Enrichment of laboratory rat caging (2001)

Patterson-Kane, E. G., van de Ven, M., Ras, T.

Abstract

Social contact seems to be the most important enrichment. Rats show higher demand for contact with three familiar rats, than for larger cages or toys. .. Rats show T-maze preferences for larger cages whether alone or with four cage-mates. .. Rats show strong and consistent preference for nest-boxes, and particularly Perspex nest-boxes with small entrance. .. Corn-cob bedding has advantages in maintaining air quality, and is preferred equally with aspen chip. .. Thus effective rat enrichments are social contact, space, shelter and bedding. Abstract also published in Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 40(4), 94-95, 2001.