Goosemoose Pet Portal

Picked up a cage tonight from someone on Freecycle. Only cost me $20. Has 3 levels, 2 doors, slide out metal pan, and resembles a Martins Rat Highrise in appearance, don't know about size. My only complaints are how filthy the woman let it get (I used 10 SOS pads and STILL have crap to scrub off) and it's kinda rusty. It's not going anywhere near my ratties until I've done my absolute best and I'm satisfied. This means at least 2 more boxes of SOS pads.

All I can think of is how I'm going to decorate it.. All the hammocks and tubes and pouches, oh my! It's hands down the best part of cages. I'm not so sure about the quality of the latches so I'll take closeups of those and hopefully someone will have some advice. They're kinda springy and any nosy rat could squeeze their way out.

Pictures are soon to come! :)

Rusty?  Is it not powder-coated?  If it isn't, you'll probably want to paint it before you put the rats in it.  You can use any child-safe paint.  :)  Can't wait to see pictures!

This was actually going to be my next question! Thanks for the info on the paint, my mom and I assumed that would be the case. I'm almost done cleaning it and I've devised a plan to make shelf liners. :)

Good luck with the new cage and I demand photos! ;D

I've scrubbed it up again and my parents keep asking me "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS WITH CAGE?". It clearly wasn't well maintained and thrown outside once the rats who lived in it were given away so there are signs of rusting. Kendra kindly suggested kid-safe paint. Can anyone suggest brands that they've used or know of? Preferably spray paint of course to make my job easier. *Lazy* ::)

Update on the paint job:
I just e-mailed http://www.metalworkspowdercoating.com/ to get a quote on powder coating.

I've already clipped the ramps off with wire cutters because they were freaking disgusting.

I don't think the doors are super rattie safe. The latches seem to be on springs and if they pushed hard enough they could squeeze out. Does anyone have any suggestions to secure the large door better? The small one holds up pretty good against pressure. It's 36 high, 18 deep, 24 wide. Here are the pictures:

Front:(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/d0pesick/Rat%20Pups/July7084.jpg)
Back:(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/d0pesick/Rat%20Pups/July7083.jpg)
Latch:(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/d0pesick/Rat%20Pups/July7087.jpg)
Rusting:
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/d0pesick/Rat%20Pups/July708.jpg)

I'd also love to line the floor with something. Those wires look uncomfortable and if I wouldn't walk on it, neither will my rats. Any suggestions? I've considered stick on tiles but wouldn't pee seep through the cracks? Are they removeable?

That's a pretty nicely sized cage.  According to the cage calculator, it will hold 4.5 rats.  The c-rings look very nasty.  Have you considered clipping the whole thing for scrubbing/painting, then putting it back together with zip ties?

Here is a thread I found about cage painting and what paints are safe:
http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4032568.0

The door latches are pretty odd.  A determined rat could definitely wriggle out of it, and little toes might get caught in a spring.  Do you think you could put on a replacement latch like this: http://www.martinscages.com/products/supplies/parts.htm ?

I used to use a plastic liner, but actually found my rats have less foot problems on the wire.  They aren't walking on bare wire all the time, of course, because there's cloth or hidey-houses and bedding to walk in as well. 

Martin's sells the little metal rings for cheap if you wanted to replace those.  Not a bad find for $20.  It's very similar in style and size to my 695.  Have fun decorating!!!

The c-rings are the little rusted bits in the picture I took, right? Wouldn't the ratties go right for the zipties? I know my females are notorious for chewing anything plastic but it'll be boys living in there when it's all set up. Would I be buying the cage repair kit or the 1/2" c-rings?


I'm really hoping that the quote on the powder coating comes back reasonable. It'll be sooo much easier than painting. I've never been a painter.. get more on me than the object! :yelcutelaugh:


I looked at the latches and studied them and.. I can't figure out how they would work. :-[


That's very true. I plan on having tons of fun things in there for them so I guess it wouldn't be TOO bad if I didn't have liners. I could always just lay some flannel down on the shelves to make myself feel better if needed.

The estimate came back on the cage and it'll cost $10 to sandblast the rust and $10 to powder coat it black. :hyper: :hyper: It's such a nice sized cage I was really hoping it would work out. Gosh I'm all excited now. :yelcutelaugh:

Now the large matter at hand is the latches. I can't have any escapes, it wouldn't be safe in my house with 5 dogs and 3 cats. Kendra, if you can explain to me how those latches work or even show me examples that would be fabulous. In the meantime I'm going to do my own snooping. Weee!

 :o  That's an awesome price!  Congrats!

