Rats and Mice

Mice may find handling very stressful if they not used to positive, predictable human interactions and gentle handling. They have a curious nature and can be habituated to human interactions and handling using positive reinforcement (reward-based training using food treats and other things they value).

Rats are very clean and usually do a great job of grooming themselves. Washing your rat Because of their cleanliness, rats rarely need a wash. The exceptions are elderly or arthritic pets who can’t wash themselves, or pets who have somehow gotten really dirty and can’t clean themselves.

Mice mature and can breed at a young age (even as young as four weeks of age), breed prolifically, and have large litter sizes.

Rats are generally best protected in their enclosure, as this limits their access to potential dangers and keeps them safe. However, even when they are in their enclosure, there are still potential dangers – the danger may come to them, or they might escape.