PVC vs. Vinyl Coating?

[Ratwings]

I bought a roll of green vinyl coated 1/2" wire mesh today.  I was going to make a playpen for my girls, but I decided I'd make them a cage instead because the one they have is bigger than they need.  Not that that's a bad thing, but my room is in the attic and I'm breaking my back here lugging their 695 down two flights of stairs every weekend... I need something lighter!

ANYway.  On the shelf where this particular mesh was stacked, the price label said "PVC" coated wire.  But once I got home, I noticed that the package said "Vinyl coated" wire.  Is this the same thing?  Does the V in PVC stand for "Vinyl"?  For that matter, does anyone know what PVC stands for at all?  I just want to know if what I bought is going to be safe for my rats.  I bought one roll and made half the cage, but I ran out and will need more to finish it.  I just want to make sure it's okay before I go but the stuff and put my rats in it.  The package actuall lists "small animal pens" as one of the uses, so I get the impression that it's safe.  Of course my girls will probably chew it off no matter what, I just don't want it to hurt them in the process.

[Kiko]

PVC=Polyvinyl Chloride

Knowing that, I would say that it is a type of Vinyl coating... but I just know what it stands for, so I'm not 100% positive (I'm going by the fact that Vinyl is part of what PVC stands for.)

[nakedrats]

I believe you can get your Martins cages PVC coated if you want instead of powdercoating. My boys have tons of PVC pipes and stuff in their cages, and if you are getting the green coated mesh from Home Depot, my roommate made a hamster cage out of the stuff.  The little runt chewed all the coating off of the wire in one corner, and doesn't seem to have suffered any ill from it.  I do believe the main reason people pick powdercoating over pvc is because the pvc is so soft and chewable.  Rats can "chew and release" and not swallow stuff they're chewing on, so I wouldn't worry about them eating it.  It can't taste good.

P.S. by the way, if you're looking to sell the 695, I know someone who is looking to buy one.

[Ratwings]

Thanks for the input.   I have two of my boys in a PVC Martin's cage, and I know it's safe for them, if not safe from them.   Now I'll be able to finish their cage without worrying about them.  Yippee!

nakedrats - I'm PMing you about the 695.

[Mischief_Love]

That's the same exact stuff I used to build my girls cage. It worked great, even though I did it the hard way and bent every edge in to make it smooth. I should have put it together with zip ties instead.