How to Care for a Fancy Mouse as a Pet

Mice are among the most maligned pets in the animal kingdom. Whether it’s the bubonic plague or the kibble missing from Rover’s bowl, these friendly creatures are blamed for crises large and small. Yet the popularity of having a pet mouse is on the rise, a trend mirrored by the number of mice ending up in shelters. Thinking of getting a mouse? You’re in good company.

Is a fancy mouse right for you? Here’s how to care for these fun-loving, friendly critters. Read on for the definitive guide for providing excellent fancy mouse care, covering everything from understanding their behavior and setting up their home to ensuring their health and happiness.

What is a Fancy Mouse?

The domestic mouse—not to be confused with the species you’d find in a field or attic—has been kept as a pet for centuries. A fancy mouse is domesticated, but while all domesticated rats are considered fancy rats, not all domesticated mice are considered fancy mice. A fancy mouse is a domesticated house mouse.

A mouse typically measures in at about 3.5 inches, not including their tail, and weighs just 0.5 to one ounce. White (albino) mice are the most common type found in pet stores. Fancy mice can be up to double the size, and fancy mouse colors include various coat colors and types, from curly and shiny to silver and cinnamon.

Mouse Care

One of your first questions may be, “How long do mice live?” If well cared for, the life expectancy of a pet mouse is typically one to three years, the same as the average fancy mouse’s lifespan. Here’s how to care for these little whiskered fellows.

Remove droppings, uneaten pet mouse food and soiled areas of bedding from your fancy mouse’s cage every day. Clean the cage once a week by replacing dirty bedding and wiping down the rest. Male mice often produce more odor than females, so their cages may need to be cleaned more often. Like that of all rodents, a mouse’s sharp front teeth grow continuously. Provide unpainted, untreated pieces of wood, dog biscuits or safe chew toys (you can find them at the pet supply store) for your mice to gnaw on, which is crucial for keeping their teeth in tip-top condition and will prevent dental problems.

Mice are excellent jumpers, so you will need to be careful when you take them out of their cages. You can scoop them up in your hand or in a paper cup to safely transport them out of the cage. Never grab mice by the middle or end of the tail since they can be hurt this way. If you need to catch a mouse quickly, you can grasp him at the base of the tail and lift him up as you cup him in your hand.

Did you know you can tame your pet mouse to sit in your hand or on your shoulder? Start by feeding your pet mouse treats; once they’re comfortable accepting treats from your hand, you can gently pick them up. Talk softly to them and let them get used to your voice. Gradually increase these sessions as your pet mouse gets used to being handled.

Once your pet mouse is hand-tamed, you can let them out of the cage for supervised exercise every day. We recommend a small, secured area where your pet can’t get stuck behind furniture or chew on electrical wires.

Understanding Mouse Behavior and Proper Handling

Mice are curious, charming pets and will be active at various times throughout the day. However, they are fragile and should be treated gently, and an adult should always supervise children caring for them. They have nocturnal habits and grooming and playing needs. Here are step-by-step instructions for proper fancy mouse handling.

Because of their poor eyesight, 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.
Handle mice like a tiny 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.

Creating an Ideal Mouse Habitat

You’ll want to know how to create the perfect pet mouse habitat, including mouse housing essentials like a spacious cage with the proper sizing, bedding, nesting and enrichment toys. Here is an overview of what to consider when creating an ideal mouse habitat.

Foil the Great Escape

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 mice can be safely housed in wire cages with mesh openings no larger than a quarter inch. If you use a wire mouse cage, you’ll want to pad at least part of the floor with cardboard or newspaper to protect the tender pink feet of the occupants. Mice are sensitive to environmental extremes, so they should be housed away from direct sun and drafts and, if possible, from noise. Empty cereal and tissue boxes are inexpensive and make great hiding places, giving the rodents a sense of security.

Prevent War Wounds

Mice can be territorial, so don’t house strangers together. If your mice have come from the same home, they can remain roomies as long as they’re of the same sex. A pregnant female should be housed separately; she’ll feel more secure when she gives birth and will be less likely to see her babies as a meal. Beware that although mice may look like little rats, these two species should never be housed together.

Design Their Bedroom

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, mice will probably use it only for pooping. For bedding, use shredded tissue paper, paper towels or unprinted newspaper. Many mice aficionados recommend avoiding cedar and pine shavings, which may irritate rodents’ lungs, kidneys and livers. Change bedding every three to five days, leaving some of the used but unsoiled bedding since that “new cage smell” can be unappealing to the discerning noses of mice.

Mice Love Toys

All play and no work make a happy rodent, so give the mice plenty of toys for ideal mouse enrichment. Exercise wheels can provide them with hours of fun. Empty paper egg cartons, paper towels or toilet paper tubes make good chewing and climbing material, and untreated wooden blocks satisfy their need to gnaw.