The c-rings are what is holding the cage together.  They're little bits of metal that you bend around the bars, thus keeping the pieces together.  The problem is they ALWAYS get nasty and rusty.  I just took my extra R-670 apart and I swear if I never see another c-ring, it will be too soon!  They're a pain to put on and a pain to pry off, too.  Zip ties go on easily and can be taken off just as easily.  It makes it easier to break down the cage for transport or cleaning.  However, if your rats are chewers, it may not be an option.  Some rats will leave them alone and others wont. 

As for the latches, I just added another door to my R-680 and you can see the latches in these pictures:
http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4040297.0

Basically, you hook the curved latch part through the cage bars and it holds the door shut.  You'd position it where it held tight, then zip-tie or c-ring the latch to the door in your case.  Here's another pic:
http://www.martinscages.com/images/full/r-685.jpg

That new door looks fantastic! I like the idea to put another cage on top. :D

For 2 latches + shipping from Martins it would cost 22$. :eek: I found another website that has latches but before I get my heart set on anything again, here's the link: http://www.bunnyrabbit.com/price/cagequip2.htm I like the heavy duty T latch. Does anyone know anything about them?

If I wanted to snip all the c-rings would wire cutters do the trick? Remmy isn't a chewer so it would be worth a try. Would it be hard to put back together? It would probably be easier for the guys to powder coat it in pieces to make sure they get all the nooks and crannies.

Thank you.  :)  We're moving at the end of the month, so I've put a moratorium on cage additions until then.  However, I will post pics when I try that out.  I did something similar once before (attached 3 cages to make one large cage) and it worked out really well.

$22 is more than you paid for the cage!  *lol*  The ones you linked to look good and the one just labeled "door latch" is really similar to the one from Martin's.  Honestly, you might want to do a walk-through of your local Home Depot/Lowe's-type store.  They'll often have little bits and bobs that can easily be re-purposed.  I used small c-clamps to hold a cage door closed when it stopped working appropriately. 

Definitely use a wire-cutter.  I pried my last ones off with pliers and completely ruined the pliers.  When I bought the new wire cutters to put in the extra door, I realized how much easier that would have been.  As long as you remember where all the pieces go (your pics will be helpful in that), putting it back together is easy. 

Going to a hardware store sounds like a good idea, we have one in town. My stepdad actually tinkered with the latches this morning and turned them around, if you know what I mean. It's clear now that when the lady put the cage together she did it the wrong way. So maybe I can keep these latches. I'm so excited to have it coated. My stepdad said I should leave the c-rings on to be sandblasted and coated. He's the mr-fix-it-know-it-all soooo I guess I'll listen to him. It doesn't mean that later on I can't clip them off and do it the ziptie way if I want to.

I would have all the pieces powdercoated seperately so you can break down the cage without having to tear apart powdercoated bits later.

Argh, very true but my stepdad was nice enough to offer to take it in for me today so I don't have time. Call me impatient but I need it ready ASAP for my new boys. :BlueDumboSmileTongue:

So, is it back from being powder-coated yet?   :hyper:

Not yet but I hope it'll be ready on Monday. :hyper: I'm over at my friends house who I'm getting my new baby boys from so I picked them out! One male has already been named Puzzle. :love10: I have tons of pictures of all 18 babies to upload to photobucket later to show everyone. ;D

The cage was ready to be picked up today!! Drumroll please......

(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/d0pesick/Rat%20Pups/DSCF1942.jpg)

It looks and feels fantastic. They even stretched the springs on the doors to make sure they were powder coated as well. The $20 quote turned into $30 once they saw the pan but I'm not bothered. The gentleman who owns the business invited me to e-mail pictures of it all set up to add to their website. He said that the cage was probably one of the wierdest things they've done. :yelcutelaugh: I'm so pleased. :hyper:

That looks great!  I can't wait to see it decorated and with babies! :thumbsup2:

Thankyou, Julz. :3 As soon as introductions are done and Remmy is comfortable with the babies pictures will definitely be up!

looks great!

Awesome. It looks sooo much nicer now that it's black!

I'm surprised it was so cheap to do, I always thought it would cost a lot more! Did you have to check about the coating being safe? That's the only thing I've wondered about (If I were to powdercoat a cage it would be for birds, I guess coating is such a problem with rats because they don't use their mouths to climb!).

It looks awesome! 

MiniMuffin - Cages should be powder-coated.  If they are galvanized, the urine pits them and they smell awful.  The vast majority of cages you see pictures of here on the forum (Martin's cages, etc.) are powder-coated.

