Mice

Caring For Your New Mouse

Pet Rating System: 1= Lowest 5 = Highest

Mice	1	2	3	4	5
Ease Of Care
Temperament
Intelligence
Cost of Care
Lifespan

Overall Rating:

Review: Mice are fairly easy to care for because they have inexpensive upkeep and their cages can be cleaned once per week. Their temperament can be fun but may bite on occasion. Mice can be trained and will display some recognition of owner. Although mice do not require you to exercise them, they love to endlessly run on an exercise wheel and are always busy keeping house. Mice only have short lifespan of 2 to 3 years.

Essential Care Items

Rodent Food
Mouse House
Water Bottle
Ceramic Bowl
Exercise Wheel
Hide-A-Way
Care Fresh Bedding
Salt Spool
Chew Toys

Feeding

Rodent food is a balanced mix made just for rodents and can be supplemented with fresh vegetables and fruit. Please be sure to wash all fresh food to remove any traces of insecticides. Fresh water must be available at all times and is best in a water bottle to avoid spillage and mixing with food. Feeding bowls should be cleaned regularly because mice like to sit in their food bowls and sometimes go to the bathroom. Ceramic bowls work best because of chewing.

Handling

A mouse should not be picked up by the tip of the tail since the skin might come off causing pain to your pet. It they are not tame, you should lift them at the base of the tail (closest to the body) and lift them into your hand. Always approach them gently as they may bite if startled. Give them time to become accustomed to your smell. Tame mice will crawl onto your hand. Handling your pet daily keeps him tame and friendly and also allows you to check for signs of ill-health.

Mouse House

Pet mice are usually kept in specially made cages such as a Habitrail or S.A.M. units. These come in a variety of sizes with a myriad of attachments designed to be engaging to you and your mouse. A 10 gallon aquarium with a screen top also makes good living quarters for your mouse. They are excellent climbers so ladders and horizontal bars are good exercise for them as well as exercise wheels. Without adequate exercise, mice can become fat and sluggish. The floor of the cage should be lined with Care Fresh Bedding made from recycled paper. We have found Care Fresh Bedding to be the best at keeping odors to a minimum with regular cleaning. The cage should be thoroughly cleaned weekly and a new supply of litter placed on the bottom. A daily change of the "potty corner" will keep the cage fresh and smell free. Your mouse will enjoy indirect sunlight, but do not place in direct sunlight or in a dark place. Bright lights are not appropriate for mice. It is advisable to put a "sleeping hollow" with a small entrance inside the cage to provide a safe retreat for your pet. If your female mouse should give birth, do not disturb the nest at all. If you do, she may refuse to take care of the babies. She will take care of the babies without any special care from you. Remove any males from the cage because they may eat the babies. Mice are friendly, playful and easy to care for. They enjoy company so you may want two mice. Be sure they are the same sex otherwise you will have many babies since they multiply fast. Two females usually get along with an occasional squabble. Two males do fine since one usually dominates the other, however, they will have more odor from marking their territory.

Exercise

Mice love to run on a wheel for exercise. Providing a sturdy wheel for their entertainment will keep them happy. For your entertainment and greater freedom for your mouse, you can also purchase a clear plastic ball that your mouse can run in around the house. Be sure that your mouse does not use the ball in direct sunlight as it can overheat and it is best not to let your mouse roam in the ball for more than 10 or 15 minutes.

Grooming

Mice generally groom themselves. For your part, you must ensure that your mouse has a clean house in which to live.

Health

Signs of good health are alertness, responsiveness, rapid movement, good appetite, clean coat, eyes that are clean and bright and a nose that twitches frequently with no discharge. Avoid sudden changes in temperature and any drafts which can lead to pneumonia. If your mouse is scratching its body often, it could have skin mites or a fungus. You will need to consult your veterinarian.

Enjoy your new mouse!