Mouse Feeding & Diet

Are you wondering, “What does a mouse eat?”

Understanding a mouse’s dietary needs is crucial to ensure they can thrive, including knowing what foods they love and which ones to steer clear of. You’ll also want to master portion control, feeding frequency and how to keep them properly hydrated.

Good grub and fresh water should always be available to mice. Rodent chow should be a mainstay of a mouse diet. Mice will do well on a good commercial rodent chow in block or pellet form. You can find this mouse food at pet supply stores and feed stores— just be sure the formula you select contains at least 16 percent protein and 18 percent fiber, and not more than four percent fat.

The ASPCA recommends offering your mice small amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables daily as treats. Peas, broccoli, carrots, apples and bananas are good foods to start with, but you may need to experiment to find your pets’ favorites. Please don’t overdo it, though—mice have tiny tummies!

Here are some guidelines on how to give your mouse a safe diet:

Serve rodent chow in the recommended amount, as per the package instructions for rodent lab blocks or commercially available, nutritionally complete pelleted food for mice.
Always keep fresh food available since mice are known to graze. Mice typically graze during their waking hours, and they might even wake up during their sleep to have a snack. Therefore, it’s essential to maintain a small ceramic bowl filled with a day’s worth of food in their habitat. After 24 hours, discard any uneaten food and replenish the bowl.
Offer limited grains, vegetables, fruits and grass hay, about two to three times a week. Vegetables and fruits should be in small, bite-sized pieces. Gradually introduce new foods and remember to clean up any uneaten food promptly to prevent spoilage. Discard vegetables and fruits not consumed within 12 hours. For specific recommendations on the appropriate quantity and frequency of supplemental foods, consult your veterinarian, as these can vary based on the mouse’s size and activity level. Appropriate vegetables and fruits include:
- Peas
- Bananas
- Carrots
- Apples
- Broccoli
- Zucchini
- Cucumber
Feed food in separate dishes. Bowls should not be too deep to allow mice to fall into them and get stuck.
Avoid salty, sugar and fatty treats.
Mice are generally more active at night, so it’s best to feed them once a day in the evening. This is because the mouse is waking up and looking for food at that time.

Mice need to avoid the following in their diet because these are toxic to mice and can cause illness or even death:

Chocolate
Caffeine
Alcohol
Corn
Candy
Junk Food
Peanuts
Uncooked beans
Onions

Fresh, clean water should always be available and changed daily. A water bottle with a drinking tube that attaches to the side of the cage is the best way to go. On average, an adult mouse will drink 3 to 5 mL of water daily.

Always consult your veterinarian to confirm you are providing the correct types and amounts of food and water.

Mouse Health

The bottom line is, if you think one of your mice is sick, don’t delay—seek medical attention immediately. Know that mice are commonly susceptible to lice and other external parasites. They’re also vulnerable to tumors and wet tail, which is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in their digestive system. Common signs that your fancy mouse needs veterinary attention may include:

Chattering
Coughing
Diarrhea
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty walking
Excessive scratching
Lack of appetite
Lethargy
Sneezing
Weight loss

Contact an exotic animal veterinarian quickly if your fancy mouse appears to be experiencing any of the above symptoms. It’s important to note that many veterinarians aren’t equipped to treat mice, so it’s a good idea to learn where the nearest veterinarians are located who are trained to take on fancy mice as patients.

Purchasing or Adopting a Fancy Mouse

Many pet shops offer mice, though it may be best to find your fancy mouse at a reputable rescue organization or breeder because they often may have tamed the mouse themselves and can usually provide the most thorough information about health history. It’s a good idea to look for a breeder or pet store that separates females and males at a young age, as mice can reproduce as young as six to eight weeks, which isn’t recommended as it dramatically stresses female mice when this happens. To avoid accidentally breeding mice yourself, you’ll also want to make sure to keep males and females apart.

Are you wondering now, “How much does a mouse cost?”

Mice are one of the most affordable pets – they cost, on average, between $5 and $10, depending on various factors such as their age.

Before you choose your fancy mice and their pet mouse names, you should look out for the following physical health attributes:

Alert
Clean, smooth coat
Clean, pink skin
Nose and eyes free of discharge
Clean, dry anal area and mouth area
Droppings that are well-formed and not watery
Relatively fast breathing but not noisy or labored

You can find the best breeders or rescues for fancy mice if you ask your local exotic animal veterinarians specializing in fancy mouse care. A reputable breeder may offer a wider selection of fancy mice. Still, many rescue organizations provide a whole lot of options, too.

For more expert tips about your new pet’s health, explore our other pet care articles.