Rats and Mice

People envision many different things when thinking about rats and mice. Some consider them as vermin or pests, many envision laboratory specimens, others think of them as snake food, while a chosen population treasure them as pets. These rodents make excellent pets for children if they are cared for properly. They seldom bite when raised as pets and are handled with care.

These timid and social pets are fun to watch performing their natural behaviors of burrowing, searching for food, and playing. Unlike their wild counterparts that are typically nocturnal, pet rats and mice have periods of activity both day and night. Rats and mice are inexpensive, easy to care for, and responsive to handling.

Pet rodents become tame and seldom bite when properly restrained and accustomed to handling. Some rats can be very territorial of their cage, and these should be coaxed out of the cage before being handled. Mice housed individually may be more aggressive and apprehensive than those housed in groups. Most mice and rats enjoy being handled away from their cage. Rats and mice can easily picked up by scooping them into a can or cupped hands. For any rodent, never pull on the tip of the tail because the skin can easily tear and become stripped from the tail.

Several types of cages are available that are suitable for housing small rodents. Many of these units come equipped with cage e¨furniturei´ such as exercise wheels, tunnels and nest boxes as added luxuries. Such accessories, as well as sufficient litter depth within which to burrow, are desirable for the peti´s psychological well-being. Cages should be constructed with rounded corners to prevent chewing. Rodents will readily chew through wood, light plastic and soft metal; so recommended caging materials are wire, stainless steel, durable plastic and glass. Beware that glass and plastic containers drastically reduce ventilation and can lead to problems with humidity, temperature and odor concentration. Make sure that the enclosure is escape proof because these little rodents are known escape artists.

Rodents do very well in solid bottom cages with deep bedding and ample nesting material. Shredded paper and processed corncob are preferred bedding. Cedar chips or chlorophyll scented shavings should be avoided because of association with respiratory and liver disease. At lease one inch of bedding should be provided to allow for normal burrowing behavior. Cotton and shredded tissue paper make excellent nesting materials. Adult mice require a minimum floor area of 15 square inches and a cage height of 5 inches. Rats need at least 40 square inches of floor space and a minimum of 7 inches in height. The cage and accessories should be cleaned thoroughly once to twice weekly. Cages are sanitized with hot water and nontoxic disinfectant or detergent, and then thoroughly rinsed. Water bottles and food dishes should be cleaned and disinfected daily.

Pet rats and mice can be housed singly or in groups. These rodents are colony oriented by nature. However, occasionally an overly aggressive mouse or rat may have to be caged individually. Territorial disputes also develop when the cages are overcrowded or when they lack food or water. Group cages should be provided with multiple food and water sources.

Always provide fresh water for your pet. Fresh water should be provided daily, not only when the bottle empties. Water is easily provided in water bottles equipped with sipper tubes. This method also helps keep the water free from contamination. Always make sure that the tubes are positioned low enough to allow the pet easy access.