Type
A rat is a warm blooded mammal in the rodent family.
Temperament
While most people will cringe at the thought of having a rat for a pet, believe it or not, domestic rats make great pets! They are not aggressive, diseased and dirty animals, but in fact are clean, fun loving, sensitive, very social and affectionate. They genuinely enjoy interacting with people and should be handled daily. Rats are very intelligent and can be taught simple tricks, such as stay and sit and will often learn their name. They can also be litter box trained. Rats will often develop a connection with their owner, wanting daily attention. They will enjoy playing and snuggling with their owners. Rats that are well handled from birth are very friendly towards humans and very rarely bite. Children should be taught not to stick their fingers in the cage if their hand smell like food. Even the most friendly rat may be tempted to take a taste. Rats require time, interaction, and upkeep. Because rats are very social animals they can get board easily and it is a good idea to have more than one rat. Having two rats is no more work than having only one. Two rats will be entertaining to watch and will take some of the stress off of you in having to entertain them. If you keep more than one rat be sure to either have two males or two females or get your rats spayed and neutered to avoid any unwanted breeding. However if your rat is overly aggressive with other rats you may have to keep it all by itself. When you purchase your rat be sure the place you obtain your rat from keeps males and females separated. Since a rat can get pregnant at the young age of 5 weeks old, you don't want to purchase a pregnant rat and end up with more rats then you planned for! When choosing your rat, choose one that does not appear skittish or does not squeal when picked up. Males tend to be calmer than females. Males usually enjoy being held for longer amounts of time especially as they get older. Males may start to mark their territory as it matures. Getting your male neutered may help with this. Females tend to be more active than males. Toys and accessories can be provided for your rat such as tubes, hammocks, fruit tree branches, paper towel and toilet paper roles plant pots and anything else that does not have a sharp edge to it can be provided for your rats enjoyment. Keep in mind that they will chew what you give them.
Size
About - 6-10 inches (15-21 cm.) long (not including the tail)
About - 6-18 ounces 170-500 grams)
Males are usually larger than females. Males can weigh up to 2 pounds (.9 kg.) but typically way less.
Housing
Some people keep their rats inside the house while others keep them in outside sheds or garages. Keeping a pet rat indoors is recommended as they may not get the attention they need if they are kept in a garage or a shed. Rats can live in aquariums with a wire or mesh screen top or in wire cages. However aquariums are not recommended as they do not provide adequate ventilation. The larger your rats cage the happier he will be. When looking for a rat cage, look for cages made for rabbits, ferrets, chinchillas or parrots. Often times a cage at a pet store, shown as a rat cage is only big enough for a gerbil or hamster. Rats need more room than hamsters or gerbils. Shredded paper, shredded cardboard, hay, straw, hemp, paper based cat litters, and or clothing can be used for the bedding (keep in mind the rat will chew the clothing so be sure to only use clothing you no longer want). Pine and cedar wood chips should be avoided as the fumes from these beddings can cause respiratory damage.
Clean-up
Rats are very clean animals and therefore their cages should be kept very clean. Your rat will not be happy living in a dirty cage. Cages should be cleaned every 3 days and waste matter should be removed daily. You should have a small pet carrier on hand to put your rat in while you clean out the cage. These carriers can also be used when taking your rat to the vet, or where ever else you decide to take them.
Grooming
Rats are very clean animals. They are constantly grooming themselves (like cats), so no additional grooming is required on the owners part. If you house more than one rat together they will groom each other.
Feeding
Fresh water should be provided daily in a gravity driven hanging bottle. These types of bottles can be purchased at just about any pet supply store. Rats are scavengers and will eat just about anything. Low sugar cereals, breads, fruits, vegetables, meats, chicken bones, dog food, cat food, and table scraps can be fed to rats. You can also buy rat food and treats from your local pet store. Rats especially seem to enjoy bananas, grapes, peas, broccoli, sweet corn, pasta, yogurt, eggs, meat, chicken bones and fish. Be sure you feed them a well balanced diet. Too much protein can cause protein scabs. Younger rats need more protein than older rats.
