Rat Cage Calculator
We have devised a calculator that takes shelf and floor space (not height) into consideration, and may give a slightly more accurate result as a consequence. To use the calculator, you will need to know the width and depth of the bottom of the cage (the floor) as well as the width, depth and number of shelves in the cage. Figures can be either inches or centimetres.
Click for more help if you are confused!
Cage Calculator Help
Feeling a little confused about the cage calculator, and what each section means? Read on!
Presets - these are cages that have already been roughly calculated for size. Unfortunately, there are so many cages out there that it would be impossible to include them all, so this includes some of the more popular ones. If your cage is in here, simply select it, and the form will be automatically filled in for you. All you have to do is hit "Tell me how many?"!
Base width and base depth - this is the bottom level of the cage (the very base of it). It doesn't really matter what way round you put the measurements, but the width is usually the longest length from one side to another, and depth is from back to front, or the shortest length (see picture below).
Shelf base and shelf depth - the measurements are usually found the same was as the base width and depth, one being the short length, the other the long length. Again, though, it shouldn't really matter what way you put them in, since the calculator works out the square area, i.e. once length multiplied by the other (see picture below).
Shelf base* and shelf depth* - these spaces are in case the shelves in your cage are different dimensions. If all shelves are the same size, then you can just use the first Shelf base and shelf depth boxes, and tell it how many shelves there are. If they are different, there are two more areas for you to fill in these different dimensions.
Hope that helps with any confusion!
For the sceptics out there that get on their high horse and ask "Why don't you take height into consideration? What use is that kind of calculator? That's rubbish!", here is why...
Consider a high rise block of flats, 12 floors, two single accomodation flats on each floor. That means that 24 people can live comfortably in the block. Now, consider the same height building, but with all floors except the ground knocked out - would 24 people still live in there comfortably? Of course not, you are left with only two of those single accomodation flats!! And no matter how many climbing ropes, hammocks, etc, you would supply to the people, would they be any more comfortable? No!! So, height doesn't add anything except space for those extra floors :) Hammocks and toys are fun, but rats need the freedom to run about, not just climb...
If you have other cages that aren't included in the preset ones and know the dimensions, why not contact us using the link in the top menu and let us know the details so we can add them?