  Animal Care - Mice Care |
Mice!Caring for mice can be a rewarding experience. Responsive to training, these shy animals can learn to trust humans and give their guardians the opportunity to experience the rewards of patience. Their love for exploration and their great purpose when a task such as nest building is taken on can be a joy to watch.One of the most important first steps is choosing the proper habitat. Contrary to pet store lore, aquariums are not the best mouse homes. Prone to respiratory illness, the air circulation in tanks is too poor to insure health. Wire cages are acceptable as long as the mice are given flat substances to walk on. Our favorite cages are the type which utilizes an easy to clean cat litter box as the floor. These cages also give the added benefit of providing a well for hay and debris to fall into, in lieu of falling out of the cage on to the table they are set on. Another option for housing is the new "Habitrail" condos. With multi floors, tubes and such to crawl through and use as nesting sites, these make excellent mouse homes. One consideration that must be taken in is the size of your mouse. Babies can easily escape from even the smallest mesh cages and "habitrail" type homes. Unfortunately, if you are getting a young mouse, you may need to use an aquarium like home for the first few months. Whatever home you choose, make sure it is big enough for two mice. Mice are extremely social animals and do best with their own. Human guardians cannot begin to fulfill their emotional and social needs. One of the greatest challenges in caring for mice is meeting their social needs without augmenting their procreation activities. Often times mice purchased at pet stores and/or brought into shelters are pregnant. Though it is said that male mice become sexually mature at five to six weeks, they can impregnate their mothers at three weeks. Therefore it is important to separate the males at three weeks. This is not only to curb overpopulation, it is also to safeguard the mothers health. It is not natural for mice to have one litter after another though they are capable of doing so. 
Male mice from the same litter usually get along. Introducing males from other litters usually results in fighting. At The Sanctuary, we typically neuter all male mice for both population control and to end behavior problems associated with testosterone. We also have a great vet who utilizes laser surgery, so we are comfortable with this procedure being performed. We would not trust all veterinarians to perform this surgery safely.
The typical mouse diet sold is a mix of seeds and ingredients that are not the best foods for them. They will also eat the most fattening things within the mix, letting the other items with important nutritional elements behind. We therefore highly recommend a diet of rodent blocks. Our favorite is from Oxbow, and can be purchased online. Other rodent blocks are corn based and dried corn is a known carcinogenic. Even Oxbow blocks should be augmented with fresh vegetables and fruit so that important nutrients found only in fresh foods are available. Water in bowls will become soiled quickly. Sipping bottles specifically designed with small openings for hamsters are best. Mice need toys. Especially comfort wheels, (no foot catching spokes!), that can give them an opportunity to exercise. Tubes, either heavy pvc pipes, or paper towel tubes are also appreciated. Mice definitely need places to build nests. Safe chew toys or sticks are also necessary for those ever growing teeth. Wood shaving material can cause liver damage and/or upper respiratory illness. At The Sanctuary we use Timothy hay or Carefresh. Either makes good, safe nesting material. White felt, which has no toxic dies or strings which tiny feet can be caught in, is also safe for bedding. Make sure your vet is qualified to treat mice. We will be glad to refer you to a trusted vet. Early treatment of illness is imperative. Only experienced vets can safely neuter mice, an important step to insure longevity and non aggressive behavior. Knowing the mouse you bring home is healthy is very important. This can be insured by adopting. The health of mice from rescue organization has been evaluated. Additionally the important socializing process will have begun. When you choose a mouse, his eyes should be clear and free of discharge. Allergies are very rare in mice and sneezing is typically a sign of respiratory illness. Fur should be shiny and no bald patches should be evident. Mice should be alert and show interest in their surroundings. Lethargy and inactivity can be a sign of illness. These are important things to watch for over the years you will care for your mice too. Early treatment of illness is imperative.  The mouse pictured here is from the North County Humane Society of Oceanside CA. Others are from The Sanctuary. If the mouse of your dreams is not available for adoption, look for a responsible breeder, who's premises can be evaluated for sanitary conditions. Please contact us for any information regarding mice! We're here to help! You'll Need Adobe's Acrobat Reader To Print |
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