The use of a novel operant test to determine the strength of preference for flooring in laboratory rats (1996)

Manser, C. E., Elliott, H., Morris, T. H. et al.

Abstract

Both studies indicated that rats prefer to rest on solid floor. The experiments reported in this paper also show that rats are prepared to make considerable efforts to reach a solid floor when they wish to rest. Thus there is ground for suggesting that laboratory rats be housed on solid rather then grid floors whenever possible.