Playing, mice and toys

Guess who just wants to have fun? Your mice, that's who! And as your pets' entertainment director, it's up to you to arrange playtime with safe, appropriate toys in and out of the cage every day.

Mouse toys provide hours of entertainment

Providing a variety of toys and diversions for your furry friends is serious business. Mice who are allowed to play to their little hearts' content have been shown to be much happier than those who live in barren, toy-free environments.

Exercise wheels and tunnels

One of the most appreciated toys you can get your pet is the classic exercise wheel. Most mice love to run, and a solid metal or plastic wheel will allow your companions to do just that. By all means avoid wheels with rungs, as tiny tails and feet can easily get caught in them.

Mice are major tunnelers and climbers, and they'll be very pleased with ladders, PVC pipes and plastic add-on tubes, which come in a variety of styles, from straight to spiral. You can even make your own mousie maze out of these tubes, with your pets' favorite nibbles waiting at the end!

DIY mouse toys

A toy needn't be expensive to be effective. Some of the best mouse playthings can be found in your own home. Your pets will love tunneling through ordinary cardboard tubes from paper towels and finding their way through interconnected cardboard boxes with entrance holes cut into them. Egg cartons are great for chewing and climbing, and you'll be surprised to find how much fun can be had with a simple paper bag, open on its side.

Chew toys

Make sure there's always something in the cage your mice can gnaw on. Like all rodents, your pets' teeth grow continuously, so they'll need something to chew to keep their choppers worn down and in tip-top condition. Twigs or branches that haven't been treated with chemicals are excellent for this purpose, and you'll also find a variety of safe chew toys at the pet supply store.

Set aside time for playtime

Once you've hand-tamed your mice, you can let them out of the cage for some playtime every day. Make sure these sessions take place in a secure, screened-off space. Remove electrical wires from the area, as well as anything else that your mouse could, but shouldn't, chew on.