Personality can depend very much on the individual mouse and how it has been brought up. As a rule, female mice will normally get on very nicely with other mice, whether related or not, whereas introducing un-related male mice to each other can be a nightmare. It is not uncommon to end up with two grumpy male mice in separate cages in such situations. Adult mice *can* be neutered so you can keep your grumpy male with female mice - but you'll need a very experienced vet!

The other big difference between the genders is smell - male mice make their cages considerably more whiffy than female mice and will need cleaning out more often.

Mice are good escape artists - so whatever cage you choose for them, make sure all the doors are shut properly and there are no larger gaps in the wire (often you'll find where the door shuts in commercial cages, the wire widens). They'll need the smallest bar spacing available - an adult shouldn't be able to push a finger through it.

Mice can also be kept in glass tanks, but they need to have a wire lid (again, watch the spacing) to allow ventilation.

Whether a cage or a tank, you will need to provide plenty of fun! Mice need things to climb on and through, bedding to bury into, things to chew. They often also like a wheel (make sure there is nothing their tail can get caught in). Mice don't need large expanses of open space - so the more toys the better! You can also use things from the garden, as long as they are clean and pesticide free. Use twigs from fruit trees (so you know they're not poisonous), bricks (the type with holes in are great) and ceramic flower pots.

Mice are omnivorous like humans - they can eat both vegetables and meat. However most of their diet ought to be vegetarian - you can buy mouse food mixes that will cater for their basic diet and then supplement with fresh food - fruit and vegetables especially. They can also have bread, porridge, cous cous or other low-fat, low-sugar/salt human foods as treats.

Contrary to popular myth, mice don't actually especially like cheese. Instead they are nuts about chocolate and, bizarrely, soap. Neither of which should really be given to them - but if you lose your mouse and need a treat to tempt it into a humane trap, then these are your best bet!

Tender Loving Care! Given a big enough enclosure (which your mouse probably won't have in captivity) mice are quite happy in their own company, without bothering about people. So, if you want to keep your pet mouse liking people you'll have to pick it up and prove why it should want to come out to play! As previously stated, mice need plenty of stimulation if they're not to get bored and humans are a really good toy for them to play with. Carry your mouse around in your clothing (pockets are a good one), let it ride on your shoulder, watch it explore the sofa or even build a safe enclosure for lots more fun!

Mice are so small that even simple things can turn into a great toy - there are loads of purpose made toys on the market for small animals, or you can make your own. Just make sure that there is nothing heavy that could fall on the mouse, there is no sticky tape or chemicals involved and you can have loads of fun!

Mice are pretty hardy little creatures, however that doesn't mean that they never get ill and you should make sure that you can afford to go to the vet if you need to - even for a mouse a vet's consultation fee can be as much as £20 - without even starting on medicines.

Mice can get problems with their skin - sores or dry patches that can indicate mites or parasites. The vet should be able to do tests to find out what the problem is and how to treat it.

If you know your mouse pretty well you will be able to spot any changes in their health, or changes in their behaviour that could indicate they're not feeling well. If in doubt, visit your vet.

Finding a vet that can treat mice can be tricky - don't assume all vets know how! Call a few local vets and ask whether they have treated mice, or do so regularly - asking if they *can* treat mice will usually receive a 'yes' but asking if they *have done* can be more revealing! Otherwise search on the internet for local mouse groups and ask for a recommendation.

Finding homes for baby mice - and each litter can be over ten - can be really hard. Snakes are becoming increasingly popular pets in the UK and many pet mice, even those sold by pet shops, end up joining the food chain.

If you are thinking of breeding mice, you need to know a lot about them - certainly more information than is contained in this guide. It is not recommended for new owners. Findafurry has strict rules about who is eligible to advertise - if you have planned to breed yet have not planned the litter properly (which would usually include starting a waiting list of potential owners for the babies) you cannot use this site. Have a look at the findafurry code for more information.

If you would like to look after some babies but not breed your own, then it might be worth contacting your local rescue centre to see if they would like help fostering a litter - often rescues receive pregnant mice and are more than glad for help looking after the mother and babies. The centre will then be able to offer you advice and help rehoming them (and they can be advertised on findafurry).