DIY: Creating a rat play cage (2021)

Monnas, J.

Abstract

To provide extra enrichment for our training rats (Sprague Dawley; CRL: SD), our team discussed the idea of developing a rat play cage. Animals are housed in the Comparative Bioscience Center at The Rockefeller University, an AAALAC-accredited facility. All enrichment enhancements were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. This article describes the creation of the play cage, how to get the rats back into the home cage, sanitization, and lessons learned.