Exercise
It is important that rats get the proper amount of exercise. Rats can be allowed to roam indoors around a room that has been rat proofed. Rats like to chew and will chew things such as wires, furniture, books and anything else that looks chewable! If you allow your rat to roam free in your home you need to keep an eye on the rat to keep it from chewing something you do not wish it to chew. Rats should not be allowed to roam outdoors. Some un-neutered males may decide to mark their territory. If your rat does this you should cover your furniture or carpet area where the rat is with a blanket while the rat is roaming free.
Life Expectancy
About 2-4 years
Health Problems
Prone to bacterial skin infections, bacterial lung infections, brain tumors, bloody noses, ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia.
Gestation
Female rats can get pregnant as young as 5 weeks of age and can reproduce young four to six times a year. There are usually four to ten young in one litter. Female rats go into heat every 4 to 5 days. Unlike other mammals, there is no discharge from them during their heat cycle. One female can wean about twenty young a year. Baby rats wean at a minimum of 4 weeks.
Origin
Rats can pretty much be found all over the world. They are mostly known as the most destructive pests in the world: spreading disease, damaging structures and contaminating food. This is true for rats living in the wild scavenging around for their next meal, however domesticated rats are very clean and intelligent making wonderful pets. It is because of their intelligence and their easy handling that they have become one of the most popular animals used for laboratory research.
Animal-World / Small Animals / Pet Mouse
Pet Mouse
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Pet Mice
Fancy Mice
Family: muridae
Picture of "Dora the Mouse". She is a pet mouse or "fancy mouse"!
"Dora the Mouse"
Photo © Animal-World
Mice continue to be one of the most popular "pocket pets", a term used with small pets that will fit into you pocket!
The common mouse is a curious little creature that makes a very interesting companion. (They are also very cute!). They have a life span of 1 to 3 years if well taken care of, and are a great first pet for children. If handled often they can become very tame and enjoyable.
Mice are great pets for several reasons. They are small, inexpensive, and very easy to care for. Female mice are odorless. They are also very clean animals that continually groom themselves by licking and combing their fur.
Dr. Jungles says..."this is the perfect pocket pet!"
"Dora the Mouse"
Mice not only captivate our imagination but they play a very important part in history also. One of our favorite mice is Mickey Mouse who has delighted us since the late 1920's.
They are the smallest mammals to ever be domesticated, and mouse breeding is an ancient hobby!
Photo : Exotic Tropicals
The mouse is a very adaptable creature who can thrive in almost any environment and has resisted mans' attempts to eradicate it for centuries.
Mankind has learned a lot from studying mice and using them in a variety of situations to determine what would happen to people in the same situation. They are not only interesting, but educational!
For information about Small Animals and their care visit:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Small Animal
Geographic Distribution
Mus musculus
Imagery ©2007 NASA - Terms of Use
Data provided by Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Scientific name: Mus musculus - House Mice
Mus sylvaticus - Field Mice
Mus minutus - Harvest Mice
Mus musculus domesticus - Pet Mice or "Fancy Mice"
Background:
House Mice originated in the central and southern parts of Asia, but are very adaptable and have spread all over the world. The Pet Mice or Fancy Mice are domesticated forms of the House Mice.
In Europe and Asia people began to exchanged mice for their fur and coloring in the 1800's and the term "fancy mice" came into use. In about 1900, Walter Maxey and other mouse fanciers formed the National Mouse Club in England and "fancy mice" have since been kept and bred as a pet.
Mice have been used for many purposes over many centuries. The word "mouse" comes from a 4,000 year old word 'mush' which means 'to steal'. In the orient, mice were used by the Chinese in religious rituals as early as 1100 B.C., referring to them as the "ancient one", while the Japanese believed them to be a messenger from the gods. Greeks used them to predict the future and even worshipped them, sailors and miners used them to test air quality in submarines and mines, science uses them to study genetics and disease, and they have even been sent to outer space.
Description:
Mice weigh on average 1 ounce and are approximately 2.5 to 3.5 inches long (without the tail).
The fancy mice or pet mice are a domesticated form of the wild house mouse, of which there are a number of different subspecies. Today there are many different varieties of pet mice or fancy mice. The most common domestic mice are the white albino ones which were (and still are) used in laboratories.
