An animal isolation and caging system which maximizes cage density within a ventilated rack is provided. The rack includes at least one air exhaust plenum, and at least one canopy disposed within the rack for ventilation of the cages housed in a rack system. The rack is capable of supporting a first cage within the rack below a first canopy, and also positioning a second cage below a second canopy. The filter top of the first cage provided by the invention also provides a filter retainer having a filter top retainer wall designed to be in contact with a first canopy unit forming an enclosed space so configured as to create an enclosed space from which the animal isolation and caging system of the invention creates a zone of negative pressure so as to permit air to be drawn into an air exhaust plenum or duct from the interior of the first cage through the top of the first cage.
An animal enrichment device for use in an animal cage having a cage bottom, the cage bottom having a peripheral lip with recesses defined therein. The enrichment device can comprise a floor on which the animal may perch, a first set of opposing walls extending up from the floor and a second set of opposing walls extending up from the floor. A flange portion can be disposed at the top of each of the first set of opposing walls, each flange portion having a top surface. The flange portions are dimensioned and shaped so that when the animal enrichment device is disposed in the cage bottom, the flange portions can be received in the recesses defined in the peripheral lip of the cage bottom such that the top surface of each of the flange portions is flush with the peripheral lip of the cage bottom, and wherein the floor of the enrichment device is positioned above the floor of the cage bottom.
A ventilated animal habitat in the form of a frame having at least one shelf supporting an animal enclosure with a ventilation control region including an ambient air inlet and exhaust air outlet and a ducting system also supported by the frame with an exhaust air collection chamber having a mouth abutting the enclosure around the exhaust air outlet to capture exiting habitat air drawn under negative pressure by a remote vacuum source and direct the captured air through a carry way duct while fresh ambient air is introduced into the enclosure.
A ventilated cage and rack system. An embodiment of the invention may comprise a ventilated rack, the rack including at least one air exhaust plenum and at least one canopy disposed within the rack, the canopy being adapted to position a cage assembly below the canopy while maintaining a gap between the top of the cage assembly so as to permit air to be drawn into the air exhaust plenum from the interior of the cage assembly through the top of the cage assembly and to also permit ambient air to be drawn across the top of the cage assembly into the air exhaust plenum. The cage assembly comprises one of a first cage having a first width and a plurality of second cages having a second width, the second width being less than the first width.
Provided are animal containment systems and components, including single-use animal containment cages and modular rack units. Also provided are methods for assembling and using components of the animal containment systems.
