Feeding and Watering
Handling
Care
Housing
When mice are kept indoors the room temperature should be between 15 and 27C but 18 to 22C is preferable. Temperatures over 30C can cause heat stroke, especially if there is overcrowding in the cage.
Always keep the cage out of direct sunlight, draughts and damp and take care to protect the mice from predators, such as the household cat.
There is a wide variety of cages available, but all of them should have good ventilation, be easy to clean and be escape proof. The preferred type is a cage with a solid plastic bottom and wire top. The wire should be fine enough to prevent escape by youngsters, but strong enough to resist chewing from adults. It is worth bearing in mind that if the cage is made of wood, it can soak up urine, be smelly and difficult to keep clean. Mice are also very keen on gnawing wood! Metal cages can be cold and collect condensation.
Mice cages often tend to be too small so buy the largest cage you can. Commercial cages usually have a separate sleeping area, but a plastic house for mice from a pet shop is also suitable. Cage furniture could include a solid exercise ‘mouse wheel’ (hamster ones are too large) plus other toys such as platforms, hiding places, tubes and jars. Cardboard tubes can be chewed very quickly and become soaked in urine, but well-cleaned fruit-tree sticks are very popular for gnawing.
The bedding and floor covering should be absorbent. Pre-packed sawdust is an option, and it should be brought from a reputable pet shop. Floor sweepings from a wood merchant should be avoided as they may be contaminated with wild rodent’s urine and harbour disease. Put good quality hay on top of the sawdust and shredded unprinted paper can be used for the bedding. Synthetic bedding should be used with caution, as it can ‘strand’ and become caught around a mouse’s legs or else obstruct the intestines if eaten.
Cages need cleaning at least two to three times a week, but the soiled corners may need cleaning more often. The frequency of cage cleaning should be balanced against removing the scent markings. It also varies according to the size of the cage and the number of mice kept in it.
