Reddit reviews Ware Manufacturing Plastic Scatterless Lock-N-Litter Small Pet Pan (Colors May Vary)

• I use fleece bedding and a towel underlay (to absorb urine). I buy cheap towels from Wal-mart or the dollar stores, along with the cheapest yardage of fleece fabric. I'll cut both to the sizes of the floors, and fix them onto the plastic floor sheeting using safety pins. The fleece goes over the towels, and both are taken out for washing every 2-3 days or so. I've made ~3 sets for each floor of my Critter Nation, so I'll always have one ready to go once their current set gets dirty.
  
  
• Two of these water bottles are more than enough for our 6 rats. We fill them up every other day or so, and clean them out weekly. I have a stone soap dish resting below the mouths of the bottle, so the bedding doesn't get soaked
  
  
• These litterboxes are a favorite of ours. They have a grate to prevent rats from kicking up litter, and fasteners to ensure the box itself isn't pushed around
  
  
• We've bought quite a few quality fleece hammocks and the like from this vendor. You'd be hard pressed to find a cheaper vendor that makes this high a quality.
  
  
• You'll be tempted to buy a lot of neat toys and baubles online and from pet stores. It's not entirely necessary. Rats have just as much fun playing around with a homemade cardboard fort as they would with an expensive store-bought toy. Here's some inspiration for DIY toys. My personal favorite is the toilet paper tube stuffed with paper and a small tasty treat
  
  
  Etc:
  
  
• If the cage is up against a wall, it would be a good idea to cover the wall with vinyl covering or a sheet of paper. If they start making porphyrin sneezes when they're ill, it's going to make noticeable stains
  
  
• Try and save up for a 2-story attachment if you can; the upkeep is about the same, and almost entirely eliminates the need for outdoor play-time.
  
  
• Once your rats get bonded to you, they'll wait by the door when you approach the cage. Be careful not to close the door on their tiny paws or tails.
  
  
• Don't try to make the cage look neat or organized; rats do not care for the human idea of cleanliness, and will rearrange the cage around to suit themselves.
  
  
• Avoid using any litter that uses baking soda or would produce any kind of dust or particulates in the air; that would be a big respiratory risk
  
  
• Don't clean the cages with most commercial cleaners (ex: wet wipes, clorox wipes, etc.), esp. those that have phenol type chemicals; it's incredibly unhealthy for the rats and has long term hepatotoxicity risks. I stick exclusively to Vinegar, water, hydrogen peroxide, and plain Dawn Dish soap.
  
  
• You've probably heard this before, but absolutely NO PINE AND NO CEDAR anywhere!

a lot of people use these.

I just use this with no issues!

OH I forgot to talk about litter and litter boxes! Ratties can indeed be litter trained. Its a bit harder with peeing because ratties just love to mark everything and anything they can get their grabbies on, so thats something you'll have to accept unfortunately lol


Poops are easily controlled though. They might have the odd accident here and there but in general, it makes cleaning their cage a lot easier! Here is one example of a litter box. This is another type that uses a grate so that it isnt as messy. I personally prefer it without grates just because Im super paranoid about my ratties feet getting hurt haha


The type of litter people generally use is fragrance-free, dust-free recycled paper pellets. Many people swear by this litter. However, if youre in europe, its hard to get your hands on that stuff so I use this litter. It's pretty much the same thing - recycled paper pellets, fragrance and dust free. Its absorbent and controls odours very very well. Clay litter isnt recommended since if your rats ingest it, it will clump up in their alimentary canal which can be fatal. This is why I stopped using Critter Litter although many people like it. I dont since I find it doesnt control odours as well, and I hate how it clumps up and gets super pasty and smelly when it gets urine on it. Its hard to clean out and it smells awful. Paper pellets are the way to go in my opinion.


Another little thing people do with their litter boxes to help control the urine a bit better, is put some stones in the litter box. Rats, for whatever reason, love to pee on stones and rocks. I just picked up like 6 flat, smooth, large stones when I was at the beach. I froze them for 48 hours, then boiled them, sanitized them and now theyre in the corner of my boys' 2 litter boxes. My boys love to climb and perch on them and they pee on them. The cage odour is so much better and way more easily controlled that way. I highly recommend it! Just make sure when youre cleaning out their litter boxes, that you put the stones somewhere sanitary and boil them out with hot water. I usually put the stones in my sink, drench them in apple cider vinegar and antibacterial soap and let them sit there while I clean out the litter boxes. Then when I finish with the litter boxes, I pour boiling water from a kettle all over the stones and let them cool down. Then just dry them and they're ready to use. It's very easy and very effective!


Okay I think that's all, if I remember anything else I will add it on here haha

Hey there! Here is the link to my exact litter tray! Thank you for the set up compliments :) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SLICDA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You might try a scatterless litter pan. My boys only scatter the litter (I use CareFresh) if they've dropped a treat inside and want to dig it out...

I get all my fleece from JoAnn stores. They often have fleece at 50% off per yard, so you can buy it in bulk and use it as needed. Any large fabric store will have lots of fleece in stock (I just prefer JoAnn because that's the best one I have in the area I live in). I'm sure you know this already, but just in case, please don't use cedar or pine chips as bedding for your rats; it's harmful to them. You can use fleece or aspen chip bedding (but freeze the aspen for 48 hours prior to use to make sure it's free of parasites).

