How to Take Care of a Mouse

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This article was co-written by Brian Starr. Brian Starr is a rat expert & breeder and owner of OC Dumbos based out of Central Florida. As the only Roof rat breeder in the US, Brian and OC Dumbos specialize in the breeding, training and care of rats. Years of experience and generations of rat breeding have allowed Brian and OC Dumbos to create a line of domesticated Roof rats, bred as pets. In addition to providing rat training accessories and resources, OC Dumbos also offers a free Roof rat adoption service.

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Until now, people used to call mice “dogs that don’t need much care” because they are both intelligent and very loyal. While there are hardly any pets that we “don’t need to take care of,” mice are much easier to care for and much more enjoyable than aquarium fish or hamsters. An adaptable and cheerful rat is also a sweet, curious, highly intelligent and interactive pet companion. This delightful animal is always a dream pet, and if you’re looking for a rat, make sure your house is clean first. Any pet, regardless of body size, needs to be properly cared for.

Table of Contents

Decided to raise a mouse

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Consider spending time looking after them. The lifespan of mice is usually about 2 to 3 years or more. So make sure you can take care of them during that time. ^{[1] X Rat Care Guide Research Resources . Annette Rand. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.}

Think about time in addition to pet care. This means that we have to keep the cage clean, feed and care for it regularly, and if the animals get sick, they need to be taken to the vet.
Remember to find someone to care for the mice while you are away. In many cases, it is quite difficult for rat owners to find someone who is comfortable taking care of them (many people are too careful) so try to find 3 or 4 potential candidates willing to take care of them. for your mice while you are away. Sometimes stores that sell mice also provide care for them.

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Consider other pets. If you already have a pet, especially a cat, consider letting it live with new mice. Need to research on how to introduce a new friend to your existing pet. If not, you need to find a way to place the mouse cage high up or a closed room so other animals can’t get in. This is probably the best idea to keep your mice and other pets living in harmony.

Cats are another important issue. They love to hunt rodents, including rats. So sometimes you can accidentally tease the cat and put your mice in danger. ^{[2] X Research Resources Rat Care Guide. Annette Rand. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.}

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Try befriending the mice first. Before you decide to bring your mouse home, visit your rat friends. Many people won’t like some of the features of this animal, so make sure you absolutely love them before bringing them home. There are many species of mice such as tailless, hairless or tiny species.

Rats raised in a clean environment usually don’t smell much, but they have a unique body odor that not everyone likes. Before raising them make sure you’re not allergic to it, or alternatively try to find a good floor covering to absorb odors. Remember that toxic chemicals and pine wood chips are very harmful to mice – turpentine can damage their lungs. ^{[3] X Rat Care Guide Research Resources . Annette Rand. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.}
Similarly, many people will be confused by the rat’s quick actions. Tiny claws can be ticklish! In addition, in the early stages, the tail of the mouse can also be a bit strange to you. Try to get close to your mouse to get used to their behavior and body.
Prepare a spacious, airy and safe cage. Wire mesh cages are better than glass cages, as they allow better air circulation. Be careful with the incubator because it will easily cause respiratory infections and lead to death. The floor should be kept free of sharp nets as rats can develop paw inflammation. If using wire mesh cages, leave the distance between the wires between 1.5 and 7.5 cm. ^{[4] X Research Source Rat Care Guide. Annette Rand. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.}

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Consider cancer risk in mice. Unfortunately, cancer is a common disease in most mice and this can shorten their lifespan. Although not every mouse has a tumor, you should pay attention to it. Female mice that had not had their ovaries removed were most likely to develop cancer. Other causes arise from mites and respiratory infections. ^{[5] X Research Source Rat Care Guide. Annette Rand. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.}

Consider your financial ability to pay for surgery if your mouse has a tumor that needs to be removed. If the answer is no, then you need to be mentally prepared to actively end the life of your beloved mouse when they are young to avoid pain later. If you are not an easy person to accept this, then you should not choose a mouse as a pet. The most important thing here is the responsibility of the owner.

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Decide on a reasonable number of mice. In the wild, rats are herd animals, so you should buy more than one and it’s best to buy them at the same time. ^{[6] X Academic Press Research Source . 2nd edition.}

A mouse will interact almost continuously so as not to get bored. So you should buy two or more than two. No matter how much time you spend with them, they will still feel lonely, so buy an extra one if you can. Your mouse will appreciate it. ^{[7] X Research Source The Laboratory Rat. Weisbroth, Franklin, and Suckow. Academic Press. 2nd edition.}
A better option is to keep more than one mouse so they can be friends. If you decide to, buy them at the same place, at the same time, to minimize the difficulties of isolation or acquaintance. Getting to know mice together will be very difficult, especially with male mice that have not yet mated and always attach great importance to territorial issues.
Don’t be afraid to think that raising two mice is harder than one. In fact, you will find it easier to care for two or three mice because they are always happier when they have a friend. The difference in the amount of food and the amount of floor covering material is not much. The biggest challenge for you when keeping a lot of mice is trying to keep them all on your shoulder when you walk with them.
Also, if you keep a lot of mice, you should choose the same sex, otherwise you have inadvertently created conditions for them to breed. If you are not a breeder and know what you are doing, do not breed mice. ^{[8] X Research Source The Laboratory Rat. Weisbroth, Franklin, and Suckow. Academic Press. 2nd edition.}
Some veterinarians will spay mice, if you happen to have a male and a female rat, ask your veterinarian to sterilize the male rat. However, remember, normal rats will not be neutered because anesthesia is very dangerous for them.

