Mice: The Perfect Pocket-Sized Pets?

So, do mice make good pets? Well, it depends on what you're looking for in a pet. While they are often advertised as inexpensive and low-maintenance, this isn't always true. They do require some care and attention, and their cage and other environmental costs can add up.

Mice are social and intelligent animals. They require companionship and mental stimulation, which can be provided through toys and social interaction with other mice. They are also nocturnal, so they will mostly be active at night and sleep during the day.

One of the drawbacks of keeping mice as pets is their relatively short lifespan, which is usually between 1 to 3 years. They are also delicate and can be easily harmed when handled, so they may not be suitable for children who might have trouble handling them gently.

Overall, mice can make good pets for people who are looking for a small, quiet, and easy-to-care-for animal companion. They are entertaining to watch and can be trained to do simple tricks. However, they may not be the best option for those seeking a more interactive and cuddly pet.

Mice are social and intelligent, but they require mental stimulation and training

Mice are social animals and live happily in small groups, especially female mice. They are also intelligent creatures, with impressive problem-solving skills and the ability to be trained to do simple tricks. However, they require a lot of mental stimulation to prevent boredom and stress, which can lead to health problems.

Mice are highly social and thrive when they have companionship. They are most comfortable living with members of their own species, and a group of female mice is the easiest arrangement. Male mice will often fight with each other unless they are castrated or littermates that have never been separated. It's important to provide enough cage space to prevent territorial behaviour.

Mice are intelligent and require mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. They enjoy exploring their environment and interacting with their owners. They can be trained to do simple tricks and can even be clicker trained. Providing them with toys, such as cardboard boxes, ropes, and tunnels, can help keep them mentally stimulated and entertained.

In addition to social interaction and toys, environmental enrichment is essential for mice. This can include adding cardboard "castles", ropes, and other structures to their cage. Mice also benefit from having a variety of substrates to explore and interact with, such as shredded newspaper, cardboard, and small empty boxes. Regularly rotating and adding new toys and structures will help keep your mice mentally stimulated and engaged.

Overall, mice are social and intelligent animals that make great pets for those who are willing to provide them with the necessary mental stimulation and training. They are curious and playful creatures that enjoy exploring and interacting with their environment, so it's important to create a stimulating and engaging space for them to thrive.

They are delicate, primarily nocturnal, and not ideal for children

Mice are delicate creatures that can be easily harmed when handled. They are not recommended for children, as they can be challenging for small hands to manage. Mice are primarily nocturnal, which means they are mostly active at night and sleep during the day. This can make them less interactive pets, as they will be sleeping for most of the time when their owners are awake.

Mice are very small and fragile, and they require gentle handling. They can be skittish and harder to handle than larger rodents such as rats. They may bite if they are not accustomed to being handled or if they are not handled gently. For example, holding a mouse by its tail can cause injury, and a fall from even a small height can result in serious damage. Therefore, mice are not ideal pets for children, who may not have the dexterity or gentleness required to handle them safely.

Additionally, mice have specific habitat needs. They are minimal and can escape through tiny spaces, so their cage must be designed specifically for them. Wire and glass cages are recommended, but the wire spacing must be narrow enough to prevent escape attempts. The size of the cage will depend on the number of mice, but even for one to four mice, a 10-gallon aquarium or wire cage is needed. This can be a significant cost for parents considering a pet for their child.

Mice also have specific dietary needs. Their primary diet should be formulated rodent food, but they also require fresh foods like seeds, grains, and fruits and vegetables. This can be more complex and costly than the diet of more traditional pets, such as cats or dogs, who can be fed a commercial diet.

In conclusion, while mice can be entertaining and intelligent pets, they are delicate, nocturnal, and not ideal for children. They require careful handling, specific housing, and a particular diet, which may make them less suitable for younger owners.

Mice are generally low-maintenance, but their habitats need regular cleaning

Mice are often described as low-maintenance pets, but they do require some care and attention, particularly when it comes to their habitat. While they are small and don't need a lot of space, their enclosures do need to be regularly cleaned and maintained to keep them healthy and happy.

