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Rats and Mice

This document provides information on caring for rats and mice as pets. It discusses housing them separately with secure enclosures containing bedding, toys, and litter. Their diet should include vegetables, fruits, and pellet feed with constant access to water. Handling is important from a young age so they become socialized. Rats and mice do best in pairs or small groups and require regular health checks.

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80 views

Rats and Mice

This document provides information on caring for rats and mice as pets. It discusses housing them separately with secure enclosures containing bedding, toys, and litter. Their diet should include vegetables, fruits, and pellet feed with constant access to water. Handling is important from a young age so they become socialized. Rats and mice do best in pairs or small groups and require regular health checks.

Uploaded by

kayla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Fig.1 Fig.

Rats and mice can make great and fun pets.


Rats and Mice
Both mice and rats require a lot of attention and prefer to live in pairs and small groups. [2]
It is important to handle your rats and mice from a young age to ensure proper socialization with humans.
Below is a general guide to housing, feeding and caring for your pet mice and/or rats.

Remember to house rats in a separate enclosure from mice.


Males and females should be kept apart to avoid unwanted
pregnancies. [1]
Housing
Rats and mice need a safe and secure hutch to
live in that provides protection from the weather
and predators. [2]
Their enclosure also needs to be spacious with
separate zones for play and rest. [2]

The ideal hutch will be multi-leveled and made Fig.3


from untreated wood, surrounded by fly-screen Fig.4
mesh. Make sure the lid of your rat/mice
enclosures have a hinged lid with a secure lock. [1]
Toys and Exercise
Soft hay or shredded waterproof paper makes an
ideal bed for you rats and mice. [2] Rats and mice are naturally curious and enjoy
exploring their surrounding environment.
Be sure to keep bedding areas away from food
It is important to fill their hutch with an assortment
and water areas. of ladders, bridges, ramps and ropes. [2]
These items will provide your rats and mice with
The floor of your hutch should be covered in at
both mental stimulation and physical exercise. [2]
least 2-3cm of litter, such as wood shavings or Set up play items away from bedding areas
shredded paper. [2] within the hutch.
Wire floors are not suitable for mice and rats and You can also purchase a rat/mice ball so your
may cut the skin on their feet. rats and mice can safely explore the world
outside their hutch.
Be sure to clean out litter and any bedding that Make sure these sessions are always supervised
has been soiled daily. and conducted in a secure setting.
Diet
Rats and mice are both omnivores and will eat almost anything, but that doesnt mean that they
should!
Your rats and mice should be fed a mix of fresh fruit and vegetables alongside a high quality pellet
feed. [2]

Apples, pears, bananas, melons, citrus fruits, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, carrots, bok choy,
celery, parsley, berries, fresh corn, beans and peas are all suitable foods to include in your rats/mice
diet. [1]

Avoid feeding rats and mice any seed/grain mix, as they will tend to pick out their favourite bits, missing
out on important nutrients. [1]

Access to fresh water must be provided at all times. A drip bottle is a good way to ensure water stays
clean and can be filled without opening the hutch. [2]

Handling and Companionship


Rats and mice can be highly affectionate pets if they are handled
correctly from a young age. Handling should occur regularly so you rats
and mice can develop a positive association to human interaction. [2]
When picking up your rats or mice be gentle and make sure they feel
secure. [2]
Fig.5
Covering your rats/mice eyes with your palm can help calm any stress
they may feel while being handled.

Rats and mice are social creatures and they both prefer to live in pairs or
groups. Remember to house your rats and mice separately and always
keep entire males and entire females apart. [2]

Health Problems
Annual veterinary checks for rats and mice are recommended to assess
your pets overall health. [3]

To avoid unwanted pregnancies and over population, it is also


Fig.6
recommended that you desex your rats and mice between 8-12 weeks of
age. [3]

REFERENCES IMAGES
[1] Caring for your Mice and Rats 2015, RSPCA Victoria, viewed 13 Fig.1 Pet Rats, 2014, Brisbane Bird & Exotic Veterinary Service, viewed 13 June 2015,
June 2015, <http://www.rspcavic.org/health-and- <http://www.bbevs.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Pet_Rats1.jpg>
behaviour/mice-and-rats/> Fig. Small Mouse, n.d, RSPCA UK, viewed 13 June 2015,
[2] Rats and Mice 2014, Department of Environment and Primary <http://www.rspca.org.uk/ImageLocator/LocateAsset?asset=image&assetI
Industries, viewed 13 June 2015, =1232721022305&imageSize=original&mode=prd>
<http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/pets/other-pets/rats-and-mice> Fig. 3 No Title, n.d, eBay, viewed 13 June 2015,
[3] Rat and Mouse Care and Information Sheets 2015, The Unusual <http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAwMFgxMDAw/z/n8kAAOSwBvNTrY9J/$_35.JP
Pet Vets, viewed 13 June 2015, G>
<http://unusualpetvets.com.au/rats-and-mice/> Fig. 4 Enclosure Swing, n.d, Amazon, viewed 13 June 2015, <http://ecx.images-
amazon.com/images/I/6127h12q01L._SY355_.jpg>
Fig. 5 Rats Sleeping, 2014, Fast Company, viewed 13 June 2015,
<http://b.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/fastcompany/imagecache/slidesho
w_large/slideshow/2014/01/3025688-slide-s-rats-05.jpg>
Fig. 6 Curious Mouse, n.d, Care2.com, viewed 13 June 2015,
<http://dingo.care2.com/pictures/greenliving/1186/1185888.large.jpg>

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