Various other mice strains have been developed in laboratories from inbreeding. These various strains will have individual characteristics such as being a more long lived mouse, or one that tends to develop more tumors, or needs a specialized diet, as well as other traits such as being more temperamental, more nippy, or more flighty.
There are some unique strains of mice!
One is known as the "waltzing" or "shaker" mice, or sometimes the "Japanese" mice as they were first recognized in Japan. These mice are defective in their balancing ability and appear to "waltz" rather than move about as normal mice do.
Another is the "singing" mice that make a faint twittering sound that is distinct from other mice and makes us think of singing.
Pet mice are available in several colors and patterns due to specialized breeding by mouse hobbyists. Actually there are more than 70O color and coat varieties. Coats can be smooth, curly, longhaired or even a combination of these. The most usual color variations include brown, black, tan, gray and albino with both lighter and darker shades of these as well.
Environment:
There are many different cages available for keeping mice as pets. One of the best kind is a glass terrarium with a wire top. When considering where to put your mouse cage, think about what problems could arise by putting it in different places. You should’t put it directly in front of a window, as sunlight tends to annoy mice and make them very uncomfortable. You also should’t put it where drafts are, because this also could result in sickness. Keep it up on on a table or stand where it won't be easy to knock over, but where people will be able to readily reach and view it.
Make sure they have a good soft bedding of wood shavings or prepared litter. Corncob bedding obtained at pet stores works well as do beddings made of recycled paper and cardboard. Wood beddings provided by most major suppliers are simply kiln dried natural wood products. Generally it is best to not use beddings with additives. Chlorophyll bedding has chlorophyll added to give it a clean, fresh aroma. It is green and so not recommended for white small animals as it will discolor their fur. Wood shavings should be used in cages that are open with good ventilation, rather than enclosed containers. Cedar shavings should be avoided as it is more aromatic and there is concern by some that this or possibly the natural resins in cedar may be harmful. Some small animals can develop allergies due to the dust in moldy hay or in bedding.
Mice are nest builders and will make nests from their bedding to sleep in and have babies in.
For water, you can use a water bottle with a hanger that allows mice to get water whenever they are thirsty.
Clean cages thoroughly with hot water at least once a week and change the bedding at least twice weekly.
Care and feeding:
Mice need a completely balanced diet. This includes carbohydrates (whole oats, hay, stale bread), vegetables (lettuce, carrots, peas, etc), and protein (such as dog biscuits). An easy way to feed mice is to get the formulated mouse foods available at pet stores, which have all the vitamins and minerals that mice need.
Mice do enjoy treats, and things such as fresh vegetables, sunflower seeds, cheese, jam, and fruit and grain bars from pet stores will be much appreciated. Feed them once a day in a small china or pottery dish and remove any uneaten fresh food at the end of the day. Clean the food dish thoroughly with hot water at least twice weekly.
Mice also have constantly growing teeth, and so should be provided with something to chew on to keep them in good chewing condition. Hard nuts, such as acorns and walnuts work, and also flavored wood sticks from pet stores. Make sure that mice have a constant supply of water. Commercial water bottles are probably the best choice.
Social Behaviors:
Mice are very sociable creatures and like to have company. One mouse can do fine as a pet, but they appreciate having friends of their own kind as well. Most mice get along fine with each other, but you should watch out putting males together (unless they grew up together), because they will tend to fight, especially if females are present. Usually females can be put together with no ill effects.
Mice are great with children, but they should be kept away from the other pets of the house (dogs, cats, birds). They should also be kept away from other rodents such as rats, because rats are their natural predators.
Handling and Training:
Mice generally become tame pretty quickly and are easy to handle and hold. The best way to pick them up is to grab the middle of their tail gently and then place them in the palm of your other hand. If they are very familiar with you, you can pick them up directly.
Mice can be taught simple tricks, such as taking food from your fingers once they are comfortable with you and even retrieving treats from your pocket. With lots of patience, they can learn even more sophisticated things such as climbing ladders, walking "tightropes", racing, and traveling through mazes. Of course, one of the best ways to train them to do simple tricks is to reward them with a treat every time they do something right.
Activities - Exercise and Play:
Nocturnal by nature, mice usually spend more time sleeping during the day than at night.
