mice

Despite the natural fear they seem to evoke, mice are playful, happy animals that make great pets! Inexpensive to feed, house and care for, you'll be surprised at how easily even you may warm up to a furry, little mouse! PERSONALITIES Much like other animals, mice have their own individual personalities. Some will love to run on wheels and act playful, while others will be shy, and prefer to build a comfortable nest in which to hide. Owners will need to pay careful attention to their mouse's personality, in order to provide the proper materials and care.

TEMPERAMENT Mice are social animals. Most experts agree that it's imperative to have at least two mice if you're considering keeping them as pets. It is unnatural in any environment for mice to live alone. Those mice which are forced to live alone are generally bored, withdrawn, lonely and miserable.
Timid, by nature, mice take some time to warm to strangers, in much the same way that kittens and puppies do. Once calm in their new environment, mice are intelligent, playful, and fun to watch. It's important to allow your mouse time to get used to new scents and people before making him a full-fledged member of the family.

BREEDS There are many varieties of mice, including satin, curly haired, fancy, long haired, and more. Outside of the fancy variety, which is a rare show mouse, mice have the same instincts, intelligence level and habits between breeds.

HANDLING A MOUSE Mice love to be handled and played with and for this reason, make great pets for children. It is rare for a mouse to bite. Handle your mouse daily if you want it to stay hand tame. Always wash your hands prior to picking up the mouse. Mice are easily frightened by strange smells. When first interacting with your mouse, put your hand in the cage and allow him to come to you. Never pick your mouse up by the tail. Always scoop them from their belly, providing support for their feet with your other hand.

HOUSING Whichever type of housing you choose, it should provide enough space for those basic activities. Aquariums are the most inexpensive form of housing, and the easiest to maintain. They are resistant to gnawing, digging and provide adequate room. If you use an aquarium, you'll also need a wire rodent cover to prevent inventive mice from escaping. Wire cages can be used, but can be messier.
Mice like stuff to do in their cage so be prepared to provide many things for them to cimb and play on.

BEDDING
Bedding or litter will need to be added to the mouse house, as well. Bedding provides some insulation, warmth, and helps to absorb waste matter. Wood shavings make a good choice for mice, though you should avoid cedar or pine shavings, as the oils in the wood can irritate your mouse's eyes and skin. Aspen chips or shavings, shredded paper, unscented paper towels and unscented toilet paper are all oil-free, and make excellent, safe bedding choices for mice. Bedding should be changed once a week, to keep down any smell that may arise.

FEEDING HABIT Mice should be given fresh water at least once a day through a water tube or bottle, which attaches to the side of its home, not in a dish where it can get dirty.. Food often depends on the individual mouse's tastes. A mixture of seed or pellets, specially made for rodents makes for a hearty diet. Food should be added to a ceramic bowl twice daily. Never use plastic dishes, as the mouse will chew on it.

Rats are very affectionate and easy to care for. They are the perfect pets for people who live in apartments and want a companion animal, but aren't able to care for a larger pet. A tame rat will rarely bite, and will actually bond with their owners. They are also very clean

Housing a rat is easy. You can either choose an aquarium with a screen top or a wire cage. A wire cage is the best because there is ventilation plus because rats are very social, they can have more contact with their owner. When choosing bedding for your rat, it's best to use recycled newspaper. Never use cedar it isn't good for rats because it contains toxins that can harm your rat. When putting the bedding in the cage, make sure you put enough for the rat to make a nice bed. You will also want to put a sturdy tip proof food bowl and a large water bottle.

When feeding your rat, it's best to purchase food that is specially formulated for rats. You can also add some fresh fruits and vegetables but not too many because some may be actually harmful to your rat. Things like grapes, strawberries, apples, carrots and small amounts of banana are good treats. Rats also enjoy peanuts and unsweetened whole grain cereals. Always make sure there is fresh water available at all times.

Rats need at least an hour of attention each day. Rats love to be held and cuddled. They look forward to spending time with their owner everyday. Rats like to ride up on their owners shoulder or around by the neck and under hair because it's warm and close. Most rats will want to stay there and cuddle up. To make sure your rat gets enough exercise you can encourage him to play little games. Some rats like to play with a little ball or will want to just chase around. You can train your rat to come to you on command. Always reward with a treat.

Rats are very curious and like to explore their surroundings. Rats are also natural chewers so to prevent them from chewing on electric cords, furniture and other things, try using some bitter apple, which is available at most pet stores. Apply it to any object that you don't want your rat to chew on. You will want to unplug all unnecessary lamps and appliances. You will always want to keep a close watch on your rat.

The average rat has a life span of around 2 ½ to 3 years.