Rat/Mouse Care Page
Of all the rodents in the animal kingdom, rats and mice are perhaps the most maligned.
Whether it's the bubonic plague or the kibble missing from Rover's bowl, these friendly
creatures are blamed for crises large and small. Here's how to care for the little whiskered
fellows!
1. Foil the Great Escape
Rats and mice are specialists in gnawing and burrowing, so their enclosures must be
escape-proof. A glass aquarium with a secure screen lid is ideal, though rats and mice can be
safely housed in wire cages with mesh openings no larger than a quarter-inch. If you use a wire
cage, pad at least part of the floor with cardboard or newspaper to protect the tender pink feet
of the occupants. Rats and mice are sensitive to environmental extremes, so they should be
housed away from direct sun and draftsand, if possible, away from noise. Empty cereal and
tissue boxes are inexpensive and make great hiding places, giving the rodents a sense of
security.
2.Prevent War Wounds
Rats and mice can be territorial, so don't house strangers together. If your rats or mice have
come from the same home, they can remain roomiesas long as they're of the same sex. A
pregnant female should always be housed separately; she'll feel more secure when she gives
birth, and will be less likely to see her babies as a Happy Meal. Beware: Mice may look like little
rats, but these two species should never be housed together.
3. Design the Master Bedroom
The phrase "I smell a rat"is a bit misleading, as rats are not particularly smelly animals. Both rats
and mice are meticulous groomers, cleaning each other as some cats do. These rodents like
tidy homes, usually reserving one corner of their cage for urination. If you provide a small litter
box filled with unscented cat litter, rats and mice will probably use it only for pooping. For
bedding, use shredded tissue paper, paper towels, or unprinted newspaper. Many rat and mice
afficionados recommend avoiding cedar and pine shavings, which may irritate the lungs,
kidneys, and livers of rodents. Change bedding every three to five days, leaving some of the
used but unsoiled bedding behindthat "new cage smell"can be unappealing to the discerning
noses of rats and mice.
4. Dinner's On!
Good grub and fresh water should be available to rats and mice at all times. The animals should
eat rodent chow as a mainstay of their diets; in a pinch, dog food kibble with a fat content below
eight percent can temporarily substitute for the chow. Supplements of hard fruits and
veggieslike apples, carrots, and sweet potatoeswill satisfy the pickiest eater. A hanging bottle of
water will allow any rat or mouse to quench his thirst.
5. Toy With Their Affections
All play and no work makes a happy rodent, so give the rats and mice in your care plenty of
toys. Exercise wheels can provide them with hours of fun. Empty paper egg cartons and
paper-towel or toilet-paper tubes make good chewing and climbing material, and untreated
wooden blocks satisfy their need to gnaw. Gnawing helps keep rats' ever-growing teeth in check.
6. Handle With Care
Because of their poor eyesight, rats and mice can be easily startled, so make them aware of
your presence by talking to them and letting them smell your hand before attempting to pick
them up. Make sure your hands are freshly washed, as rats may bite when they smell something
tasty on your fingers (or when they are defending their babies). Handle rats and mice as you
would a small kitten, being sure not to grab them by their tails. During cleaning, it may be
easiest to allow them to crawl into a plastic canister; you can then remove the container, rodents
and all, for safe transport to another cage.
Whether it's the bubonic plague or the kibble missing from Rover's bowl, these friendly
creatures are blamed for crises large and small. Here's how to care for the little whiskered
fellows!
1. Foil the Great Escape
Rats and mice are specialists in gnawing and burrowing, so their enclosures must be
escape-proof. A glass aquarium with a secure screen lid is ideal, though rats and mice can be
safely housed in wire cages with mesh openings no larger than a quarter-inch. If you use a wire
cage, pad at least part of the floor with cardboard or newspaper to protect the tender pink feet
of the occupants. Rats and mice are sensitive to environmental extremes, so they should be
housed away from direct sun and draftsand, if possible, away from noise. Empty cereal and
tissue boxes are inexpensive and make great hiding places, giving the rodents a sense of
security.
2.Prevent War Wounds
Rats and mice can be territorial, so don't house strangers together. If your rats or mice have
come from the same home, they can remain roomiesas long as they're of the same sex. A
pregnant female should always be housed separately; she'll feel more secure when she gives
birth, and will be less likely to see her babies as a Happy Meal. Beware: Mice may look like little
rats, but these two species should never be housed together.
3. Design the Master Bedroom
The phrase "I smell a rat"is a bit misleading, as rats are not particularly smelly animals. Both rats
and mice are meticulous groomers, cleaning each other as some cats do. These rodents like
tidy homes, usually reserving one corner of their cage for urination. If you provide a small litter
box filled with unscented cat litter, rats and mice will probably use it only for pooping. For
bedding, use shredded tissue paper, paper towels, or unprinted newspaper. Many rat and mice
afficionados recommend avoiding cedar and pine shavings, which may irritate the lungs,
kidneys, and livers of rodents. Change bedding every three to five days, leaving some of the
used but unsoiled bedding behindthat "new cage smell"can be unappealing to the discerning
noses of rats and mice.
4. Dinner's On!
Good grub and fresh water should be available to rats and mice at all times. The animals should
eat rodent chow as a mainstay of their diets; in a pinch, dog food kibble with a fat content below
eight percent can temporarily substitute for the chow. Supplements of hard fruits and
veggieslike apples, carrots, and sweet potatoeswill satisfy the pickiest eater. A hanging bottle of
water will allow any rat or mouse to quench his thirst.
5. Toy With Their Affections
All play and no work makes a happy rodent, so give the rats and mice in your care plenty of
toys. Exercise wheels can provide them with hours of fun. Empty paper egg cartons and
paper-towel or toilet-paper tubes make good chewing and climbing material, and untreated
wooden blocks satisfy their need to gnaw. Gnawing helps keep rats' ever-growing teeth in check.
6. Handle With Care
Because of their poor eyesight, rats and mice can be easily startled, so make them aware of
your presence by talking to them and letting them smell your hand before attempting to pick
them up. Make sure your hands are freshly washed, as rats may bite when they smell something
tasty on your fingers (or when they are defending their babies). Handle rats and mice as you
would a small kitten, being sure not to grab them by their tails. During cleaning, it may be
easiest to allow them to crawl into a plastic canister; you can then remove the container, rodents
and all, for safe transport to another cage.
