# Mouse Care in the UK — Housing, Diet & Health — Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/mouse-care-uk): Mouse Care in the UK — Housing, Diet & Health — Quick answer. Fancy mice are quick, clever little pets that usually live around three years. According to the RSPCA they're active at night and sensitive to light and noise, so they need a secure, quiet home with deep bedding for nesting, gentle handling, and same-species company where possible.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/mouse-care-uk): Mouse Care in the UK — Housing, Diet & Health — Companionship. Mice are social animals, but group dynamics matter: - Females — usually live happily in pairs or small groups, ideally littermates introduced young - Males — often become aggressive to other males as adults; many need to live alone with plenty of human attention instead - Never mix species — no rats, hamsters or gerbils in the same enclosure According to the RSPCA, mice are a prey species — they feel safest close to cover, so provide hides and tunnels wherever they spend time.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/mouse-care-uk): Mouse Care in the UK — Housing, Diet & Health — Housing. - Escape-proof enclosure — mice squeeze through astonishingly small gaps; narrow bar spacing or a glass tank with a secure mesh lid - Deep bedding — dust-extracted paper-based substrate for digging and nest building; the RSPCA notes mice love building nests to regulate body temperature - Nesting material — shredded plain paper or hay to weave into a nest - Enrichment — climbing branches, ropes, tunnels, a solid wheel, and cardboard tubes - Location — a quiet room away from TVs, speakers and bright light; the RSPCA warns mice are sensitive to light and noise - Cleaning — spot-clean daily; full clean weekly, keeping a handful of unsoiled bedding so the nest still smells familiar Avoid cedar and pine bedding — the aromatic oils irritate small rodent airways.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/mouse-care-uk): Mouse Care in the UK — Housing, Diet & Health — Diet. - Complete mouse nuggets or pellets as the staple — formulated so they can't pick out only the fatty bits - Small veg treats — a thumbnail of carrot, broccoli or apple a few times a week - Avoid — sugary or sticky foods, chocolate, and anything mouldy from hoarded stashes - Fresh water daily — bottle with a sipper tube, checked for blockages Mice hoard food, so check nests and corners when cleaning and remove anything fresh before it spoils.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/mouse-care-uk): Mouse Care in the UK — Housing, Diet & Health — Handling and taming. Mice are fast and wriggly — tame them gradually: 1. Let them sniff your hand in the cage before picking up 2. Scoop in cupped hands rather than grabbing from above (predator-style) 3. Hold over a soft surface — they jump 4. Never pick up by the tail tip — the skin can tear 5. Keep sessions short and calm, at dusk or evening when they naturally wake

Source: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/mouse-care-uk