How to Bathe a Pet Mouse

Mice are very docile and friendly rodents that can make wonderful pets. They are also inexpensive to purchase and low maintenance, requiring very little care. Unfortunately they do have a short life span of only 1 to 2 years.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Avoid putting a mouse into water to give it a bath. Mice are meticulous in their own cleaning and are constantly grooming themselves and each other, so baths are not necessary. If you put a mouse into a bath you are running a high risk of drowning him. Additionally a bath is a very stressful experience for a mouse that should be avoided at all costs.

2. Keep the cage clean and the mice will stay clean. If you notice that your mouse has an odor it is probably because you are not cleaning and sanitizing the cage frequently enough. It is important to clean your mouse's cage every few days to help her stay clean.

3. Use a wash cloth or paper towel wet with warm water to carefully wipe your mouse if he gets something on his fur. If you notice an odor on your mouse and feel he might need a bath, a wipe with a warm cloth will usually do the trick.

Tips & Warnings

• Mice have a natural, musky odor which is usually more predominant in males than in females. The smell is usually mild, though, and not unpleasant. Do not confuse their natural scent with a sign of them being dirty.
• Use paper- or wood-based cat litter as bedding for your mouse to help with odor control.

[redmerit]

on 3/16/2009 I would say the smell that comes from the cage of a mouse should not be described as mild and not unpleasant. I could clean my mouse cage out everyday and it will have the most horrible smell known to human olfactory glands. I do not recommend a mouse to anyone.