instructions

Now, to put it all together... Put the bookcase together as the package instructions indicate. Paint the pegboard with a nontoxic, acrylic paint. Once dry, we used corner braces to connect to the bookshelf. We used 8 all together. We used screws from the inside of the cage out and just put a nut on the outside of the screw and brace. This way, if we had a particularly destructive rat, we could just remove the nuts and the back would come off to replace. That's it for the body of the cage.
For the door, use heavy duty wood glue and/or staples to make a frame out of 4 of the wood pieces. Repeat to make the 2nd frame. You will sandwich the hardware cloth between the two frames. Use staples to secure it to one of the frame pieces before sandwiching so that the hardware cloth stays tight. Use nails and/or wood glue to connect the two frame pieces. Paint the door frame with nontoxic, acrylic paint if desired. To connect the door to the body of the cage, you will use the 2 hinges. You'll either have to use short enough screws to not go through the bookcase wall, or dremel off the tips if they come through. Put the hinges on the door first, then line them up on the bookcase wall. Now, you've got a door!
The last step is to secure your cage by attaching the door latches and door handle. The nice thing is that most of this stuff comes with all the hardware you will need to connect the pieces to your new cage. Put the eyelet portion of the hook and eye on the bookcase wall, but put the hook part on the door first so you can line it up accordingly. Just attach your handle to the door and you're done. All that is left is decorating your new cage! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

THE LODGE (instructions)
	The base for this cage is from a bookshelf we bought at Target for $25. The size we got was 11.5" deep, 25" wide, and 41.5" tall, but you can get any size depending on your needs. Just upscale the other parts to match. For the front door, you will need some strips of untreated wood. We used pieces that were 1.5" wide and 1/2" thick. For this size bookcase, we cut 4 pieces at 39" long and 4 pieces at 21.75" long. These are to frame the door. You will also need a piece of hardware cloth cut 25" by 39" to complete the door. Also, purchase a handle for the door, 2 door hinges (ours were 2" by 1.75"), and 2 door latches (the ones with the eyelet and hook). All that's left is the back, which I chose to use pegboard for. The holes allow some ventilation in a cage of this style with closed sides and top. The pegboard just needs to be cut to fit the back of your bookcase. You will need to cut holes in the shelf pieces so you can create the working levels. For ours, we cut the following: top shelf (5.75" from the right, we cut a square 3.75" across and 4" deep) middle shelf (corner cut 3.75" across and 3.5" deep)
Now, to put it all together... Put the bookcase together as the package instructions indicate. Paint the pegboard with a nontoxic, acrylic paint. Once dry, we used corner braces to connect to the bookshelf. We used 8 all together. We used screws from the inside of the cage out and just put a nut on the outside of the screw and brace. This way, if we had a particularly destructive rat, we could just remove the nuts and the back would come off to replace. That's it for the body of the cage. For the door, use heavy duty wood glue and/or staples to make a frame out of 4 of the wood pieces. Repeat to make the 2nd frame. You will sandwich the hardware cloth between the two frames. Use staples to secure it to one of the frame pieces before sandwiching so that the hardware cloth stays tight. Use nails and/or wood glue to connect the two frame pieces. Paint the door frame with nontoxic, acrylic paint if desired. To connect the door to the body of the cage, you will use the 2 hinges. You'll either have to use short enough screws to not go through the bookcase wall, or dremel off the tips if they come through. Put the hinges on the door first, then line them up on the bookcase wall. Now, you've got a door! The last step is to secure your cage by attaching the door latches and door handle. The nice thing is that most of this stuff comes with all the hardware you will need to connect the pieces to your new cage. Put the eyelet portion of the hook and eye on the bookcase wall, but put the hook part on the door first so you can line it up accordingly. Just attach your handle to the door and you're done. All that is left is decorating your new cage! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.