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Buy mice. You should buy mice from rat breeders or rescuers. From their experience, they have a lot of in-depth knowledge about mice and can absolutely help you find the right mouse. It’s always better to buy mice from rat breeders or rescuers than buying them from a store, as that’s where many health problems can arise, increasing long-term care costs.

Always do your research with rat breeders or rescuers before choosing mice, making sure they are well cared for and healthy.
Rats sold in stores often come from “factories” and are less concerned about their health. If you decide to buy mice from the store, avoid choosing mice that show the following signs: red rust in the eyes and nose, wheezing, open wounds, lethargy, cloudy eyes or loose stools. ^{[9] X Research Source The Laboratory Rat. Weisbroth, Franklin, and Suckow. Academic Press. 2nd edition.}
Male and female rats in stores are often kept together, which is also why you should not choose them. Since there are cases where you only buy one or two at first, after a few weeks you will see the population suddenly increase because one of them is a female, so pay attention to the gender when you choose to buy. If you decide you don’t want to breed anymore, that’s okay too!

Prepare the house for the mouse

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Buy a suitable cage. Buy a cage with a sturdy floor, steps and a slide. Metal wire floors, if not cleaned properly, will cause foot inflammation. If you plan to keep 2 mice, you will need a cage about 18 x 28 x 31. “Don’t” let mice live in containers of any kind, as they will be affected by the ammonia left in the air. bin.

Each mouse needs at least 60 square centimeters, but 75 square centimeters or more is best. ^{[10] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}
The distance between the wires should not exceed 1.9 cm for adult rats, and not more than 1.25 cm for pups. If the distance between the wires is larger, use a trellis to shorten it. The mesh bars also need to be powdered to prevent corrosion by the rat’s urine. Rats are excellent acrobats and climbers, so make sure it doesn’t knock them out of the net. ^{[11] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}
Another option is a perspex plastic cage, like the Rotastak cage. This type usually has a colored floor (which gives mice a sense of security) and transparent walls so we can see them. The cage is designed to connect with other parts, allowing you to freely build your mouse an interesting living city. When you clean the other parts, the mouse can be kept in a certain area. Cleaning plastic materials is very easy because of the smooth surface structure (rather than having to scrub the nooks and crannies of a trellis or metal rod).

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Food and liquid food. Make room for your hamster to eat, prepare separate bowls for food and water, or use a special pet bottle. Always remember to provide enough food and water if you have multiple rats to avoid competing for each other’s rations.

A special pet bottle is the optimal choice because drinking water is kept clean inside, and it is securely attached to the cage so that it is not broken by rats. It is recommended to choose glass jars, because mice will not be able to gnaw them.

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Choose the right floor covering. The bottom of the cage needs to be covered with a soft and moisture-wicking material.

Use wood chips for the mouse cage purchased at the pet store. Avoid buying pine or cedar mites, as the vapors released from these mites mixed with rat urine can be toxic. Pine and cedar are quite dirty and contain a lot of oil, so they are easy to irritate the respiratory tract and cause breathing difficulties, so stay away from these materials. Fleece or a soft towel is also good, especially when used to cover wire mesh floors, but they need to be cleaned once or twice a week, depending on how many mice you have. Alternatively, you can choose to buy a paper shredder coating, but it’s expensive and has a bad smell. Newspaper is fine, but the ink can stain light-haired mice. Straw is also quite dirty and causes an unpleasant odor when mixed with urine. ^{[12] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}
Another option might be Carefresh, a cellulose-based floor covering available at the store, or recycled newspaper like Yesterday’s News. Avoid using paper cutters and use pieces of paper you have at home – because ink can also make mice sick. ^{[13] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}^{[14] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}

Keeping mice healthy

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Always remember to feed the mouse and drink water. Check food and water intake at least twice a day. The food bowl could spill, or the floor coverings could get into the drinking water, so you need to watch carefully.

