Mice may be small, but the decision to adopt one isn’t! You are on your journey to becoming an owner of a fancy mouse and need the facts. Mice can be one of the best house pets that you can own, as long as you know all the important details.

You will find that mice will make great pets since they are low maintenance and enjoy human companionship. They require gentle handling and need constant supervision when outside their cages. The cost of owning a mouse isn’t high, which makes them a great option for a budget.

You will find the resources and tips for owning a pet mouse sourced directly from real mouse owners themselves!

Fancy Mouse Care Basics

Ensuring that you are taking quality care of your fancy mouse doesn’t have to be complicated when you know all the facts. The list below is going to give you the basics of what you need to be aware of before you purchase your mouse.

Use these details to ensure you are fully prepared to give your new friend a great life!

Grooming

Mice are incredibly clean animals, which means that your job is very simple when it comes to grooming! You simply need to keep their cage clean by ensuring you remove any soiled bedding daily.

Mice can clean themselves effectively when they are healthy and happy.

Ensuring that your mouse is healthy and energetic is going to help them maintain their cleanliness.

Environment

It’s important to be aware of where you are placing the cage your mouse lives in as they can be frightened easily. Mice don’t like loud noises or bright light, which means that a living or dining room might not be the best place for the cage.

You will want to place the cage in a quiet environment where the mouse can feel safe and roam about in peace.

Companionship

The daily interaction you have with your mouse is going to improve their ability to interact with others tremendously.

It’s very important to spend at least a few minutes every day handling your mouse and letting it learn who you are.

Mice are gentle creatures but can’t learn to interact with people without some help. This means that every positive interaction you have with your mouse will help them become a more social creature.

In addition to human companionship, most mice need mouse companions. It’s recommended to adopt two female mice from the same litter.

You can learn more about mouse companionship requirements here.

Food

Mice are just like humans: they need food that will benefit their bodies, minds, and overall health. The food that they eat needs to fuel their day just like we need our food to do.

This means that choosing the correct foods and supplementing with fruits and veggies will help your mouse live its best life.

10 Tips from Fancy Mouse Owners

The best tips are learned from first-hand experience, which is why this next section comes straight from real mouse owners. This list includes 10 tips that will help you create the perfect environment and life for your pet mouse.

1. Fancy mice don’t like open spaces

Consensus: Your mouse needs a large cage but not an empty cage! They thrive with clutter and numerous activities to keep them occupied.

Mice are small creatures that feel safer when they’re surrounded by safe spaces. Empty cages that have only the essentials are going to stress your new friend out. There are many toys and habitats that will help your mouse feel more at home.

Open spaces are a deterrent to your mouse, as are bright lights. The room you place your mouse in should be fairly dark with some natural light. You can reduce any stressors that your mouse might have by being aware of their environment and noticing what they prefer.

2. Consider other pets for a child

Consensus: Mice are delicate and small which means that the care given has to be very careful. This means that you can’t expect every mouse to make good pets for little children.

You have to check your expectations when you’re considering adopting a mouse. They make wonderful pets as long you know what to expect and are prepared for their specific care. Mice are quick and can be frightened quickly easily which makes them difficult for children to care for as pets.

This doesn’t mean children can’t have mice as pets, though, if an adult is supervising them at all times. Each mouse has a different personality, which means that you must be prepared to learn about your specific mouse.

One of the best ways to walk into adopting a mouse is to check your expectations and ensure that a mouse is right for you and your family.

3. Budget for monthly expenses

Consensus: Your monthly expenses for owning a mouse will be about $20-$30.

The initial cost of purchasing your mouse and its cage is going to be much higher than your monthly cost. The average cage costs around $50- $100 and bedding is around $20 for a month’s supply.

The monthly cost is going to consist of your new bedding and food, as well as treats for your mouse. You won’t be spending much each month, but it’s smart to have an idea of your mouse care budget before you purchase your mouse. Budgeting for that initial cost will save you a surprise at the cash register.

