Pet mice are fun, easy to care for, and low maintenance. Small enough for a studio apartment, and they make great companions. However, they are shy and tougher to handle than larger rodents like rats, but they can learn to be comfortable with handling if domesticated young. Mice have short, colorful fur as pets. Round ears and a long tail lack fur. As nocturnal animals, mice are active at night and sleep during the day. Quality rodent food and habitat cleanings are needed for their care. Before getting a pet, learn its needs, so you know what to expect.
1. Give pet adequate space
Mice are small, but they need space to move around. The size of the cage depends on how many mice you keep. Wire cages give better ventilation, but you must ensure your mouse can’t fit through the bars. Multiple-level horizontal bars and cages are suitable for climbing. Avoid cages with wire floors; mice prefer solid flooring. The mice cage should have a nest box or other shelter where mice can feel safe.
2. Avoid direct sunlight and drafts
Mice are sensitive to heat. Avoid placing your cage in direct sunlight if you use a glass tank. The glass walls might trap heat and overheat your pet. Keep the cage out of drafts and open windows on cold days and nights; mice are sensitive to extreme temperatures.
3. Provide your pet mice with toys
Pets might get bored if they have nothing to do. Mice are easy to please. They enjoy chewing and climbing, so you can customize their toys, such as making a DIY hamster wheel, which is essential for mice exercise. You may add cardboard tubes and tiny boxes to the cage for your pet to hide and climb. Also, give your mouse something to munch. A stick can help dull their sharp teeth.
4. Make sure to discard old food every day
Daily cage checks are necessary because rodents stockpile food. Pellets and seeds are fine, but fresh food might go stale or moldy and make your pet sick. Look for extra food hidden in toys and bedding piles.
5. Make sure the cage is always clean
Pet hygiene is vital for their health. Replace all bedding once a week to avoid health issues. Buy bedding at a pet store to avoid utilizing dangerous materials. The entire cage should be cleaned with mild soap or disinfectant to remove grime when the bedding is changed.
6. Provide food and water 24/7
Your pet should constantly have food and water. A water bottle can replace a water dish because mice tip it, drenching their bedding and themselves. Your pet’s food dishes and water bottles should be cleaned every day. Follow the package label and ask your vet how much to feed. Mice graze during the day and might even wake up during their sleeping hours for a snack. Always keep a bowl of food in their environment, throw out uneaten food after 24 hours, and refill the bowl. You can feed your mouse seeds, grains, fruits, and veggies.
7. Train and spend quality time with your pet mice
Quality time is crucial to caring for your pet mouse. Bonding can involve letting your pet run over your hands or using incentives for training. Spending time with your pet will bring you closer together. To tame mice, spend time around their enclosure, so they’re accustomed to you. Offer millet or sunflower seeds by hand. This typically leads to mice wandering your hands, where they can be picked up. Try scooping a mouse by cupping your hand under it, but don’t squeeze or tightly grab its body.
8. Give out treats for your mice pet
Sometimes you may want to give your pet a treat such as sunflower seed, or a little cheese can win your rodent’s trust. Then it might be a reward for good behavior.
9. Provide good exercise for your mice
Physical activity prevents obesity and other health concerns in mice. They should be active if you offer a large enclosure with an exercise wheel. You can also give them out-of-cage time in a secure place, such as a kiddie pool. However, when mice are out of the cage, keep an eye on them.
10. Maintain grooming
Mice are clean, grooming animals, they don’t need to be washed, but they may need aid with dental care. Mice’s teeth grow continuously throughout their lives and wear them down through gnawing. Sometimes you may ask a vet to trim overgrown teeth.
Something To Think About Before Getting a Mouse Pet
Do some research before buying a mouse. Learn about breeds, housing, feeding, and general care. Knowing more before buying a pet will make you more prepared. Start with weighing the benefits and downsides of having a pet mouse.
One obvious good thing about having a mouse is its entertaining and affectionate nature. Once socialized, mice are energetic and interactive. They entertain their owners and enjoy giving and receiving kisses. First-time pet owners will be surprised by a mouse’s intelligence and alertness. They love to investigate and even explore their owner’s hand or knapsack.
Most importantly, children love mice as pets. They’re participatory, peaceful, and fun. They’re lovely for teaching kids about the world. They are also safe to be around kids; they can play without getting wounded or bitten. If a child accidentally feeds them something they shouldn’t, lets them out, or makes other catastrophic blunders, you can teach lessons without the high cost of other pets.
Additionally, mice are cheap to adopt and maintain. Due to their tiny appetites, food is not a considerable expense, and a sturdy metal box, bedding, and wheel only need to be bought once. More chew toys or treats will be purchased, but they’re cheap.
They are also space-friendly; unlike other pets, they’re multicolored and furry and fit in your pocket or purse. They won’t need much space if you let them play outside. What makes them a fantastic pet makes them a popular choice for medical trials and investigations. As pets, they can play activities like chase-the-treat and retrieve and develop complex emotions and attachments.
While the list above gives you many reasons to buy your first luxury mice, there are also some negatives. One is their short life span, which may bring its pet owners an ounce of sadness every time a pet mouse perishes. Mice live 1-3 years as pets; while you can do many things to keep your mouse alive, nature will take its course. Another thing is that mice are not adaptable to other pets. Your other pets may eat your pet mouse, and you can’t stop them. Many owners of other pet mice warn that pets often fight. Therefore, mice should be your only pet.
Moreover, mice, like other pets, need to be cleaned and cared for because they stink. A mouse’s odor is stronger than other pets. Many pet owners tend to them regularly since they smell more than dogs and cats. A pet mouse might also be challenging to handle. Due to their size and fragility, it takes first-time pet owners longer to learn how to hold them.