If using a dedicated bottle, drinking water still needs to be changed daily, and remember to disinfect the faucet at least twice a week. ^{[19] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}
Prepare your mouse for 12 ml of synthetic rodent food per day, which can easily be purchased in bulk online. This type of food is very nutritious for a mixed grain diet, because the ingredients are mixed together so that the rats cannot choose only the best portions (which are often low in nutrients) and leave the food alone. Leave the less delicious parts in the bowl. ^{[20] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}
Prepare fresh foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables for the combo ration. Rats have similar nutritional needs to humans, and they can eat almost anything. Make a list of the things they “can’t” eat and the rest are things you can feed them. Rats can eat chocolate too! Giving your rat a piece of fruit or even a piece of leftovers from your table once or twice a day makes them even happier and healthier. ^{[21] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}
Rats also love sweets and cheese. However, sweets can cause tooth decay and fatty foods will cause mice to gain weight and become bloated, so it’s best to avoid feeding them. ^{[22] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}

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Keep the cage clean. Daily “spot” checks will keep the cage clean, and a weekly general cleaning will keep mice healthy.

For spot checks, buy a small plastic or metal shovel, similar to the one used for cat cleaning. Use this to scoop up bits of soiled floor coverings, and place them in a plastic bag and seal the mouth of the bag. Remove wet, dirty or smelly wood chips.
General cleaning of cages at least once a week. Place the mouse in a separate box or safe place, away from cleaning tools. Remove all interior items and discard old floor coverings. Scrub everything with soapy water inside and out, then dry. You should have a separate sponge, basin and cleaning cloth for cleaning the cage.
Use a disposable cloth to wipe the entire surface of the cage at once. Then scrub and dry. You can now place the new floor covering in the cage and change the necessary items.
Strong chemicals such as bleach can damage a rat’s sensitive respiratory system if inhaled, so avoid using this cleaner on your rat’s home. Pet-friendly disinfectants like Nil-Odor are pretty good, but you can find any germicide that’s safe for your pets from any pet store or vet clinic. period. ^{[23] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}

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Maintain the right temperature. Do not expose the rat to extreme temperature changes or drought. The ideal temperature is between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius.

If you have a long, hot day, you need to provide the mouse with cool and shallow water (about 1.5 cm) to play with; On a cold day, thicken the floor coverings so the mice can find shelter and stay warm.

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Pay attention to signs of illness. Caring for a rat includes attention to issues related to veterinary disease. Common signs are loss of appetite, rapid thirst, pink urine, loose stools, weight loss, shortness of breath or wheezing, and red rust from the eyes or nose. ^{[24] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}

Check the mouse once a week for skin tumors or bumps. ^{[25] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}
Also, pay attention to their skin to make sure there are no red inflamed skin spots, and that they don’t scratch too much. ^{[26] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}
Rats can pick up parasites from floor coverings, so watch out for signs of skin irritation or fungal scaling. ^{[27] X Research Source The Welfare of Animals Used in Research. Hubrecht. Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell.}

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Take the mouse to the vet. If you suspect your pet is unwell, take them to the vet as soon as possible.

You should plan ahead and find a veterinarian who specializes in the treatment of rodents before you adopt a mouse, or at least while your hamster is healthy.
Ask about veterinarians at pet stores or other rat owners. You can also search online pet-related forums and ask for suggestions. Most people are happy to share their good (or bad) experiences with rodent health care.
Call your chosen veterinary clinic. Ask your veterinarian about the pets they treat primarily and whether they specialize in treating rats.
One question you might ask is whether the vet has any rodents. Owning a pet can help to better understand the concerns their owners are experiencing.

Keep the mouse happy

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Make sure your mouse is well looked after. Keep the mouse cage in an area where you often appear and they can see what is going on around. This will help keep them from feeling left out.

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Spend time with your mouse. The more time you spend with them, the more caring, active, healthy and playful they become. Living alone can be very lonely, and this can cause problems in their behavior. Unless your hamster is too aggressive, it’s best not to leave it alone. Even if they are aggressive, love and care can help them feel better.

Take care of the mouse daily, preferably 2-3 times a day for ten minutes or more.
Rats love to learn and solve problems, so think about building small obstacle courses to exercise and train the mouse.

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Teach them tricks. Teach them tricks by starting slowly, then reward and intensify the exercises and praise if they obey.

Rats are very intelligent, and can learn many tricks, such as jumping over a rim, spinning in a circle, standing up, and even shaking hands, all based on your words.
Don’t punish them if they fail. Rats don’t understand negative punishments, and those punishments will only confuse them. Instead, reward them when they get it right.
If your rat bites, don’t pat them and say “No”. Instead, try hissing like a mouse and pulling them out. Eventually your mouse will understand.
Don’t forget that each mouse has a unique personality, which means that the way it learns may be different. One teaching method may work for one rat, but may not work for another.
The key to successful coaching is to be persistent and build lots of short training sessions with lots of rewards.

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Take the mouse for a walk. Rats love to change their environment, so if your mouse is obedient, take them outside and put them on your shoulder.

If you take the mouse outside, a rope will help you to control the mouse if they become scared.
Join the Mouse Forums and many other useful mouse websites for lots of useful information!

Steps

Decided to raise a mouse

Prepare the house for the mouse

Keeping mice healthy

Keep the mouse happy

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