They are extremely active and love to exercise and play. Exercise wheels are great for mice because they will occupy their time and keep them healthy. You can purchase or make tubes, ladders, and climbing blocks also.
Mice also like to chew. Not only is this beneficial to keep their always growing teeth trimmed down, it is a favorite activity. Be sure they have plenty of chews, sticks and twigs.
They also like to hide, so giving them cardboard boxes or nest boxes will give them a place to go when they want to sleep. Of course they will probably also chew up their boxes, so be sure to replace them from time to time.
Mice will spend quite a bit of their time sleeping!
Breeding/Reproduction:
If you are planning on breeding your mice, then you should get some nesting material to put in one corner of the cage. This can usually consist of something like grass or hay. You should have one male in the cage - no more! If there is more than one male mouse in a cage, then they tend to fight. There can be as many females as you like as they always get along with each other and will actually help take care of all the babies, not just their own.
Female mice reach sexual maturity at about 6 weeks old, and males take a week or two longer. Females can have up to 15 litters a year, and can become pregnant within 24 hours after giving birth. So if you don't want more babies immediately after the first litter, it can be a good idea to remove the males. However, males can be kept with the females after the babies are born as they will not harm the young (and often actually help to babysit!).
When baby mice are born they are deaf, naked, and blind. Within two weeks the babies will look just like their parents, just smaller. They may be weaned in approximately five to six weeks.
Ailments/Treatments:
Mice are hardy resilient animals and rarely get sick. However, if not taken care of properly they can become ill. Most ailments are preventable simply from taking proper care of the animal.
Signs that your mouse is sick include such things as not eating/losing weight, dull coat, runny eyes and nose, and huddling in a corner not appearing active. In general, if you notice your mouse is sick make sure to completely clean and disinfect the cage and change the bedding. Make sure it has plenty of food and water and isn't in drafts or damp conditions.
Respiratory Infections/pneumonia: The indications that your mouse has a respiratory infection or even pneumonia are runny nose, lack of appetite, inactivity, weight los,and labored breathing. Respiratory Infections are generally caused from being in drafts and/or damp bedding. Make sure he is taken out of drafts and the cage is completely clean and dry, and place a dry cloth over the cage. Pneumonia will require an antibiotic therapy, and possibly a visit to a veterinarian.
Asthma: This is usually attributed to an allergic reaction to dust, especially the dust of moldy hay. Provide a clean dry environment, and always replace damp hay and beddings.
Fits: Sometimes a mouse is prone to fits, where it dashes around in circles until it falls down exhausted. There is no apparent reason for this and no known treatment.
Diarrhea: If your mouse has watery droppings and appears to have diarrhea, then the cause is most likely from having too many fresh greens and fruits. The simple remedy to this is to remove them completely and not feed the fresh foods at all for a few days until he appears to be getting better. Then slowly re-introduce fresh food every few days.
Mites/lice/parasites: Generally dirty conditions may provide breeding places for these types of pests so make sure and provide a dry, clean environment. Completely clean and disinfect the cage. Mites are especially harmful to mice and will cause a loss of fur and encrustation of the skin. Many blood sucking parasites can be eliminated with special powders available from a veterinarian or pet store.
Skin Diseases: These are fungal diseases where there are small areas of hair loss and scalyness. Generally this condition is contracted from children who have ringworm. It is best to go to a veterinarian for this.
Ear Infections: Often indicated by a mouse walking in circles or with its head tilted. This is usually caused by an inner ear infection or by parasites. A drop of mineral oil on a cotton swab will work to wipe the ear and may provide some relief. See a veterinarian to determine the cause and for treatment.
Cancer(tumors): The most common form of cancer is mammary tumors. These are generally attributed to old age or viral infections. Keep your pet as comfortable as possible and provide the best nutrition possible.
Availability/Purchasing your Mouse:
Pet mice are readily available.
When purchasing your mouse, you should look for an overall healthy appearance and alertness. It should have a long body and clean head, smooth and not bumpy, and should arch a little over the loins. The fur should be sleek and smooth. It should have large bold eyes and ears that stand erect and be scoop shaped. The tail should be as long as the body, wide at the base and tapering to the end with no kinks.