We will soon be in the Year of the Rat, by the Chinese calendar. Fancy pet rats are not common in Singapore, but pet stores here do sell mice! So this month is an appropriate time to take a look at how best to house, feed and care for our little mouse friends.

Housing

Mice may be small and need less space than other pets. But they still require enclosures big enough to hold an exercise wheel, and spacious enough for them to run about in easily.

If you keep several mice, the cage must be big enough for all of them to move freely in – they should not be cramped together, because this will only lead to unnecessary stress and encourage the spread of disease.

A good enclosure is well ventilated and gives the rodents sufficient space so that they can use one corner to sleep in, another corner to eat and drink in, and room in the middle for the exercise wheel. A split-level cage will give these athletic little creatures even more opportunities for exercise and play.

The bars of the cage should be narrowly spaced to prevent escapes (you’d be surprised at what tiny spaces mice can squeeze through!), and should preferably be of rust-proof metal. No wire-composed cage walls or floors like wire mesh, please – these could injure the feet and tails of your pets. Besides, mice can chew through wire!

The floor of the enclosure should be flat and smooth – do not use cages that have barred or mesh flooring, as these will hurt your pet’s feet too.

Next week: What to put into your mice’s cage.