Thankyou everyone for the kind words. :D

Muffin, I thought powder coating it was going to cost an arm and leg but it didn't and I was really surprised. It was $30 flat, no tax, as I paid cash. As Kendra said alot of the cages are powder coated because it doesn't retain urine and you don't need anything abrasive to clean it. Soap and water does the trick! Galvanized cages hold the pee and causes it to rust. For birdcages I imagine it would be the same, rats don't use their mouths to climb but my rats munch on the bars alot. It would have to be safe! Otherwise it would be like using toxic paint.

It truly does not even look like the same cage.  You must be thrilled with your new treasure  :hyper:  Please do post pictures when you get all of your stuff in it and the ratties move in.  I would love to see it.

I will, Weaver! I wouldn't dare hold back the coolness. :P

Kendra, I actually meant re-powder coating a cage. Sorry, I should've made that more clear. I know all about powder coated cages vs. the others.

I know that rat/bird cage manufacturers make their powder coating safe (or at least, should) but since places that you take a cage to be powder coated usually are coating car parts or whatever, I was wondering if it's done the same way as an animal cage would be or with the safe kind of powder coating (I really know nothing about how it's done, or what is used), like having safe levels of zinc or lead and all that.

I paid just a shade under $100 for my Martin's 690, and your cage is BIGGER!    :doh:  Congrats on the awesome find.  It looks really nice all coated up, and there's lots of room for toys and hangy things !!!! 

The cage looks like a new cage, I can't wait to see it decorated!  ;D

I was up until 2:30 tinkering with the cage.. the giant sleepy manrat in my lap will attest to that. xD I started hanging things that weren't in the wash. Oooh hanging hammies and tubes and all that will be a blast. 8)

I got the clean hammies and gave the girls their favorites before starting to decorate the big boys cage. Am I getting too ahead of myself? Intros aren't even over! I dumped the rest of a bag of YN into the pan and we'll see how that works at controlling odors.

Hahahaha....there are times when I say something like...Oh, the boys need a new tube or a new hammock...and my husband usually remarks with....You mean YOU need a new hammock?   :BlueDumboSmile:

I'm a single mommy so I don't have anyone to poke fun at me for wanting to buy all this cool stuff for my ratties. :yelcutelaugh:

 :poke:  ;)

Okay, okay. So I've been totally lazy lately but tonight before I made everyone a salad [and after I did a total clean] I took some pictures! Am I the only one who fills the bottles half way or less? I use filtered water and I hate wasting it when it gets warm.

Whole cage, front view:
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/d0pesick/Rats/July22082.jpg)

Bottom half, side view:
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/d0pesick/Rats/July22081.jpg)

Top half, front view:
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/d0pesick/Rats/July22083.jpg)

Top shelf, inside view:
(http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c360/d0pesick/Rats/July22084.jpg)

My friend says the cage looks cluttered but I always thought the more hiding places the better so I didn't listen to her. What does she know? :P Does anyone have suggestions to maximise the space? Because the squares are so small it's hard to hang things on the bottom half so I do what I can.

It looks good to me! Maybe you can put more of the hiding places near the bottom of the cage, and use the top half for hanging things. I tied a PVC pipe against the side of the bottom half of my cage, so my boys spend time down there in the tube, and it's easier to keep it in there then hanging a hammock up every few days.

I never thought to fill the bottle only halfway... I don't use filtered water though, so I guess that's why.

The PVC pipe idea is really good! Wouldn't be hard to do that at all and I'm sure they would thoroughly enjoy it. I'll have to hit up the hardware store on my next pay. Thanks Mini! :bow:

I've placed a hammock order so I'll have more things to fill up the cage in a week or so. Heehee.

I just love the Clown sign!

The instructions that came with my bottles said to never allow the level to drop below half (supposedly to stop it from draining abruptly).  Not sure that I believe them.  Our mischief empties water bottles like crazy - no fear of wastage here!

Thanks! It was supposed to be attached to a bird toy so I swiped it. ;) I've never heard about never letting it reach half way or less. O: I'll keep it in mind.

It looks great!   ;D

I do fill the bottles all the way.  If I don't, they leak.  I really want to get some glass water bottles soon.  It always seems like when I dump out the plastic ones at the end of the day, the water smells all plastic-y and gross. 

Glass waterbottles are a fantastic idea but I always seem to drop them. ee; The water definitely smells plastic-y. :/

I fill them just over half because I get them bottled stuff and don't want to waste too much.  But I'm thinking about just getting two of the smaller bottles. 

I've also considered ditching the humungo water bottle too and just using the small ones.

You did a great job with the cage!!!  :bow:
Question: I really like the ramps you replaced the original ones with...where did you get them?

Wow what a transformation. Looks great!! :thumbsup2: