Critters Collection: Mouse



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Critters Home Page: Critter Collection: Mouse

Handling Mice

When handling fancy mice, wash or disinfect your hands first. You may have disease causing organisms on your hands that will make the animals sick. Do not breathe on or play with fancy mice or fancy rats when you have a cold--the animals may become ill. You should also clean your hands before going from one container of animals to another.

To pick up a fancy mouse, it is perfectly fine to stop the forward movement by grabbing the tail. After stopping the motion, slide your hand under the body, and give the mouse support as you lift it. When your pet is tame, it will jump into your hand. You should always let mice, rats or hamsters be aware of your presence before reaching into a cage. To small animals, loud noises and fast movements mean predators are after them. If someone surprised and grabbed you, you'd bite, too. Think gentle around all small pets, and you should have no difficulty handling them.

Fancy mice do not like to be held snugly. To tame your mouse, simply handle it and allow it to sit on your hand or run up your arm. Until you can trust it not to jump off from fright, hold onto the tail gently at its base.

Author(s): Tina Bolton

Critters Home Page: Critter Collection: Mouse

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