If you find an abandoned baby mouse, you may feel called to take care of it. Although the work is quite a lot, baby rat care can be done effectively. The most important task is to provide food and proper housing to the mice. You should also be aware that although rare, wild rats can transmit disease. Finally, when taking care of animals, you should seek advice from the nearest veterinarian.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Saving Baby Rats
Step 1. Make sure that the mouse nest is left
If you find a mouse nest that is not inhabited by its mother, it doesn't necessarily mean it's really gone. The mother rat may leave the nest out of fear or in search of food. Leave the nest (and baby mice) and check again later. If the mother rat is still nowhere to be seen, you may need to act.
- Do not disturb the mouse nest. Don't worry, mother rats won't reject their cubs that have been touched by humans.
- Come back after 1-2 hours, and repeat after another 1-2 hours.
- Examine the baby rat's stomach for a white tire called a "milk belly". If you don't see it within 4-6 hours, it means the baby mice are not being fed and left by their mother.
Step 2. Ask a veterinarian for help, if needed
If a baby mouse has been attacked by a cat, you should immediately take it to the vet. Bacteria from cats' mouths often cause a serious (and often life-threatening) infection called "septicemia." Veterinarians can provide emergency care to mice.
- Find the nearest vet online.
- Call in advance to see if the doctor concerned can treat mice.
Step 3. Hold the baby mouse carefully
Baby mice are so small and fragile that they must be handled with care. The baby rats should not be held too tightly, but when they are being fed the rats should be held firmly so they don't fall. Also, don't forget that rats can transmit disease.
- Put on latex gloves before handling baby mice.
- You should wash your hands well, even before wearing gloves.
Method 2 of 4: Feeding the Rats
Step 1. Give nutritious fluids
Baby mice usually drink from milk from their mother. You need to give this "milk" to the baby mice. Don't use cow's milk. Instead, provide:
- Soy-based infant formula (slightly diluted).
- Kitten formula milk (slightly diluted).
- Goat milk.
- Puppy milk substitute.
Step 2. Feed every two hours
Baby mice need to eat regularly until they open their eyes. For mice 0-2 weeks old, feed every two hours. Once the rat's eyes are open, the rat no longer needs to eat at night.
- Warm the milk. Drop a small amount of milk on your wrist to test the temperature.
- Use a dropper, syringe, or straw to drink the milk.
- Hold the mouse firmly with your non-dominant hand.
- Hold the dropper in the other hand, and try to stick the tip to the mouse's mouth.
- Pour in a drop of warm milk and wait for the rat to drink (he will appear stretched or squirmed).
- Give as much milk as the rat wants.
Step 3. Include solid food after the mouse's eyes open
When the mouse's eyes open, it can eat solid food. Continue formula feeding until 4-6 weeks of age, at which age the mice should have been weaned. You can provide:
- Hamster food moistened with formula or goat's milk.
- Kitten food (moisturized).
- Human baby food (handmade or commercial).
- Soft cooked vegetables, such as pumpkin, peas, or carrots.
Step 4. Stimulate the mouse to help it go to the bathroom
Baby mice can't pee or defecate on their own. Usually, mother rats will lick their young to encourage them to urinate. After eating, dip a cotton swab in warm water. Gently wipe the wet cotton swab on the rat's genitals until it disappears.
Method 3 of 4: Making a House for the Rat
Step 1. Prepare the cage
You need some kind of cage to house the baby mice. On the first night, you can use a shoebox lined with a towel. However, if you plan to keep these mice, you will need to prepare something more permanent. As a general rule, allow 31 cubic cm of space for the first rat, and an additional 15 cubic cm of space for each additional mouse in the same cage. You should also clean the cage once a week. You can purchase one of the following options at a pet store:
- Glass aquarium.
- Metal cage.
- Plastic cage.
Step 2. Keep the baby mice warm
If in the wild, baby mice will snuggle up with their mother and siblings. Inside the house, you need to make sure the mice are warm.
- Spread a wooden grater on the bottom of the cage.
- Do not place the cage on the floor of the house.
- Keep the temperature at home around 21 degrees C.
- Place the heat source on one side of the cage. Use a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel or place a heating pad in the first half of the cage. Make sure the rat can get away if it's hot.
Step 3. Put some toys
Rats need enough exercise, objects to scratch, mental stimulation. As the rat begins to explore its cage, consider including the following items:
- Exercise toys, such as a mouse wheel or a small ball filled with bells (usually sold as cat toys).
- Chewing toys, such as paper towels or egg cartons.
- Bait toys or toys that hide food (made for birds and/or rodents).
Method 4 of 4: Protecting Yourself Against Disease
Step 1. Understand the risks
Although the rate of disease transmission is quite low, wild rats carry diseases that can infect you. Do some research on the internet to determine the risk level of keeping rats in your area. Take precautions to protect yourself. Here are some examples of viruses that mice can transmit:
- Hantavirus.
- Salmonellosis (bacterial infection).
- Lyme disease (from ticks).
Step 2. Wash your hands
The best way to prevent the spread of germs from mice is to wash your hands after handling them. Before washing your hands, do not touch your mouth, eyes, or any part of your face. It's a good idea to wash with soap and water, but if you can't, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Wet hands with water.
- Lather your hands with soap (any type of soap can be used).
- Rub all surfaces of hands.
- Rinse and dry hands.
Step 3. Keep mice away from food
Salmonella bacteria, which can cause salmonellosis, can be transmitted through mice. Therefore, it is important to keep mice away from the food they eat.
- Never leave mice on the kitchen counter or pantry.
- Store all food properly in closed containers.
Step 4. Get rid of fleas
If you live in a flea-prone area, check your rat for fleas regularly. If you find one, get rid of it until there's nothing left.
- Put on gloves.
- Clean the area with rubbing alcohol (try rubbing it on the tick.).
- Use tongs to carefully pull the mouse away from the mouse.
- Flush fleas down the toilet.
