This submit was coauthored by Beri Instone, a accountable mouse breeder and Alison’s mouse guru.
Mice, like many rodents, like to play and discover the world round them. Many pet mice will spend many of the day of their cages, so to provide them a cheerful life, we want to ensure they’ve loads of issues to do and toys to play with.
Once we speak about toys, it’s vital to notice that we’re not essentially utilizing it in the identical approach we might for a kid. Mice like to play (particularly with one another, so in some methods one of the best toy for a mouse is one other mouse they’re bonded with), however for me, one of the best toys are ones that stimulate the pure behaviors a mouse would possibly in any other case miss out on residing in a cage.
Listed below are a few of my prime picks for preserving mice entertained.
#1 Cardboard, paper, and hay
Sure, cardboard is a toy. Actually, it is likely one of the finest toys. It may be chewed up, carried round, dug in, hidden underneath, or used as a nest. From the proprietor’s perspective it additionally has the massive benefit of being free!
There are a number of various kinds of cardboard that may be supplied:
- small cardboard containers and packaging for the mice to discover,
- interior rolls from kitchen or bathroom paper to make use of as tubes and foraging toys,
- shredded cardboard or cardboard squares that can be utilized for digging and foraging.
Paper can be good worth. Paper towels, items of newspaper, or cross-cut shredded paper (making quick items, not lengthy strips) supply totally different choices for nest constructing, digging, and usually letting the mice customise their very own setting.
Mice take nest constructing extraordinarily critically and create advanced 3D buildings. So, a easy pile of hay positioned of their cage makes for excellent engagement. It’s not solely good for nesting – the mice will nibble it and the odor of the hay provides a special kind of enrichment.
#2 Tubes and tunnels
Digging is a key pure conduct for mice. The cage ought to comprise a thick layer of substrate to assist present this, however giving mice tunnels or different issues to cover in also can assist. In addition to cardboard tubes and containers, different good choices embody:
#3 Climbing toys – ropes, branches, ledges, perches and bridges
Mice like to climb, and giving them area and toys to permit that is actually vital for his or her well being and muscle improvement. As nicely offering a barred cage, pet mice want a cage structure that features toys appropriate for climbing.
The commonest choices are ropes and branches
Ropes could be obtained from many locations – most petshops promote rope perches or toys intended for pet birds, or rope toys designed for canine, and all of those could make wonderful climbing frames for mice.
Different choices embody natural fibre rope (e.g. sisal and hemp) purchased from the ironmongery shop, and even strips of fleece or rag plaited or twisted collectively.
Branches present a barely totally different expertise for the mice, so it’s a good suggestion to supply each in a cage structure.
Protected sorts of branches and twigs embody:
- hawthorn (take away any thorns),
- birch,
- hazel,
- ash,
- lime (additionally referred to as linden)
…Together with fruit tree woods similar to:
N.b. warmth handled pine of the kind utilized in business small animal toys is protected, however pure pine branches pine shouldn’t be used.
Mice will chew their branches (which is why the wooden must be a protected kind), and one other kind on enrichment is to provide them piles of small protected twigs to nibble at.
Ropes and branches ought to be positioned so the mice get to climb at totally different angles, and make good use of the area within the middle of the cage. Mice are actually good climbers, so some ropes ought to be vertical, as climbing these helps preserve their tail muscle tissue wholesome. Brief ropes meant for taking part in tug of battle with canine make good vertical challenges.
When fixing your ropes or branches to the cage, make it possible for they aren’t pushing the bars too far aside – as that may result in escapes, or a mouse getting caught and damage.
It’s additionally not needed for a rope to be utterly steady. Climbing a wobbly rope is basically good for muscle tissue and steadiness.
Ledges, perches and bridges
Ledges, perches and bridges are one other kind of climbing toy that add selection to the cage. In addition they give mice someplace to sit down in several elements of the cage and watch the world go by. Ledges and perches connect to at least one facet of the cage, whereas bridges run from one half to a different. A number of various kinds of all three toys are offered by petshops.
A terrific hanging climbing toy could be made by wiring or clipping a reptile/small animal hollow play log to the cage roof. The holes enable the mice to play in and out of the log, and the wobble supplied by hanging is nice enjoyable.
Everybody loves treats, but when there may be one factor rodents take pleasure in extra, it’s discovering meals for themselves.
The only solution to make treats right into a sport is to bury them within the cage substrate, or conceal them in different areas across the cage.
- For an even bigger problem you may make or purchase foraging toys. Stuffing a bathroom roll interior with substrate, shredded paper or hay and hiding treats inside is a straightforward low-cost choice – you may minimize holes within the facet of the tube to make it extra enjoyable.
- Foraging logs (a chunk of wooden with holes in for stuffing with hay and meals), bought from a pet store or made at house from mouse protected woods work the identical approach.
- Another choice is utilizing kabobs to hold meals in several areas across the cage.
In fact, when utilizing meals in toys, it is crucial to not overfeed – treats are finest if they’re wholesome and low calorie, and the each day meals consumption ought to be managed to take account of the meals the mice get from foraging.
#5 Wheels
A wheel generally is a nice toy to assist mice train. A very powerful consideration right here is security. The wheel might be manufactured from stable plastic, not bars (to ensure ft and tails can’t get trapped and injured), and it must be giant sufficient to stop spinal issues.
You is perhaps stunned to study that the 6.5 inch wheels offered for small animals aren’t giant sufficient for many grownup mice – it’s as a result of mice are surprisingly lengthy when stretched out. If the wheel is just too small, they will hit their nostril or need to run with an unnatural gait. An 8 inch or bigger wheel is a a lot better choice.
As you may see, toys for mice don’t should be costly or come from the pet store small animal part. The essential factor is to provide them selection, allow them to categorical their pure behaviors, and preserve their minds and our bodies match.