I buy many rat toys on Amazon, and make some myself. If you're buying any kind of wooden rat toy, do be aware that many of them are made from soft woods like pine and cedar, which are super bad for rat respiratory systems. Hardwood toys are usually safe—just make sure it's not a combination wood that also has pine or cedar in it along with the hardwood. I personally do not buy wood toys on amazon, because the products often don't list what kind of wood they're made of. The only wood product I buy on Amazon is bags of untreated apple branch chewing sticks. I'll link you to some rat-safe toys and accessories I buy on amazon below! :)

Kaytee Lava Ledge
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00176F466/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

15" Chin Spin - Small Animal Exercise Wheel - Handmade in USA (Expensive, but it's the very best and safest wheel for rats.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ6SDBQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bright Starts Lots of Links Accessory Toy (Great for hanging things up in the cage.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ABZGU2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

Small Animal Activity Toy Cotton Rope Net For Rat and Ferret Pet Bed for Parrot and Hamster Parrot
https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Activity-Cotton-Ferret-Hamster/dp/B0777NWKT9/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1519011945&sr=1-2&keywords=rat+rope+net

Kaytee Igloo Hideout, Large
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068K132/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ACCO Binder Clips, Medium, 2 Boxes, 12/Box (A7072050) (If using fleece as the bedding/liner in your cage, this helps to secure fleece to the Critter Nation pans.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TQ8FDB8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap - Baby Unscented, 32oz. (I don't use any scented products with my rats since rat respiratory systems are so fragile, so this is the non-scented liquid soap I use to wash my hands and their non-fabric toys.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DAI76TC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pawliss Teeth Grinding Lava Block for Hamster Chinchilla Rabbit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HGHA6VW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Aspen/Booda Corporation BBX56134 Byrdy Cable Cross Bird Toy, Medium
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WRHTG6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

200g(7oz) Apple Sticks Pet Snacks Chew Toys for Guinea Pigs Chinchilla Squirrel Rabbits Hamster(About 50-70 Sticks) by MAIYUAN (The only wood product I buy on Amazon.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WLL641Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ware Manufacturing Fun Tunnels Play Tube for Small Pets (Medium.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LUMU9M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ware Manufacturing Plastic Scatterless Lock-N-Litter Small Pet Pan- Colors May Vary (Regular size, not jumbo.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SLICDA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

JW Comfy Perch for Birds (Large, 36".)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AR754/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lixit Critter Space Pod 2 Large (You can hand these on the ceiling of the Critter Nation. My boys LOVE these!)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002X2NBNQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lixit Lbg-16 Glass Small Animal Bottle 16 Oz (16oz is always best for rats because of the bigger water spout. I've found that smaller bottles are a struggle for my boys to get water out of, so I only use the small ones for rat carriers/transporter cages. Tip: filtered water is best for rats, so if you can, get a Britta water filter.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WYCFK0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yummy Time Tiny Small Stoneware Pet/Dog Bowl
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NAUMYDC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I buy Harlan Teklad (Envigo) food blocks for my rats, which is one of the top two for rats (the other is Oxbow Regal Rat). Harland Teklad is hard to find though, so I buy mine through this animal rescue:
http://weecompanions.org/healthy-food

If you get these blocks, freeze them to extend their shelf life, and take them out from the freezer as needed to fill your ratties' bowls. Harlan Teklad is great because they have several formulas for rats based on their age, which is super helpful for their health. Young rats up to 8 months usually eat Harlan Teklad 2016 (16% protein), and after 8 months they eat Harlan Teklad 2014 (14% protein).

Also, I don't have a link for this, but the best laundry detergents to use to wash your rats' cloth toys or bedding with is one that's non-scented and is sensitive on skins.

Um, if I think of anything else, I'll add it. But for now, it's already a ton. :P Enjoy!

(And feel free to message me if you have any questions!)

Dogs, ever since I was little I was obssessed with dogs. Instead of playing with Barbie dolls I would play with the Barbie dogs/puppies. I also had tons of dog stuffed animals, I still have some of them. As soon as we got our own house I begged my parents for a dog and we went to the shelter on my 12th bday and got Cinnamon. :D, but then we lost the house and had to rent. And everywhere we looked no one wanted a dog so we gave her away to a friends friend :( I still visit her sometimes. Right now I just got some guinea pigs (a week ago) since our landlord doesnt like cats or dogs. Theyre very cute but very skittish still. Link if I happen to win.

But I want it!

Oh I love that enclosure! I think my buns would love that, I'll definitely look into it! What do you have as the floor?

And my litter box looks very similar to yours. I was looking at some litter boxes of this style: https://www.amazon.ca/Ware-Manufacturing-Plastic-Scatterless-Lock-N-Litter/dp/B003SLICDA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3PKGK01MHW4WG&keywords=bunny+litter+box&qid=1554858618&s=gateway&sprefix=Bunny+li&sr=8-1

I thought that maybe something like this would help contain the mess a little bit since they aren't sitting directly in the bedding, and then maybe put a bunch of hay in a big bowl in front of it or something. At least in my living room. What's the concensus on this style of litter box?

The mess they make is what it is but it would be nice to tone it down a bit if possible. My lionhead is especially messy cause all the hay sticks to her fur and she drags it everywhere!

I have the same litter box, except mine came with a metal grate. I fill the bottom with wood chips, bunny does her business, and it gets caught underneath the grate so her feet don't get messy. The white clip secures the grate so the bunny cannot lift it up.

box with grate

I use this litter pan for my two boys: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003SLICDA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_j0DlzbJ3W8E5A

And for water bottle I use one from Walmart, don't remember the brand. It has an adorable print all over it, haha. I had trouble with water bottles not working but this one has been really good!

My ratties do the same thing. I ended up getting a litter pan with a grate (this one) and it solved the issue for us. Some rats are pickier than others about litter pans with grates, but they've gotten used to it.

i got a litterbox with a scatterlock which really helped with the digging (dont buy this one because i think this is too small but the pic is right - https://www.amazon.com/Ware-Plastic-Scatterless-Lock-N-Litter-Colors/dp/B003SLICDA/ref=pd_lpo_199_bs_img_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=N56729VK8WXAX20ED7MD)