🐭✨ Vet Guide 2025: How to Care for Your Rat or Mouse — By Dr Duncan Houston

Rats and mice are intelligent, social rodents that make wonderful companions—but they require thoughtful, species-specific care. In this 2025 expert guide, I’ll walk you through the key components for their happy, healthy lives: from housing and diet to handling, enrichment, hygiene, and health monitoring. Let’s give your small pets the best life possible! 😊

1️⃣ Ideal Habitat Setup

• 🧱 **Cage size:** Minimum of 2 ft × 1 ft × 2 ft (rats), and 1 ft³ per mouse; opt for tall cages with multiple levels and solid flooring.
• 🏰 **Shelters & hideouts:** Add tunnels, nesting boxes, and hammocks—rabbits like solid hideouts too!
• 🛋️ **Bedding:** Use paper, hemp, or aspen shavings. Avoid cedar/pine—arddehydes irritate their respiratory systems.
• 🧹 **Cleanliness:** Spot-clean daily; full clean with cage and accessories once weekly with pet-safe disinfectants.
• 🌡️ **Location & climate:** Keep in a quiet, temperature-stable spot (65–75°F); avoid drafts and direct sunlight.

2️⃣ Proper Nutrition & Hydration

• 🍽 **Staple diet:** High-quality commercial rodent pellets with mixed protein and low sugar.
• 🍎 **Fresh foods:** Add vegetables like broccoli, carrots; fruits and treats (plain popcorn, cheese bits) occasionally—under 5% of diet.
• 💧 **Water:** Provide a gravity bottle or thick-lipped dish; change daily.
• 🧬 **Chewing items:** Provide chew blocks (apple wood, willow) to support dental health.

3️⃣ Gentle Handling & Social Bonding

• 🤲 **Slow introductions:** Let them sniff your hand before picking up.
• 📦 **Secure hold:** Support their body, avoid scruffing; pick them up gently.
• 🕒 **Daily time:** Short, consistent handling sessions help build trust.
• 🆚 **Avoid handling when resting:** Disturbing their sleep can stress them.

4️⃣ Enrichment & Mental Stimulation

• 🧠 **Puzzle toys:** Hide treats in tunnels and treat-dispensing toys (Woopf rat puzzles or mouse mazes).
• 🌀 **Toys & movement:** Provide climbing wheels (safe for rats), ladders, PVC tubes.
• 📦 **Nesting materials:** Supply shredded paper, hay, or cotton bedding.
• 🔄 **Rotate items weekly** to keep them excited and active.

5️⃣ Grooming & Cleanliness

• 🪥 **Self-groomers:** Most rats and mice groom themselves, but spot cleaning may be needed for messes.
• 🧼 **Bathing:** Avoid unless absolutely necessary—a quick damp cloth is better for sticky fur.
• ✂️ **Nail trimming:** Trim monthly using small animal clippers; a grit toothbrush helps remove debris gently.

6️⃣ Recognizing Health & Illness

• 👀 **Watchful check-ins:** Observe for changes in coat, eyes, nose, appetite, or behavior.
• 🐾 **Respiratory signs:** Sneezing, wheezing, or discharge require vet attention—viral/pneumonia common in rats.
• 📏 **Weight tracking:** Weekly weigh-ins help catch sudden weight loss early.
• 🦠 **Teeth & GI concerns:** Overgrown teeth, diarrhea, or bloat need fast veterinary evaluation.

7️⃣ Veterinary Care & When to Act

• 🩺 **When to call a vet:** Persistent symptoms over 48 hours, breathing issues, lack of appetite, weight loss, or skin problems.
• 📱 **Use Ask A Vet:** Send photos or videos to get prompt advice.
• 🗓 **Annual checks:** Especially for older rats—they're prone to tumors and chronic respiratory disease.

8️⃣ Breeding & Companionship

• 🐀 **Social animals:** Keep rats in same-sex pairs or small groups; female mice can live together, male mice are best housed separately.
• 🧘‍♂️ **Introduce rats early:** With gentle introductions and cage rearrangement to reduce territorial aggression.

9️⃣ Rodent Safety & Rabbit Comparison

• ⚠️ **Rodents aren't rabbits!** They aren’t suited to alfalfa-based diets or large vacation-style hutches.
• 📏 **Cage size differs:** Rabbits need run space, while rodent cages focus on vertical climbing.
• 🔬 **Disease considerations:** Rodents require different vaccinations and have different common illnesses.

🔟 Enriching Extras & Brand Picks

• 🧩 **Woopf Rat Mazes & Puzzle Balls**—promote play and mental activity.
• 🛏 **Purrz Cozy Hideaways & Soft Bedding**—create secure and comforting rest zones.
• 🎯 **Treat rotation:** Healthy veggie treats plus occasional cheese or air-popped popcorn.

📌 Care Checklist by Dr Duncan Houston

1. Proper sized, multi-level safe habitat with quality bedding
2. Daily fresh water, balanced pellet diet, and occasional fresh produce
3. Daily handling time in a calm, predictable manner
4. Weekly spot-cleaning; monthly full cage clean
5. Rotate enrichment toys to maintain engagement
6. Monthly nail check; minimal bathing as needed
7. Check weight & health weekly; seek vet if abnormal signs appear
8. Same-sex housing with proper introductions and compatibility
9. Vet consultation using Ask A Vet at first sign of illness
10. Use Woopf and Purrz products to enrich environment and comfort

🌈 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

With the right care, environment, and attention, your pet rat or mouse can lead a healthy, engaged life—and form strong bonds with you. Provide them with a safe, stimulating home, balanced diet, compassionate handling, and timely veterinary support. Use the Ask A Vet app for quick help, and enhance their habitat with enriching gear from Woopf and Purrz. Your small friends deserve big love! 🐀💚