Great First Time Pet for Older Kids: Fancy Mouse

Are you rodent phobic? Then you may want to stop reading right now. But if I know you, you just may be curious. And so will your new pet mouse.

"Pet mouse?!" you say. Yep. Pet mouse.

Do you have kids who are old enough to have a little responsibility, but not too young to hold (or squish) a small animal? Have they been asking for a dog or cat and you just can't accommodate them? Or maybe you, yourself need a little companionship. Think mouse.

These little rodents have much to offer. They are cute, easy to care for, can live in fairly small cages and they don't bite. If you ever visit the larger pet stores, you may have seen their Fancy Mice selection. Perhaps you've just breezed by with a shudder, but next time you're there take a better look. Fancy Mice come in many different colors and a quite adorable. My mouse, Cupid, is all black with white spots, which give her cow-like markings. And she's cute as a button.

Choosing a Pet Mouse

As with any pet, make sure that the store you purchase you new pet mouse from is clean and cared for. You want your new pet to be the same. Look at all the pets before you buy. Make sure they all look healthy and robust and have clean cages. If you are not sure, don't do it. Save your self a headache and check out another store. Just don't forget that rodents tend to be nocturnal, so don't be surprised if some of them are asleep.

When you choose your specific Fancy Pet Mouse, look for one with bright eyes and of similar size to the others. Most mice will run away from a new hand in their cage, but don't pick the one who is totally inactive and never comes out of her corner.

Mice are social creatures and so you may want to buy more than one. Don't overcrowd your cage, but one mouse by herself may be lonely. I have had my latest pet mouse, Cupid, for several months now. Unfortunately, her cage-mate has gone on to greener pastures, so Cupid has been a loner for quite a while now and does just fine. I haven't gotten her a new friend because sometimes two mice who have not grown up together may not get along. Often they will be fine if introduced slowly, though.

Buying a Cage