4. Schedule your weekly cleaning

Consensus: Your mouse’s cage needs to be cleaned at least once a week. It’s much easier to remember if you schedule it!

The number-one problem most mice owners have is forgetting to clean the cage. Mice are fairly quiet and low-maintenance, but they require more frequent cage cleanings than hamsters or gerbils.

The greatest tip is to schedule your time with your mouse each week. Choose a day when you clean the cage. This also makes for a great opportunity for your mouse to spend time outside the cage.

The act of scheduling your time with your mouse also makes it easier as it becomes part of your routine.

5. Understand the lifespan of mice

Consensus: Mice have a lifespan of about 1-2 years.

Purchasing a mouse also comes with a very short period of time that you’ll have your pet mouse in your life. The disheartening reality is that mice live about 1-2 years before they begin to have potential health problems. Mice are very prone to developing tumors, which can show up randomly.

Mice make wonderful pets, but the reality of their lifespan is something everyone needs to take into account. If you are looking for a long-term pet, then a mouse might not be right for you.

6. Find unique ways to get them out of the cage

Consensus: Mice need time outside of their cage for development and exercise. This will also benefit your mouse in the taming process.

Your mouse will thrive when you find new ways to get them out of their cage and into your hands more often. It’s recommended that you spend at least 30 minutes of time with your mouse each day. The problem most people have is that their mice are squirmy and difficult to just hold in your hands.

The trick to spending time with your mouse is to put a towel in the bathtub, as well as a drain plug. This allows you to sit inside and enjoy the company of your mouse without the struggle of keeping it contained. Your mouse will have the opportunity to smell you and crawl on you as it pleases.

7. Experiment with treats

Consensus: Every mouse is different and is going to enjoy different treats. The idea of experimenting with treats allows you to know what your mouse likes best.

Like people, mice have different tastes in food, and you can cater to that. You’ll simply head to the pet store and purchase a few different healthy treats after you have your mouse settled.

It’s recommended that you wait to give treats for a few days after bringing them home. They can get upset stomachs from being nervous, and treats could make it worse.

Try giving your mouse treats while you are handling them and seeing what they like best. This is a great way to tame your mouse as well as take care of their health.

8. Learn what is safe to feed your mouse

Consensus: You will find many foods that are safe and benefit your mouse. However, knowing what is not safe for your mouse is very important.

Mice are delicate creatures, which means that you will need to be careful about their diets. They enjoy fresh veggies and fruits, but you will need to be cautious of leaving any old produce in their cage. If the produce goes bad, then it can harm your mouse.

A small list of foods that mice can’t have can be found below.

• Foods that contain caffeine
• Grapes
• Raisins
• Lettuce
• Onion
• Rhubarb

9. Learn the facts about mouse cages

Consensus: The cage you buy for your mouse needs to be easy to clean to keep any bacteria down. Cages with fancy tubes are not recommended for mice.

There are numerous fancy-looking cages that have many tubes that are multicolored and look fun for your mouse. These are actually not recommended as they are not simple to clean and can accumulate bacteria that is harmful to your pet.

You have to be careful when purchasing a cage and ensure that it will benefit your mouse and not harm it. As mentioned before, mice don’t like open space, which means that buying a simple cage with added activities is the way to go. You can add toilet paper rolls and many other safe items to the cage instead of tubes.

10. Understand the difference between male and female mice

Consensus: Female mice are social and thrive when living in pairs. Males can’t live with any other mice and are often happier on their own.

For your mouse’s protection, you must be aware that male and female mice don’t live together well. The only time males and females are put together is to breed, and that is done by a professional breeder. You must be very careful if you ever consider pairing mice together.

Female mice do very well and thrive when they are living with other females. Females are very social creatures and won’t need much supervision.

Fancy Mouse Care Should Be Fun

There is much to learn pertaining to caring for mice, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be fun! The decision to purchase and own a mouse is a rewarding journey.

If you felt this article helped your journey, please share it with someone else who could benefit from learning more about owning a mouse!