Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Submitted Successfully!
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic. For video creation, please contact our Academic Video Service.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1 Tinley Hu -- 136 2026-11-05 05:01:04 |
2 format Tinley Hu -10 word(s) 126 2026-11-05 05:01:18 | |
3 format correct Catherine Yang Meta information modification 126 2026-11-05 09:06:02 |

Video Upload Options

We provide professional Academic Video Service to translate complex research into visually appealing presentations. Would you like to try it?
No, upload directly Yes
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
Hu, T. Cage Dimensions. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61903 (accessed on 09 November 2026).
Hu T. Cage Dimensions. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61903. Accessed November 09, 2026.
Hu, Tinley. "Cage Dimensions" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61903 (accessed November 09, 2026).
Hu, T. (2026, November 05). Cage Dimensions. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61903
Hu, Tinley. "Cage Dimensions." Encyclopedia. Web. 05 November, 2026.

Cage Dimensions

Edit

Cage dimensions are the specified measurements of an enclosure—floor area and the linear dimensions from which it is calculated—that determine the space available to each occupant. Minimum space allowances are legislated by body weight and stocking rate on the assumption that crowding is stressful [1], although the figures derive largely from professional judgement rather than empirical welfare science [2]. Systematic variation of space allowance across conventional ranges produced no consistent effects on growth, stress physiology, emotionality, or home-cage behaviour in mice, whereas larger group size increased aggression in males of one strain [3]. Social composition can outweigh area: dominant rats make more optimistic judgements than subordinates at equal density [1]. Cage dimensions therefore define available space, not welfare [2].

cage dimensions floor area space allowance stocking rate group size
Help expand this entry Share your expertise by adding detailed content and references to improve this entry.
Add content

References

  1. Timothy Hugh Barker; Rebecca Peta George; Gordon Stanley Howarth; Alexandra Louise Whittaker; Assessment of housing density, space allocation and social hierarchy of laboratory rats on behavioural measures of welfare. PLOS ONE 2017, 12, e0185135. [CrossRef]
  2. A L Whittaker; G S Howarth; D L Hickman; Effects of space allocation and housing density on measures of wellbeing in laboratory mice: a review. Lab. Anim. 2012, 46, 3-13. [CrossRef]
  3. Jeremy D. Bailoo; Eimear Murphy; Justin A. Varholick; Janja Novak; Rupert Palme; Hanno Würbel; Evaluation of the effects of space allowance on measures of animal welfare in laboratory mice. Sci. Rep. 2018, 8, 713. [CrossRef]
More
©Text is available under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons-Attribution ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Upload a video for this entry
Information
Subjects: Veterinary Sciences
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register : Tinley Hu
View Times: 3
Revisions: 3 times (View History)
Update Date: 05 Nov 2026
Table of Contents
    Notice
    You are not a member of the advisory board for this topic. If you want to update advisory board member profile, please contact office@encyclopedia.pub.
    OK
    Confirm
    Only members of the Encyclopedia advisory board for this topic are allowed to note entries. Would you like to become an advisory board member of the Encyclopedia?
    Yes
    No
    ${ textCharacter }/${ maxCharacter }
    Submit
    Cancel
    There is no comment~
    ${ textCharacter }/${ maxCharacter }
    Submit
    Cancel
    ${ selectedItem.replyTextCharacter }/${ selectedItem.replyMaxCharacter }
    Submit
    Cancel
    Confirm
    Are you sure to Delete?
    Yes No
    Write an Entry
    Feedback