P ets and Wild Rod e nts Pet rats and mice are the same as wild rats and mice but they are specially bred to be kept at home Rats and Mice Rats and mice are rodents just like squirrels hamsters and prairie dogs All rodents have extra-large gnawing teeth at the front of their mouth which continue to grow throughout their lives Both rats and mice are covered in fur except for their tails and feet Rats and mice are very similar but rats are bigger than mice 4 Pet mice above and s rats below are the same size and shape as wild mice and rats
Fancy Friends Pet rats and mice are called fancy rats and mice They look much the same as those living in the wild but they come in many more colors and hair types For example there are dark blue lilac silver and even red pet mice Their fur can be one color or several colors and it may be smooth shiny curly or long However pet rats and mice share many features with their wild cousins and if they escape they can happily live in the wild Wild rats like s this one right are either plain brown or black but fancy rats below have fur in a variety of colors and patterns 5
W hy a Ra t or Mou s e Rats and mice make great pets They are fun active animals that will get to know you and enjoy playing and learning tricks Perfect Pet Rats and mice make good pets because they don’t take up too much space they like to play and they are fun to watch But they do need daily care Rats especially need lots of attention They do not like being left in their cage all day Where to Buy Your Pet The best place to buy your pet is from a breeder of fancy mice and rats A breeder will have spent time handling the pets so that they are used to people and less likely to bite A breeder will also be able to guide you on what type of pet to buy 6 A good breeder will help you s choose a friendly pet and advise you on how to care for it and handle it
Social Animals Pet rodents are social animals that like to live in groups They like to groom each other and cuddle together to sleep so you need to keep two or more animals of the same sex Sometimes males fight so two female mice or rats are better for first-time pet owners A single mouse or rat will get lonely t These pet mice are cuddling up in a group PET POINT Young rats or mice should be at least 5 weeks old before they leave their mother 7
