Though it is not a very well-known fact, rats and mice have been selectively bred and tamed for many, many generations. The select few wild mice and rats have over the centuries evolved into the gentle and trusting pet rodents that many of us share our homes with today. In addition, rats and mice both have very fascinating histories – these small animals are certainly more than meets the eye!
Mice
Mice have been used for many purposes over many centuries by all kinds of people, and are originally believed to be from the Asia and Central Asia regions. Mice were used by the Chinese in religious rituals as early as 1100 B.C. and were referred to as the “ancient ones”, while the Japanese believed them to be a messenger from the gods. In addition, the Romans and the Greeks used them to predict the future and even worshipped them.
Besides being worshipped and admired, wild mice – of which there are a number of different subspecies – have been selectively bred for coat color, temperament, and health for well over 1000 years. Over time, these specially bred mice have become what we know as today’s domesticated mice, also known as pet mice or fancy mice.
Today there are many different varieties of domesticated mice and they all make wonderful pets. Unfortunately for them, instead of being worshipped or loved, these domesticated mice now more often end up in laboratories (usually with unpleasant ends) than in your local pet store. The most common domestic mice are the white albino ones which were (and still are) used in laboratories. Sailors and miners have also used mice to test air quality in submarines and mines – and though sometimes this is necessary for some people it usually again ends up in the suffering and/or death of these mice. It is the lucky and happy mouse that gets adopted by a pet lover.
The domesticated mouse is a curious little creature that makes a very interesting companion and a great pet. Mice are small, inexpensive, and very easy to care for. They are very clean animals that continually groom themselves by licking and combing their fur. Mice are nocturnal and will spend most of the day sleeping. At dusk, dawn, and throughout the night, mice are very active. A healthy and awake mouse is always on the go and will rarely sit still for more than a minute to eat, groom, or for a pet.
Domesticated mice are much more docile than their wild counterparts. If handled often and gently, mice generally become tame pretty quickly and are easy to handle and hold. Mice have a life span of 1 to 3 years if well taken care of, and are a great first pet for children. However, mice should be kept away from the other pets of the house (dogs, cats, birds). They should also be kept away from other rodents such as rats, because rats are their natural predators.
Mice are very sociable creatures and like to have company. One mouse can do fine as a pet, but they very much appreciate having friends of their own kind. Female mice usually get along very well with other females. Do not get males together unless they grew up together (part of the same litter or family) because they will tend to fight, and especially if females are present. Therefore, it is best to keep mice of the same gender, preferably females. There are no marked gender-related differences in size, fur texture, or personalities with mice. Male mice do give off much more odor than female mice.
Rats
Like mice, rats are also thought to have originally come from Asia or Central Asia. When they were introduced to Europe in the Middle Ages, unfortunately they were most well known historically for contributing to the bubonic plague there. At about the same time, albino mutants made their appearance in wild populations, which is a common occurrence in the case of wild mammals. Interestingly – and in contrast to white mice who often ended up in laboratories – these white rats were considered highly attractive and distinctive, and thus were captured and tamed by humans. Therefore, albinos were most likely the first domesticated rats to be kept as pets. Referred to historically as being “wild” and “savage”, the wild rat has over the centuries through selective breeding evolved into the gentle and trusting pet rat some of us share our homes with today.
Like mice, rats are also very social animals, so it is highly recommended that you get pairs or trios. Females are smaller and considerably more active than males and their fur is softer. On the other hand, males are normally happier sitting on your lap and having you scratch their head. Rats are more communal and, in contrast to mice, several males and females may be kept together. Aggression between rats is generally much more infrequent than in mice. However, it is also okay to have only one rat as long as it is given a lot of attention.
Although bigger than mice, rats are also relatively inexpensive pets and are very easy to care for. They are docile and gentle by nature as well, and generally become tame pretty quickly and are easy to handle and hold. Rats, like mice, are great companions for children. However they should be kept away from other household pets unless they are well acquainted with each other. Sometimes rats can become good friends with dogs or cats. Never house rats with other rodents though, such as mice, hamsters, or gerbils, because they will usually attack them. The average lifespan of a pet rat is between 2 and 3 years.
Getting Acquainted With Your Rat or Mouse
As mentioned earlier, domesticated mice and rats are much more docile and gentle than their wild counterparts. If handled often and gently, they generally become tame pretty quickly and are easy to handle and hold. The best way to pick them up is to grab the middle of their tail gently and then place them in the palm of your other hand. If they are very familiar with you, you can pick them up directly. Unlike mice, rats should not be picked up by the tail. The best way to pick up a pet rat is to place one hand over the back, just behind the head, gently grasp it around the ribcage and lift it upward. The rat can then be gently cradled against the your body, without much restraint necessary.
When you first bring your mouse or rat home, give it 2 to 3 days to get comfortable in its new surroundings (cage or aquarium usually) without bothering it at all. Once it is comfortable in its new home, get it comfortable with you. The easiest and quickest way to do this is by letting them run around in some of your clothes so that they get used to your scent, or let them run around on you! Do this for at least 10 minutes a day, and by the end of 3 weeks, most mice and rats will be comfortable enough with you that they will immediately step onto your presented hand. Upon their first interactions with humans, most mice or rats will be quite cautious and nervous. This is quite understandable, as everything seems big and dangerous to them, so be patient with them.
Mice and rats can also be eventually taught simple tricks, such as taking food from your fingers once they are comfortable with you and even retrieving treats from your pocket. With lots of patience, they can learn more sophisticated things such as climbing ladders, walking “tightropes”, racing, and traveling through mazes. Some rats and mice have even been known to be taught to respond to a name and come when they are called, and riding around on your shoulder. Of course, one of the best ways to train them to do tricks is to reward them with a treat every time they do something right.
You and your mouse or rat are now ready to travel, explore, and have lots of fun together. Everything still seems big and dangerous to your pet rodent, but it now trusts you for its protection.
I attribute the fact that I’ve never had a pet to brainwashing. The particular brand of brainwashing is that of my frazzled mom who—never having had a pet of her own—thought adding one to the family would be more effort than she could muster.
