The Perfect Cage For Your Mouse
The mouse is a nice, intelligent and friendly rodent. Therefore, this small mammal can make a great pet, but it has specific basic needs.
In this article, we show you how to create the perfect cage for your mouse.
The perfect cage for your mouse
Mice are very energetic animals and need a lot of space to be able to walk and explore during the day.
A cage like a hamster cage or a rabbit cage is too small and your mouse won’t be happy in there.
The best option for your mouse is a tall cage with several levels.
To be able to ventilate and keep itself free of moisture, it must be made of bars: that is, mice need a cage similar to that of ferrets. The more floors it has, the more space it will have to walk and run.
The substrate and hygiene
Your mouse will use the cage for its own needs. You can use a nook that will serve as a litter box, but you will also need a good substrate for the rodents.
The areas of the cage where the mouse walks must be solid: if they are made of bars like hamster cages were in the past, it will hurt the paws. Also, the substrate will slip between the bars and the cage will get dirty too quickly.
Avoid substrates that release dust, such as cat litter or sawdust. There are many types of safe substrates on the market : pressed straw, cotton balls, sawdust preparations, pressed wood.
We recommend that you try out different types of rodent support until you are sure your mouse feels comfortable.
The hiding place to sleep
Part of the mice instinct tells them that they must routinely hide and always have some sort of “den” to take refuge. Therefore, it is important to prepare several hiding places and cabins in his cage where he can shelter and sleep safely.
You can buy houses or nests that the mouse will use as a bedroom, but you can also make them at home: with non-toxic wood, if it decides to gnaw, or with cardboard, without paint or dyes. Rats also love hammocks and tunnels. Have fun looking for the best solution for your mouse and try new inventions to allow him to choose which one he likes best.
Eat and drink
Mice should always have food and water available to them. They use the round drinking trough, like the rest of the rodents. Look for one that won’t drip and flood the floor, thus ruining the perfect cage for the rat.
For food, the best solution is to have two containers: one for feed and dry food, and another for wet and fresh food.
Ideally, these containers should be metal or ceramic, to be easily washed. You may need to hook them to the bars of the cage to prevent the mouse from tipping them over and spoiling the food.
Games and entertainment
Mice are one of the smartest animals you can find, so mental stimulation is very important to them.
You must provide them with challenges, toys and puzzles for them to entertain themselves. Part of the things that will make the perfect cage for your rat are the toys and the challenges.
You can divide the toys into those aimed at physical exercise and those for mental exercise. You will find them in specialized pet stores, or you can try making them at home: remember to use wood and non-toxic materials that can be ingested.
Among the games for physical exercise we can find tunnels, stairs, bridges or climbing ropes.
If the cage has horizontal bars, the mouse is likely to use them for climbing. Mice are very active animals and will need to use these toys to discharge their energy.
In addition to the body, mice also need to exercise the mind. You can teach him orders to entertain him or you can create small puzzles to solve : a box with cards and prizes inside, so that he slips inside to search; a box with hidden prizes, so that he can enter to tidy up and dig … The mouse also likes balls and feathers for cats very much.
The secret to making your pet happy and living long and healthy is knowing how to create the perfect cage for him.
It will need space to run and climb, but also to stimulate its intelligence. Don’t neglect your diet and vet visits. This way your mouse will live for many years.
