Checklist

Use this checklist to prepare before welcoming your rats home.

Essential Supplies — Have These Ready First

Spacious, secure, properly ventilated cage
Appropriate bedding or fleece with an absorbent layer
Nutritionally complete rat food
Reliable water bottle or suitable water source
Food dishes
Multiple hides and sleeping areas
Safe hammocks or resting accessories
Basic enrichment and chew-safe activities
Secure travel carrier
Appropriate cleaning supplies
Contact information for a rat-experienced veterinarian
Compatible rat companions

Recommended Additional Supplies

Digital gram scale
Spare bedding or fleece liners
Tunnels and climbing accessories
Foraging toys and puzzles
Secure playpen or rat-proofed free-roam area
Backup water bottle
Additional washable hammocks

Optional Extras

Appropriately sized exercise wheel
Rattybox subscription
Additional decorative cage accessories
Specialty enrichment toys
Supplemental forage mixes

A Final Word From StormHaven

You don't need to purchase every expensive accessory or fill your rats' cage with the latest products to give them a wonderful life.

What matters most is providing a safe, clean, enriching environment, appropriate nutrition, companionship, and attentive daily care.

Some of the best enrichment activities are surprisingly simple, and many can be created using affordable household materials.

We encourage every rat owner to continue learning, ask questions, and make thoughtful decisions based on the individual needs of their animals.

Healthy rats, happy homes, and a lifetime of wonderful memories begin with informed care.

With warm wishes from all of us at StormHaven Rattery,

StormHaven Rattery
Las Vegas, Nevada
www.stormhavenrattery.com

Dedicated to Health, Longevity, Temperament & Responsible Rat Care.

Educational information only. Product recommendations do not replace individualized veterinary guidance. Review product labels and current safety information before use.