Mice are social animals and like to live with other mice, so you will need to provide a cage that is big enough for multiple mice to live together comfortably. The size of the cage will depend on how many mice you have, but as a general rule, a 10-gallon aquarium or wire cage should be suitable for up to four mice. It is important to ensure that the bars on the cage are close enough together to prevent escape attempts, as mice can fit through extremely small spaces. Horizontal bars and cages with multiple levels are ideal, as they provide climbing opportunities for these active little creatures. Solid flooring is also recommended, as wire floors can be hard on their feet.

In addition to the right-sized cage, mice need plenty of bedding and nesting material. Several inches of aspen shavings or undyed paper bedding should be provided on the floor of the habitat, along with strips of facial tissue, paper towels, or hay for nesting. It is important to avoid using cedar and pine bedding, as the oils in these materials can be harmful to mice. The bedding and nesting material should be changed weekly, and the enclosure should be scrubbed with mild soap and water to keep it clean and odour-free.

Mice are also very active and require physical activity to stay healthy, so it is important to provide them with plenty of toys and accessories to keep them entertained and stimulated. Cardboard boxes, paper towel tubes, and exercise wheels are all great options to keep your mice occupied. You can also add ropes and cardboard "castles" to their cage to create a fun and engaging environment for them to explore.

Overall, while mice may be considered low-maintenance compared to larger pets, their habitats do require regular cleaning and upkeep to ensure their health and well-being. By providing a clean, spacious, and engaging environment, you can help your pet mice thrive and enjoy their time with you.

They are prone to certain health issues, including tumours and wet tail

Mice are prone to certain health issues, including tumours and wet tail. Tumours are a serious problem in mice, especially those over the age of one year, who are at a much higher risk of developing them. Unlike rats, tumours in mice are much less likely to be benign and can turn malignant within 2-3 weeks. Mammary tumours are by far the most common. Both male and female mice are susceptible to different types of tumours. Unfortunately, nearly all tumours in mice caused by mammary cancer turn malignant. In most cases, tumours can be detected visually and can be treated by medication in most instances. However, treatments are not always successful, and tumours in aged mice are often fatal.

Wet tail is a serious intestinal disease caused by stress. It is an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut that causes watery diarrhoea with a foul odour and can become fatal within hours. It is a very serious illness that mostly affects hamsters, but mice are also susceptible. There is no home remedy for wet tail, and it can only be treated by a vet.

Mice are cheap to feed and house, but their bedding needs regular changing

Mice are inexpensive to feed and house, but their bedding needs to be changed regularly. Setting up a good mouse environment is not too costly. A small bag of food will last a while, and providing fruit and other treats on top of that will not cost much. Even purchasing the top-tier complete mouse food will still be quite economical. Day-to-day costs—excluding any vet fees—should be low, making mice great pets for many people.

For the cage, you can throw in some shredded newspaper, small empty cardboard boxes, and perhaps a kitchen roll tube or two. You can make a lot of things yourself, and hammocks can be made from scraps of fabric or cheap face cloths or tea towels. The internal accessories are quite cheap, and provided you have a decent-sized cage or tank and the right substrate, the ongoing costs are low.

Mice are social animals, so you will need to get more than one. A pair of females is the easiest arrangement, though a small group of females is also fine if you provide the cage space. Do not let pairs of males live together unless they were littermates, never separated, and have a large enough cage that they can have their own space. Unfamiliar males are likely to fight.

Mice are also intelligent and can be trained to do simple tricks. They require mental stimulation, which can be provided through toys and social interaction. You will need to invest in some toys and switch them out regularly. A bored mouse is easily stressed, which can lead to health problems.

Mice are clean animals that only need a cage cleaning about once a week. Their bedding and enclosure should be cleaned and scrubbed with mild soap and water weekly.

Frequently asked questions